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 that same cause also, Jacob commanded and ordained in his testament, that his body should not be buried in Egypt, but that it should be carried into the land of Canaan, in the sepulchre of his fathers. And Joseph his son following that example hath also commanded the children of Israel, to heap his bones, until they enter into that land? not for to made relics of them, and to enclose them in gold or silver for to worship them, all the while that they shall be in Egypt, ¹or in the land of Canaan, after that they shall be arrived in the same, but for to bury them there: not for the opinion that he had of the worthiness of his sepulture, or of the holiness of the land. For then it was inhabited of the Paynims & Infidels, o• the Canaanites, Amorrians, & others like which were so abominable, because of their execrable crimes, that God could, not suffer them. but hath ⟨p. 119⟩exterminated, driven away and destroyed them by his just ²judgement, for to give that land as an heritage unto his people. But Joseph, although that he dyed in Egypt would first witness, that he believed perfectly in the promise of God. And for more greater probation of his faith, hath left unto them that witness of the same, for to assure them that they should enter there once, sith that he would not be buried, until such time as they were come thither, for to inherit the promised land. That was almost such a witness, as that of Jeremiah, in buying the field ³of his cousin, which was in the land of Judah: willing thereby to declare and show forth, that the people then were in captivity, and almost all of them did despair never to return into their land (notwithstanding that the Lord had promised unto them the contrary) which was unto him certain & sure of the promise of the Lord. Wherefore he would give unto them a good hope of their returning, promised chiefly by Isaiah long time before the captivity, and by Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesying at the time that the captivity approached, and during the same: therefore did he buy that field and that possession, for to testify by that buying, that he had a good hope of his return, and that he was assured by the word of God, what soever infidelity was in the people: or otherwise he had been a fool and not well advised, to put his money in hazard to be lost, and himself to be mocked, and accounted for a liar & a false prophet.