The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise

Thomas. Yea; I have heard them preach more over: that is to say, that it were better that a Town, a Country, or a kingdom were drowned, then an Infant should ⟨p. 231⟩dye without baptism.

Thomas. Yea; I haue heard them preach more ouer: that is to say, that it were better that a Towne, a Ceuntry, or a kingdome were drowned, then an Infaunt shoulde ⟨p. 231⟩dye without baptisme.

Theophilus. If the Infant did come unto the age of discretion, and that he despiseth the baptism, I would not excuse his infidelity and rebellion. Or if the father & mother, thorough their negligence, despising & infidelity, have made none account to baptise their child, I would not also excuse them, but that they should yield them selves greatly culpable before God, & worthy of grievous punishment. But I will not, yet nevertheless therefore, judge rashly of the salvation of the child. For GOD ¹knoweth those that are his. And man hath not power to danipue, him whom God would have saved. And if it hath not pleased God to show that grace and favour unto the Father and Mother, that they cannot see their child alive, for to offer and present him unto him and to his Church by the baptism, wherefore shall he use such furor towards that poor Infant and the Parents, which are already enough desolate and without comfort? What injury do you unto Jesus Christ? These Infants borne dead should not have great occasion to bless his coming, nor to sing with those which have received him, when he entered into Jerusalem: Blessed be the son ²of David, which cometh in the name of the Lord. They should have had more just occasion to curse and detest him, sith that in stead to amend their condition, he hath put them in worse estate then the Jews were before his coming: You cannot deny that absurdity and inconvenience, if you will maintain your doctrine truly, the which declareth it self altogether contrary, to the doctrine of the gospel, full of all consolation, in stead of which your doctrine bringeth but desolation and despair. Hillarius. I can speak by experience. For I have known holy women, walking in true simplicity of heart and great fear of God, which were so troubled in their conscience, because that such inconveniences happened unto them, and that they were so persuaded, that with much a doe, one could find any means to comfort them and set their conscience at rest and in quiet: what soever things […]