A10008:17
An oration madeAne oration made
An oration made by Master Theodore de Beze, minister of the word of God, accompanied with. xi. other ministers and. xx. deputies of the reformed churches of the realm of France, in the presence of the king, ... Tuesday the ix. day of September, 1561, in the nunnery of Poyssy. Truly gathered and set forth in such sort as it was spoken by the said de Beze. Whereunto is added a brief declaration exhibited by the said Beze, to the Queen the mother, the next morrow after the making of the said oration, touching certain points contained in the sameAne oration made by Master Theodore de Beze, minister of the word of God, accompanyed with. xi. other ministers and. xx. deputies of the refourmed churches of the realme of Fraunce, in the presence of the king, ... Tuesday the ix. day of September, 1561, in the noonnery of Poyssy. Truely gathered and set forth in suct sort as it was spoken by the said de Beze. Whereunto is added a brief declaration exhibited by the said Beze, to the Quene the mother, the next morowe after the making of the said oration, touching certain poyntes conteyned in the same
Edinburgh: printed by Robet sic, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Think not that we be come hither to maintain any error but to disclose and to amend whatsoever may be found out of the way, either on your side, or on ours. Esteem us not so outrageously presumptuous, that we would once pretend to overthrow that we know to be eternal, to wit, the Church of God: Neither do you believe that we go about and seek means to make you like unto us, in our poor and vile estate, wherewith nevertheless, thanks be given to God, we find our selves very well contented. ⟨image 9⟩Our desire is to have the ruins of Jerusalem repaired, the spiritual temple to be set up again, the house of God which is built with living stones to be set again in his entire estate, and that the flocks so scattered and strayed by the just vengeance of God and negligence of man, may be knit together again, and brought in one company to the sheepfold of him that is the sovereign and only shepherd.
Thinke not that we be come hither to maintaine anye errour but to disclose and to amende whatsoeuer may be founde out of the waye, eyther on your syde, or on ours. Esteme vs not so outragiouslye presumptuous, that we wolde once pretend to ouerthrow that we knowe to be eternall, to witt, the Churche of God: Neyther do you beleue that we go about and seke meanes to mak you like vnto vs, in our poore and vile effate, wherewith neuerthelesse, thankes be geuen to God, we find our selues very well contented. ⟨image 9⟩Our desire is to haue the ruynes of Ierusalem repaired, the spirituall temple to be set vp agayne, the house of God whiche is builte with liuing stones to be sette agayne in his entier estate, and that the flockes so scattered and strayed by the iust vengeaunce of God and negligence of man, may be knitte together againe, and brought in one companye to the shepefolde of him that is the soueraigne and onely shepheard.
This is the mark we shoot at: This is our whole meaning, desire & intent (my Lords) which in case heretofore you have hardly believed, our trust is that you will be easily brought to the belief of it, when we shall have declared to you by conference, such matter as hath pleased God to endue us with, in all modesty and patience. And would God that