A14461:424
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.
Theophilus. There is no doubt but ye the ancient Christians, because ye some were come of the Jews, & some of y• paynims, have yet hept many of the manners and customs that they used in their countries, the which yet nevertheless they have changed into a better use. For the Jews and Paynims had many things, which of them selves might be tolerable, and to serve to some kind of honesty and civility, if the superstition and the foolish opinions had been taken away. In the ancient Church 1when that any faithful man was dead being constant in the faith of Jesus Christ, and that he made a goodly confession in his death, they used to make a commemoration to the congregation, for to incite and stir up others to such faith and constantnesse, and chiefly when he hath been killed by the Tyrants, and that he hath been the true 2martyr of Jesus Christ, & in the mids of his torments hath constantly confessed the truth, and hath witnessed it by his death, and sealed it by his blood. For that cause the 3Notaries and Protonotaries were constituted and appointed, who were charged to write truly and after the truth the Ecclesiastical histories, the lives and doings of the holy Martyrs, & true servants of God, for the edification of the Church and congregation: for at certain times they made commemoration unto the Congregation of the faith and constantnesse of the Martyrs, for to comfort and for tesie the poor faithful in the midst of the persecutions that they suffered for Jesus Christ, to the end that after the example of the Martyrs, they should prepare themselves rather to dye valiantly for the witness of the truth, then to renounce and forsake it. And ⟨p. 78⟩the Dration and Sermon that Saint Ambrose made for 4the Emperor Theodosius after that he was dead, tended to none other end. And when the good ancient bishops praised after that sort the good servants of God, that had faithfully travailed in his work & vineyard, they did go about no other thing by that means, but to edify the congregation with good examples, even as the holy prophets and Apostles have described unto us the holy scriptures, the lives and acts of holy men, which have been called of God, for to instruct and teach us by their example.