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

It is very true, that one shall find men enough, which will promise remedies for such diseases, but he shall not find many which have well proved and tried that which they teach unto others. For many men sometime will meddle or take upon them to heal others, which have more need of a medicine, then those unto whom they would give it, and there are more Physicians then diseases. And although I will not glory nor boast my self to be very able and cunning in that matter, yet nevertheless I will not hide that little talent which the LORD hath given unto me. I am not ignorant, but that the Lord hath raised up in these our days, learned men which have already very well declared and opened those obscure and dark places, of which so many poor consciences are troubled, after whom I am not worthy to carry their books, but do esteem it a great benefit of GOD to have been their disciple and scholar, and by their means to have understanded GODS truth, although that many books have been already made and set forth in our country by divers learned, for to discover the abuses, and for to put again the word of GOD in his honour, according as our Saviour JESUS CHRIST instituted it. Nevertheless, I have yet thought that my little labour shall not be altogether vain and unprofitable towards a great many of my brethren and countrymen, especially towards some, for many causes. First, because that the most part of those which have written of divinity, have hitherto written in the Latin tongue, the which is not to be understood ¹of all men, and especially of the poor ignorant people, which have more need of plain doctr•e ⟨image 11⟩and consolation. Wherefore it is good that such matters which do touch and concern our health and salvation be manifested and set forth in all languages, to the end that those which do not understand the one, may be instructed by the other. For it is all one what language one speaketh unto us, so that we understand him, and that we may be well instructed in the will of God, and in all things ²necessary unto our salvation. For God regardeth not the languages, but only the thing to which all languages ought to serve.

It is very true, that one shall finde men inough, which will promise remedyes for such diseases, but he shall not finde many which haue well proued and tryed that which they teach vnto others. For many men sometime wyll meddle or take vppon them to heale others, which haue more néede of a medicine, then those vnto whome they would giue it, and there are more Phisicions then diseases. And although I will not glorye nor boaste my selfe to be very able and cunning in that matter, yet neuerthelesse I will not hyde that lyttle talent which the LORDE hath giuen vnto mée. I am not ignorant, but that the Lord hath raysed vp in these our dayes, learned men which haue already very well declared and opened those obscure and darke places, of which so many poore consciences are troubled, after whome I am not worthy to carry their bookes, but doe estéeme it a greate benefite of GOD to haue bene their disciple and scholler, and by their meanes to haue vnderstanded GODS truth, although that many bookes haue bene alreadye made and set foorth in our countrey by diuers learned, for to discouer the abuses, and for to put agayne the woorde of GOD in his honour, according as our Sauiour IESUS CHRIST instituted it. Neuerthelesse, I haue yet thought that my lyttle labour shall not be altogether vayne and vnprofitable towards a great many of my bretheren and countrimen, especially towards some, for many causes. First, bicause that the most parte of those which haue written of diuinitie, haue heterto written in the Latine tougue, the whiche is not to be vnderstood