A14461:45
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 how wicked so ever he hath been, and enemy to GOD and all Religion, yet we cannot deem but that he was a wise man, a great Orator ⟨p. 11⟩and a Philosopher, and that he hath written many good things, & a great deal better then those do here, of which the faithful man may well profit, so that he read them after an other spirit & intention then he hath written them, & that he do know to try the gold from the midst of the dross, & to separate the poison, from the good meat, but those whom I rebuke, do teach nothing which can serve to the honour and glory of God, nor unto good manners, nor to the edification of the congregation, nor to civility, nor to the knowledge of natural, human, nor divine things, but to play the fool, and to jest with all the world, and to mock and despise aswell the true Christian religion, as the superstitions and abominations of Antichrist. For if they would speak one honest word, it must be accompanied with fifty unhonest words. If they do set forth the truth, it must be that it be always environed with a thousand infamies and slanders, as of Damoisels and body keepers, for to hide, defend, & counterguard that it be not taken uncovered. Howe much can that manner of writing & speaking profit? For the prayer of the truth is simple, & would 1not have such covertures and cloaks, but would walk open and uncovered▪ And if we have compassion of the civil and imperial laws, because that they being goodly in themselves, are dishonoured by the hem of those glosses & filths of Bartolus, and barbarous writers. What may we 2say of the truth, so noble a daughter of the eternal king, accompanied with Damoisels so stinking, vile, and disformed with so many filthiness which do mar and take from her, her beauty? And to reply that it is not sure and without danger to speak truth in any other manner, I do answer to the same, that he were •etter to hold his peace altogether, then to preach it after such sort, and that it should be better not to give meat unto a man, then to give him poison for to kill him. Wherefore all things counted and reckoned, I know not how one can conclude any other thing of such doctrine but that the Authors thereof do give occasion unto ⟨image 18⟩