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

Then even as those who do write in a language which is most common to every Nation, and by which they may instruct and teach, not only those of their country, but also of strange countries, are worthy of great praise: So I do judge them worthy to be blamed, and not worthy to be accounted for christian men, to occupy themselves so much to teach the most wisest and best learned, and those which are so far separated from us, and that the poor ignorant, and those of the house should he despised, and should feel nor receive any fruit. One might rightly rebuke and check us: Physician heal thy self: And that we do not follow the example of Jesus Christ and his Prophets and Apostles, who have ¹always taught those with whom they had to do, in a language that they could best understand. For that cause was given unto the Apostles the gift of tongues, for to preach unto all people and Nations, knowing ²that the language ought to serve to the matter, and not the matter to the language. Wherefore considering that some men do write in Hebrew, some in Greek, some in Latin, others in Almain and in Flemish, others in Italian and Spanish, I have also written in a language, with which I am best acquainted and have most familiarity, ³according to my birth and nativity: Although that the matters that I entreat off, should have a greater grace in the Latin tongue then in the French tongue, and should be unto me more advantage. For oftentimes, I have the matter ready, that I need not but ⟨p. 5⟩to write them out of good Authors, where I need not to travail to translate the things in French the which is very hard and impossible, especially unto me to set them out with such grace, and to interpret them so natively as they sound in their natural language, Hebrew, Greek, or Latin. For although I be a poor Orator in Latin, I am not much better in French. Wherefore although I do not speak the language of Attica, nor well beautified & like a Rhetorician, but that it happeneth oftentimes that I do fall into my rude speech:

Then euen as those who doe wryte in a language which is most common to euery Nation, and by which they may instruct and teach, not onely those of their countrey, but also of straunge countreys, are worthy of great prayse: So I doe iudge them worthy to be blamed, and not worthy to be accounted for christian men, to occupy themselues so much to teach the most wisest and best learned, and those which are so farre seperated from vs, and that the poore ignoraunt, and those of the house should hée despised, and should féele nor receiue any fruite. One might rightly rebuke and checke vs: Phisition heale thy selfe: And that we doe not followe the example of Iesus Christ and his Prophetes and Apostles, who haue