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 unto those which have nothing, or a very little, to pull them away altogether, and to make them recoil & go back from the truth more then they were: As daily we see it by experience in young children, merchants, gentlemen, damoisels, and courtiers, who after that they have tasted of such books, are clean out of taste, & cannot away with all other, which are not like unto them. Wherefore I would gladly counsel such men of so good a mind and spirit, which give themselves to make such books, and I desire and pray them in the name of Jesus Christ, and so much as they love his honour and theirs, to apply that goodly wit and understanding which GOD hath given unto them, and that rhetoric and gift of eloquence, wherewith they are endued, into some better study, & matter more profitable, to the end they be not rebuked and blamed to have abused the gift of God against his honour and glory. For that cause I have purposed to write after a sort, which peradventure will seem very evilly to agree with a Theologian, to wit, unto one which will speak of divine letters: But I think that when men shall understand my reasons, they will take my advice and deliberation in good part, and I will leave unto none any just occasion to accuse and rebuke me in that I rebuke others, except that men love rather to serve to their affections and to use slanders, then to judge of things according to truth and equity. I have already touched some reasons which have induced me to do that, besides yet I will add too many others. The first is, that I would assay to make those learn by my example which have a better wit then I, to do that which I my self cannot: the which thing ought not to seem to strange. For a whetstone & a wheel do sharpen well the Iron, and maketh it to cut, and yet nevertheless it is not sharp nor cutteth of it self: And at the least wise I endeavour my self to show unto those good wits and spirits, which delight themselves in pleasant things, and which occupy themselves to such ⟨p. 12⟩vanities, and matters in the which they may exercise their understanding and cloquence, more to their honour before GOD and good people, and to more greater profit then they do, if they will not apply themselves unto matters to high and weighty, as many have done, as well among the old as the new.

And vnto those which haue nothing, or a very little, to pull them away altogether, and to make them recule & goe backe from the truth more then they were: As dayly wée sée it by experience in young children, merchants, gentlemen, damoisels, and courtiers, who after that they haue tasted of such bookes, are cleane out of taste, & cannot away with all other, which are not like vnto them. Wherfore I would gladly counsaile such men of so good a minde and spirite, which giue themselues to make such bookes, and I desire and pray them in the name of Iesus Christe, and so much as they loue his honour and theirs, to applie that goodly wit and vnderstanding which GOD hath giuen vnto them, and that rhetoricke and gift of eloquence, wherewith they are indued, into some better study, & matter more profitable, to the ende they bée not rebuked and blamed to haue abused the gyft of God against his honour and glorie. For that cause I haue purposed to write after a sort, which peraduenture will séeme very euilly to agrée with a Theologian, to wit, vnto one which wil speake of diuine letters: But I thincke that when men shal vnderstand my reasons, they will take my aduice and deliberation in good parte, and I will leaue vnto none any iuste occasion to accuse and rebuke mée in that I rebuke others, except that men loue rather to serue to their affections and to vse slaunders, then to iudge of thinges accordinge to truth and equitie. I haue already touched some reasons which haue induced mée to do that, besides yet I wyl adde too many others. The first is, that I would assay to make those learne by my example which haue a better wyt then I, to doe that which I my selfe cannot: the whiche thinge ought not to séeme to straunge. For a whetstone & a whéele doe sharpen well the Iron, and maketh it to cut, and yet neuerthelesse it is not sharpe nor cutteth of it selfe: And at the least wise I indeuour my selfe to shewe vnto those good wittes and spirites, which delyght themselues in pleasaunt thinges, and which occupie themselues to such