Letter III. To M. Camus, Bishop of Belley. on Renouncing the Office of Bishop

ANNECY, i^tk August 1613.

MY LORD — It is only about a month since I received the letter which it pleased you to write me on the second of July; since then I have always been either travelling or ill, and have not been able to send you the answer you desire — or rather the answer you do not desire, if I have rightly understood the inclination which you felt when you did me the favour of writing to me. Now you may judge whether I can give your question a very satisfactory answer, since to the ordinary feebleness of my mind the extraordinary of my body, oppressed with the lassitude which the fever has left me, brings a new addition of weakness. But so good an understanding as yours is will see my intention well enough though badly expressed.

• I st Proposition. To desire to lay down the burden of the episcopate for reasonable causes is not only no sin but is even an act of virtue, either of modesty or humility, or justice, or charity.

2nd Proposition. He is considered to be moved by good reasons to lay down the episcopate who is ready to submit in good faith his opinion of himself, his desire of resigning the episcopal office, and these reasons on which he relies, either to the counsel of a prudent man or at least to the judgment of superiors, and is ready to follow out the one or the other with the same alacrity.

• The remainder of this letter is in Latin. [Tr.]

LET. in.] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 271

3rd Proposition. Although the thought or desire of resigning the episcopate in lawful way is not a sin, still such an idea is very often not free from grave temptation, and most frequently arises through the action of the devil: the reason is that during the time spent in procuring relief from the burden, rarely or never are sufficient pains taken to bear it properly; as he who is deliberating about putting away his wife is scarcely anxious about duly loving her meantime. Better would it be then for you to urge yourself to take more pains henceforth, than to want to give up all work because hitherto you have not taken pains enough. Besides it is better to raise our eyes to the mountains whence comes help to us, and to hope in the Lord, gladly rejoicing in our infirmities that the strength of Christ may dwell in us, than like the sons of Ephrem to turn back in the day of battle.* For they who trust in the Lord shall take wings as eagles, they shall fly and fail not, but those who give way shall vanish like smoke; and he who timidly returns to the baggage has rest indeed, but no greater security than he who fights.

4th Proposition. I seem to hear Christ saying t: Simon, son of John, or Peter John, lovest thou me? — and Peter John answering: Thou Jcnowest that I love thee: then at length the Lord strictly commanding: Feed my sheep. There is no greater proof of love than the doing of this work....

• Ps. Ixxvii. 9. t John xxi.