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

Theophilus. To the end thou mayest not rebuke me in over rash defining of such things, I will propound unto thee the witnesses of the scripture, by which thou mayest comprehend that which we may judge off. Mark ⟨p. 246⟩then first the witness of the Apostle, which saith, writing of the holy prophets and servants of God which were before the coming of Christ: that all those there, having ¹obtained witness by faith received not the promise, God having provided a certain better thing for us, to the end that they should not be come unto perfection, without us. He saith not, that they have altogether received the promise: For it was made first of all to them. But he understandeth the accomplishing and the fruit of the same, of which they have not been altogether deprived: But they have not had it so perfectly, as we have it now: For sith that he speaketh of fulfilling and ending, he signifieth then, that there is already great beginning of felicity: But the perfection was not yet, nor shall be until the consummation and restoring of all things. For the term of consummation and perfection, are relatives, the which we must necessarily refer unto some beginning. To which agreeth the answer that GOD made unto the souls of the Martyrs which demanded vengeance against the persecutors of the Church: unto whom the Lord answered, that they should tarry until the number of ²their brethren were fulfilled.

Theophilus. To the end thou maist not rebuke me in ouer rash defining of such things, I will propounde vnto thée the witnesses of the scripture, by whiche thou maist comprehend that which we may iudge off. Mark ⟨p. 246⟩then first the witnesse of the Apostle, which saith, writting of the holy prophets and seruants of God which were before the comming of Christ: that all those there, hauing ¹obteyned witnesse by faith receiued not the promise, God hauing prouided a certeine better thing for vs, to the end that they should not be come vnto perfection, without vs. He saith not, that they haue altogether receiued the promise: For it was made first of all to them. But he vnderstandeth the accomplishing and the fruite of the same, of which they haue not béene altogether depriued: But they haue not had it so perfectly, as we haue it nowe: For sith that he speaketh of fulfilling and ending, he signifieth then, that there is alreadie great beginning of felicitie: But the perfection was not yet, nor shalbe vntill the consūmation and restoring of all things. For the terme of consūmation and perfection, are relatiues, the which wée must necessarily referre vnto some beginning. To which agréeth the aunswere that GOD made vnto the soules of the Martyrs which demaunded vengeaunce against the persecutors of the Church: vnto whome the Lorde aunswered, that they shoulde tarrye vntyll the number of