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 because that amongest such one may yet find some which are not altogether perverse and malicious, but that they have yet some seed of the fear of the LORD in them, me thinks that we must not altogether despair ⟨image 15⟩and abandon them, as sick folk that are incurable, but that we must yet prove to win them if it be possible, and to transfigure and change them into all forms and shapes, for to induce them to read the holy Scriptures, and to give unto them some taste. For if we can convert into good uses the means, by the which the Devil giveth himself to draw away man from the word of God, and to rob him altogether, and hold him in the vanities of this world, and may use them as a bait on a hook for to draw them from such vanities, and to incitate and provoke them to the study of the truth, me thinketh that we do nothing unworthy of the office of a Christian man. For even as the holy Apostle hath been made all unto all men, and doth apply and give himself unto every one, in all ¹that which was possible for him, without being against the will of God, making himself a Jew unto the Jews and a Gentile unto the Gentiles. So me thinketh y• by good right, I may do the like, so that I do not altogether forget the Christian modesty and the honour and reverence that the Christian oweth unto the word of GOD. For if the bawds of Satan endeavour themselves through fair and goodly delights and merry conceits to destroy the poor and silly souls, the espowses of Jesus, and to draw them away from him, for to make them serve him and to forsake their master: shall it not be lawful for us to use an other practise and cunning for to let theirs, for to discover and unhide their filthiness, for to make them appear to be abomination to all the world, and to retire and draw back the souls from his stews, for to join them again with Jesus Christ their Saviour?

Neuerthelesse bycause that amongest suche one maye yet finde some whiche are not altogeather peruerse and malicyous, but that they haue yet some seede of the feare of the LORDE in them, mée thinckes that wee muste not altogeather dyspayre ⟨image 15⟩and abanoon them, as sicke folke that are incurable, but that we must yet proue to winne them if it bee possible, and to transfigure and chaunge them into al formes and shapes, for to induce them to reade the holy Scriptures, and to giue vnto them some tast. For if we can conuert into good vses the meanes, by the which the Diuell gyueth himselfe to drawe away man from the word of God, and to robbe him altogether, and holde him in the vanities of this worlde, and may vse them as a baite on a hooke for to draw them from such vanities, and to incitate and prouoke them to the studye of the truth, me thincketh that wée doe nothing vnworthy of the office of a Christian man. For euen as the holy Apostle hath bene made all vnto all men, and doth applye and giue himselfe vnto euery one, in all