A14461:1214
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
The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take great pleasure in the reading thereof. Translated out of French into English, by John Brooke of AsheThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take greate pleasure in the reading thereoff. Translated out of French into English, by Iohn Brooke of Ashe
London: printed by Thomas East, 1579
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.
If he see but a leaf of a tree to wag he thinketh that they are sergeants sent for to take and carry him to prison. If he think to sleep and take rest, he dreameth that he is in the hands of the judge which sendeth him to the hangman, and that they do lead him to the gallows. And in waking and sleeping, he ceaseth not to imagine and think of hangmen, tortures and Gibbets: Wherefore the Prophet hath not said without a cause: That the wicked are like the raging Sea, that cannot rest, whose water •ometh with the mire and gravel. Even so the wicked have no peace, saith the Lord. 1Have we not the example very evident in Cain and in Judas? From whence proceeded that violence of mans conscience but from GOD? Which maketh his enemies to feel his judgement and his furor, in such sort that they themselves cannot bear it? But are constrained to condemn them selves and despair: which ⟨image 255⟩is a certain witness that there is a judgement and • God unto whom we must render account. The which 2we ought all to understand and know, although we should never hear speaking of God, nor of his holy scriptures: and although we should have none other witness but the same here: the which God hath naturally printed into the heart of every one, the which ought well to suffice us. For as saint John saith: if but hearts condemn 3us, God is greater then our harts and knoweth all things. That is as much as if he had said, if we ourselves do condemn us, may not God well condemn us? Sith that we have such a fear and such a horror doeth not our heart admonish us sufficiently, that we have a superior and governor which will not suffer such things? Sith that there is not so great a Prince, not so great a Tyrant, which feeleth not that hell in his conscience. Although there be not a man upon the earth above him of whom he may be afraid. Doest thou now see, how the hell 4of the wicked beginneth already in him, here in […] world? The which our Lord Jesus Christ, would not have us to be ignorant off, saying: be that believeth in the