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

And grieve not the holy spirit of GOD, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let not ¹fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness be once named among you as it becometh Saints: neither filthiness, neither foolish talking, neither jesting which are not comely: but rather giving of thanks. Behold the lesson which the Doctor of the Gentiles giveth unto the Christians, for to learn them how they ought to speak: the which many have very evil studied and kept. For by their words and writings, they profit to none other end, but to infect and poison the souls, and to hinder a great many of good spirits to read better books, and more profitable for their health and salvation. For man cannot be idle, and except that he did find foolish and wicked books for to apply therein his study, he should be constrained to seek better and to occupy therein altogether his mind, without any detraction unto unprofitable things. I know very well that one may upon this reply, that such men in playing and jesting do discover the abuses of the world: But it is better not to remove and discover them, then to discover and blow them abroad after such a sort. For by that manner of doing, they may rather make of a ²superstitious and an hypocrite, a man without GOD and without Religion, then a good religious and holy man.

And grieue not the holy spirite of GOD, by whome yée are sealed vnto the daye of redemption. Let not ¹fornication and all vncleanenesse or couetousnesse bée once named amonge you as it becomneth Sainctes: neyther filthinesse, neither foolishe talkinge, neither iestinge which are not comely: but rather giuinge of thanckes. Beholde the lesson whiche the Doctour of the Gentiles giueth vnto the Christians, for to learne them howe they ought to speake: the which many haue very euill studied and kept. For by their woordes and writinges, they profite to none other ende, but to infect and poyson the soules, and to hinder a great many of good spirites to read better bookes, and more profitable for their health and saluation. For man cannot bée idle, and excepte that hée dyd finde foolishe and wicked bookes for to applye therein his studye, hée should bée constrayned to séeke better and to occupie therein altogether his minde, wythout any detraction vnto vnprofitable thinges. I knowe very well that one maye vppon this replye, that such men in playinge and iestinge doe discouer the abuses of the worlde: But it is better not to remoue and discouer them, then to discouer and blowe them abroade after such a sorte. For by that manner of dooing, they may rather make of a