A14461:41
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 Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take great pleasure in the reading thereof. Translated out of French into English, by John Brooke of AsheThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take greate pleasure in the reading thereoff. Translated out of French into English, by Iohn Brooke of Ashe
London: printed by Thomas East, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For they give themselves but to scurrility, and do think that they cannot sufficiently enough delight men except their device be altogether full of ruffianly talk and bawdry, of villainies 1and blasphemies, not only intolerable to the Christians, ⟨image 16⟩but which should be judged worthy of grievous punishments amongest the Jews, Turks, Paynims, and Infidels. For if the Gentiles and Paynims have not taken and accounted for honest men, and worthy to be advanced into any honourable office in a common wealth, the Morris dancers, Maskers, Jugglers, Players, Mummers, and Jesters, what honour is that unto Princes and unto Christian people to take delight, not only in such men with their books, but in others a great deal more detestable, and more ruder in all filthy and vile words, as the ruffians of the stews, and deniers of GOD. Do we think that Jesus Christ hath said 2without a cause, that for every idle word that men shall speak, they must render account at the day of judgement? Sith that the trueth, which lieth not telleth us the same so clearly, and doth menace and threaten that we must render an account for every idle word: that is to say, which is vain and unprofitable, which serveth nothing at all to the glory of GOD, nor to any edifying of our neighbour: Do we think that our ribald and bawdy talk, backbitings, evil speakings, unadvised, slanderous and infamous words which do serve to none other end but to pervert the understandings of men, to add or heap evil upon evil, to cast oil into the fire, and to bring tow the better to inflame mans conscience unto all wickedness and abomination, and unto the which it is already too much inclined: Do we think that such languages shall not come to an account, and that they shall not be a reproach unto us and brought before our eyes at the judgement of GOD? Were it not better for us to follow the admonition which the holy Apostle taught us saying: Let your speech be always well savoured 3and powdered with salt, that ye may knew how to answer every man. Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to edify withal, when need is: that it may have favour with the hearers.