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sembly, Sir, are touched with grief for the misery to which they know you are reduced; and, I come to solicit you to deliver yourself out of it. We know that you have lived like a very honest man, and that you proceed from a very good family. Consider with, and examine yourself, by the rules both of policy, and of conscience. Before seven, or eight months are at an end, your religion will be no more mentioned in France. Even at present, there are very severe edicts against the new converts who do not perform their duty. In other places, your religion has been extinguisned this hundred and thirty years; but, I do not come here to dispute with you about it. You know that it has subsisted and continued in the kingdom only upon sufferance and upon toleration, out of a necessity of appeasing and putting an end to the troubles. It lies wholly in your power to advance yourself higher than you have ever yet been, and to procure peace to your family."

"I answered, that I was very much obliged to their illustrious assembly, for passing so favourable a judgment upon me, and for the goodness which they express towards me, and to himself in particular, for the marks which he gave me of his good will; and, that I did return them all a thousand thanks; but, that nothing should ever be able to make me do any thing against my conscience, and that I had but little regard for all the advantages of this life. That if it were true I was in an error, and it should please God to convince

me

me of it, by giving me new lights and knowledge, I should not fail to follow them with much zeal and joy, out of a sole view to the glory of God. I said, moreover, that the edict of Nantes, was to reward the good services which Henry the fourth had received from protestants, rather than to appease the troubles which were then allayed; the arms being laid down, and the king in the peaceable possession of the crown. I said nothing of religion, because he had told me, that he was not come to dispute with me about THAT. This good counsellor went away a little after, deșiring me to think seriously upon what he had said. Mr. le Roi, told me, as he carried me back, that this counsellor was sent as a commissioner by the court of la Tournelle, to speak to me on the part of that famous society, who were never touched with so much grief and compassion for any person as they were for me. This counsellor's name was Renaud."

Mr. Marolles wrote several letters from la Tournelle, to his wife, children, and friends; and one to Mr. JURIEU, in which he says, "The manner of my sufferings, and the good eye with which God makes me regard all my afflictions, persuades me that he will give me the grace to continue faithful to him, even unto death. I do not fix my eyes on the condition in which I am, which troubles and afflicts those that see it, much more than it does myself. I place them solely upon the rewards which God hath promised to all those that fear

his name. I am certain, that the light afflictions with which he is pleased to visit me, will produce in me, according to his divine promises; an eternal weight of exceeding great glory. I comfort myself, because the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which will be revealed in us. I put my trust in what saint James says, Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he shall have been tried, he shall receive the crown of incorruptible glory and immortality, which God reserves for his elect. I rejoice, in that our Saviour doth pronounce those blessed, who suffer for righteous.ness sake. Thus, Sir, I make all my glory and happiness to consist in this, that my Redeemer does not count me unworthy to suffer for his name's sake. I fix my confidence upon the eternal ROCK. I put all my trust in HIM. I expect help and succour from HIM ALONE. I persuade myself that nothing shall be able to move me fixed upon so solid a foundation."

A little lower, alluding to his Essay on Providence, which he composed in the time of his confinement, he says, to Mr. JURIEU, this, Sir, is my usual occupation, as much as the infamous place where I am confined, will permit. I call it infamous, because there is not an honest or virtuous word to be heard here. It resounds with nothing but filthiness and execrable blasphemies. The prisoners make such noise and tumult all day, and for the greatest part of the night, that when I came

here,

here, I could scarse meet with one happy moment to lift up my heart to God. I was frequently so overwhelmed with drowsiness, that I often fell asleep, before I had made an end of my prayer. When I awaked, about three or four o'clock in the morning, I endeavoured to keep myself awake, that while the place was free from noise, I might pay my homage to God, with some attention. But, I have had more liberty these ten or twelve days; for when it is fine weather, they suffer the chair to go out, and abide in the court all day; excepting six of us, who are kept locked up. I spend one part of this time in reading, meditation, and prayer; and, I likewise take the liberty to sing some psalms; as I have done in ALL the places of my imprisonment, without ever being complained on for it."

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"You shall have, in a few words, an abridged account of our misery. We lie, fifty-three of us, in a place which is not above thirty feet in length, and nine in breadth. There lies on the right side of me, a sick peasant, with his head to my feet. There is scarce one among us, who does not envy the condition of several dogs and horses. makes us all desire the chain may quickly depart. They conceal the time of its departure from us; but as far as we can judge, it will depart next Saturday. We were yesterday, ninety-five condemned persons in number; but two of them died that day, and one to day. We have still fifteen or sixteen sick, and there are but few that escape. I have

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I have had five fits of a tertian fever; but, I thank God, I am very well recovered, and in a disposition to make my journey to Marseilles. We shall take in some of our brethren at Burgogne, who are condemned to the chain for the same cause as I am, who have the honour of being first condemned by the parliament of Paris."

In this situation, a German minister wrote to Mr. Marolles, in the Latin tongue, two Letters full of instruction and consolation. In one of his answers to this good man, he begs the assistance of his prayers, and adds, "Hoping, that, by means of the powerful assistance which several other servants of God afford me, as well as you, my sufferings will end in the glory of our creator, the edification of our brethren, and in my own salvation. When I reflect, (continues Mr. Marolles,) on the merciful providence of God towards me, I am ravished with admiration, and do evidently discover the secret steps of the providence of God, who hath formed me from my youth, after a requisite manner, to bear what I now suffer. I have always had but little love for those things which worldlings esteem and admire; and have had more care to provide for my soul, than for my body. Although I acknowledge, to my shame and confusion, that I have not served God so faithfully, as I ought to have done, and that, I have not been so thankful as I ought to have been, for so many benefits and favours which he

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