A14461:1437
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.
Theophilus. If there were found among them some, who feeling the judgement of God upon them, have remembered the preaching & admonitions which Loth made unto them by the word of god, and which have had repentance and were sorry for their sins, in requiring mercy of God with a good heart and good affection in the middest of the fire: I will not maintain that God hath refused unto them grace and mercy. For he hath promised unto 1the sinner, as often as with a good heart he shall return unto him. Now if there be any such among them, I leave that to the judgement of God, who knoweth all things and those that are his. For he punisheth sometimes some 2men with corporal pains, with the reprobate, the which notwithstanding he condemneth not with them to eternal damnation, he punisheth them corporally, as he chastiseth and correcteth his elect by afflictions, either because 3that they have been negligent in rebuking the wicked and vicious: or else that they have given some consent unto their vices, and have not had in recommendation the honour of GOD as they ought to have had. But because that they have not abidden and continued hard hearted, & have not sinned against the holy Ghost, the Lord mitigateth their pain, and is contented to chastise and correct them corporally, for to humble them, to make them to acknowledge their fault, and for to be an example unto others: As the Apostle witnesseth of ⟨image 298⟩the Corinthians, who for the despising of the Supper of Jesus Christ, were chastised of God with diseases and death. Such might be the kindred of Loth. For it is not like to be true that Loth would have taken alliance 4with them, if they had ben altogether as abominable as the others of the city. Yet nevertheless because they were unbelieving & of incredulity, and that they lightly regarded all things, they were punished with the others, for to give others to understand, that it is not good to dwell among the wicked and to support their iniquity. Yet nevertheless I leave the same to the judgement of God, who knoweth the hearts. But I only speak this to the end we do not judge rashly of his secrets and judgements, & except we have express revelation: