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

Nevertheless notwithstanding that it hath pleased God, that that character and mark was not printed in my forehead (to the which yet nevertheless A. prepared my self, thinking that it was the right way of salvation, if the Lord had not had pity and compassion, on me, who called me unto a better vocation) yet I cannot therefore deny, but that I have been sufficiently plunged and very deep in that whore of Babylon, aswell as others. Although I have not been none of the governors and chiefest Eurgesses and Citizens of the same, yet I have been of the meaner sort & prepared for to bring forth the fruits of confusion, as the others did, and so much the more that by Nature I was more given unto religion, the which yet nevertheless I knew not, following in stead thereof all superstition. Wherefore, sithens that the Lord hath taken me out, I can not yet forget those that are detained and kept therein. And in remembering and considering the train of the new Babylon, it maketh me so remember a law and custom that ¹the ancient Babylonians had, the which is not altogether to be despised nor unworthy to be remembered. Before that Physic was yet brought into any perfect Art, and that there was not cunning Physicians for to practise it, they did set down a law, by which they ordained, ⟨image 10⟩that those which did begin to be sick and diseased, ought to go unto those, which sometime have been sick with the same disease, for to have their advice & counsel, and for to learn by them the remedy which they used, if they had proved any good, and which were well to be found. And to the end that that law should be the better kept, they used to bring those that were sick and diseased unto the streets and open places: and those which sometime had been sick, were bound by the law to visit them, and to teach unto every one of them the remedy by the which they were healed. If then the Babylonians were so careful of the sick and diseased:

Neuerthelesse notwithstanding that it hath pleased God, that that carecter and marke was not printed in my forehead (to the which yet neuerthelesse A. prepared my selfe, thincking yt it was the right waye of saluation, if the Lorde had not had pittie and compassion, on mée, who called mee vnto a better vocation) yet I cannot therefore denie, but that I haue bene sufficiently plunged and very déepe in that whore of Babilon, aswell as others. Although I haue not bene none of the gouernours and chiefest Eurgesses and Citizens of the same, yet I haue bene of the meaner sort & prepared for to bring foorth the fruites of confusion, as the others dyd, and so much the more that by Nature I was more giuen vnto religion, the which yet neuerthelesse I knewe not, following in steede thereoff all superstition. Wherefore, sithens that the Lord hath taken mée out, I can not yet forget those that are detayned and kept therein. And in remembring and considering the trayne of the newe Babilon, it maketh me so remember a lawe and custome that