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 Preface.

IT is said in a common proverb: he which hath suffered nothing, knoweth not what evil ¹is. And therefore it is very hard, that he which never hath suffered any evil, can have such pity and compassion of the captives and miserable, as he which hath tried and proved great miseries and need, and which hath been exercised in them, and hath abidden many adversities and troubles. For he that knoweth not what poverty is, doth not much think upon the necessities of the poor, nor he cannot so well know in what languor and misery they do live. When the rich man hath his feet well shod, and that he is well cladded and pompously apparelled, he sitteth at the table, he hath of delicate meat great abundance, amongest which he banqueteth and maketh great cheer, he thinketh not much upon Lazarus, who lieth at his gate full of botches and sores, naked, ²and having no nourishment. He doth not greatly pass whether he be shod or unshod, naked or clad, whether he be cold or warm, whether he have meat & drink or not. Sith that he is at his ease, all others are so, and he careth not for them. Wherefore I doubt not but that the Lord will s•nde many adversities and afflictions unto his servants in this world, and that he will try them ³so many ways, that every day we shall feel and prove them, to that end, that they having proved in themselves the poorness and miseries that others may suffer, they do learn the better how to bear it, and to have more greater pity and compassion, and to be the readier to aid and succour them. And without seeking to far the examples of the Patriarchs and Prophets: As Abraham Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and other like, which have been tried with so many tribulations. Let us only consider how the Lord Jesus Christ would make his