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 I believe that there is not a man of a good heart, which taketh any great pleasure to remove that filthiness except they be constrained to do it through their importunity, impudency and shameless face. For what good Christian heart can suffer, that daily men should hide those abominations, and that one should cover such villainies, making us to believe, that their filthiness and stink is as sweet as balm: their poison to be the bread of life: lying to be the truth: Hell to be Paradise: cursing to be blessing: darkness to be light: and death life? As for me I cannot colour, flatter nor hide the things, and I cannot but name them by their names. For such is the language and style of the spirit ⟨image 25⟩of God, which will not speak after mens fantasies ¹and for to please them, as the Orators, which can give unto vices the names of virtues, and such colour as it pleaseth them, but to speak truth, as the thing is, calling Idolatry, that which the Hypocrites and Idolaters do call divine service, and their Idols, Devils, the which they call Gods. Wherefore although ²such Hypocrites have their foreheads of stone and Iron so hard and immutable, that one cannot make them blush, but do keep their countenances as thieves and murderers, and shameless as harlots, yet let them understand on the other side that GOD hath given to his servants, as he said unto Ezekiel, a forehead of Brass, and of ³a Diamond which is yet more harder, and which doth less shame to speak the truth and to give praises unto God, then they to maintain lyings, & to blame it. And therefore the Lord commanded Ezekiel, saying: go speak unto ⁴them, and say unto them that which I have commanded thee. I know nevertheless that they will do nothing, but I will y• thou do tell them. I know not what excuse such men can have. For they have been already taught all manner of ways. If they do complain that one hath learned & taught them to sharply, and with to great severity and rigour, I would learn and teach them a little more joyfully, and more jestingly, then bitterly. If they do yet find my manner of doing too sharp, there are as many others, which have written as modestly as is possible, & yet they find no goodness in it, and leave not off to persevere always worse and worse, in their errors and heresies.