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

For if they had intelligence and understanding such as they think to have, and that they did know the abomination such as it is, and how it displeaseth God, and is noisome and hurtful unto his church, they would retire and draw themselves further from it then they do, and it should be unpossible that they could see and suffer it, but would flee rather away from thence, or they would suffer themselves rather to be burned, then to dissemble and consent unto it: But would say as the faithful of whom the Prophet hath written, which do consider the grace which God hath done unto them, and comparing them with their first condition, say, to the great abomination ¹of all Idolatry. Fie, get you hence. And therefore, one cannot to much manifest the abuses. For truth cannot be ²known without discovering them & pulling them down. And in doing that, one doth manifest them unto those who knoweth them not yet, which shall be always more in number than we would, the which we must draw away. Afterwards the thing may serve them which already have the knowledge, many ways. First for to refresh and quicken the memory from the darknesses in which they have been, to the end, that they may know the better the blindness & infirmity of mans understanding, & what he may do of himself, when he will be guided by his own head, and forsake God and his word, for to follow men and their traditions. Afterwards, that shall serve them for a remembrance and sign of the triumph of Jesus Christ, and of his truth, to the confusion of Satan, Antichrist, lying, and mans wisdom, who will exalt himself above the knowledge of GOD, to the end that he have more occasion to humble himself, to acknowledge the mercy that GOD hath done for him, and to render thanks unto him: And that he be more prudent and better advised hereafter, and pray unto the LORD more earnestly that he do keep him that he do never fall again into such or like errors and inconveniences. Furthermore that shall serve him as a prick, the better to ⟨image 24⟩prick him forward to indignation against Antichrist, and to have compassion upon the poor ignorant people and his wandering and erring brethren, and to take with more greater courage the cause of the trueth in hand, considering the unworthiness of the thing.

For if they had intelligence and vnderstanding such as they thincke to haue, and that they dyd knowe the abhomination such as it is, and howe it displeaseth God, and is noisome and hurtfull vnto his church, they would retyre and drawe themselues further from it then they doe, and it should bée vnpossible that they could sée and suffer it, but would flée rather away from thence, or they would suffer themselues rather to bée burned, then to dissemble and consent vnto it: But would say as the faithfull of whom the Prophet hath written, which doe consider the grace which God hath done vnto them, and comparing them with their first condition, say, to the great abhomination