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

If they be great Divines and severe Philosophers, let them account us for young Grammarians, who do but a little open and bruise the matters, and to chew unto the simple people the meat a little more smaller, for to prepare them to their school, and unto a more higher Philosophy. If they think that, we must entreat of such matters with more greater gravity & modesty, I deny not that we can entreat of the word of God with to great honour, and reverence: But I would that they had aswell the consideration, that the word of God is not so severe, but y• it hath his merry conceits, sports, honest games, merry jests, & words covenable & most agreeing ¹to his grace & Majesty. And he y• will try & prove it, let him consider how. GOD himself, and Jesus Christ that great celestial Orator, doth speak sometime, either in rebuking his Disciples or the Hypocrites and reprobate: and among those which the Lord did speak, without heaping together, a great many of examples, that they would only, mark and behold what answer Joas the father of Gideon did ⟨p. 15⟩²make unto the Burgesses and Citizens of the town who ³complained to him of his son, which had pulled down and destroyed the Idol of Baal and his Altar: And the words that Ely had with the Prophets of Baal: What ⁴mocked did he give them? And Fsay in like manner against the Babylonians and their Idols? Who yet nevertheless were both of them grave & very severe Prophets. And in the book of wisdom, and in Baruch and in the ⁵Epistle attributed unto Jeremiah. I will leave off to allege the examples of so many good ancient Doctors, who in their books, and by their writings have so much jested and mocked at the superstitions and Idolatries of the Pans, which had more greater reason and appearance then those against whom we do at this time fight. He that will not believe me let him read their works, chiefly of Tertullian, Eusebius, Lactantius, Augustine, Hierome, and other like, upon all those that they have written against the Pans and Heretics. Wherefore then shall not that be permitted us in Dialogues, which we rebuke not in those great men, when they have spoken it in their own person, the which requireth more gravity, then if they did bring in other men speaking and disputing together, as I do in my Dialogues & disputations.