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

Furthermore if Saint Paul by occasion hath sometime ¹alleged the witness of the Panims, yea of Poets, for to serve to his matter, and if the ancient Doctors of the Church of whom I have already spoken off, have yet done more and their book have served them so well for to confound them themselves, and to vanquish them of their errors and to show unto them more clearly the truth & virtue of our religion: Insomuch that Julian the Apostate in ²spite of his beard was constrained to forbid the Christians to read them: he ought not to think it strange, if I do follow their example in like things, chiefly when I will show plainly and openly before all mens eyes, how the superstitions and Idolatries of the Christians were taken from the Paynims and Idolaters, and altogether like or worse. I do not allege them for that Gods truth is not sufficient of it self, to allow and maintain it self, but for to make all things to serve him, and for to make the light the better to be known from darkness, the truth from lying, and the better to vanquish and overcome the shameless seducers, who would yet hide and cover their heresies and abominations, if one do not show them forth with the finger, and except one do take them as the thief upon his theft and robbery, and the shameless whore with her whoredom. And if there be any yet which will not be contented with those reasons, I will show unto him such an excuse and defence as Mantuan did make for himself, in a matter almost like, saying: Think not that I am to be rebuked because that ³I have recourse to the authority of an heathen man. For Saint Augustine which is one of our Doctors, saith: If the Philosophers have said any thing conformable unto our faith, we must not avoid them nor fear them, but rather we ought to convert & turn them to our use and profit, as things recovered & taken away from unjust possessors, for to make them serve to their true possessors.

Furthermore if Saint Paul by occasion hath sometime ¹alleaged the witnesse of the Panuns, yea of Poets, for to serue to his matter, and if the auncient Doctors of the Church of whom I haue already spoken off, haue yet done more and their booke haue serued them so well for to confounde them themselues, and to vanquish them of their errours and to shew vnto them more cléerely the truth & vertue of our relygion: Insomuch that Iulian the Apostate in