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

Eusebius. Sith that all that is done unto the honour of God, can it be but good?

Eusebius. Sith that all that is done vnto the honour of God, can it be but good?

Theophilus. Howe can it be to the honour of God, to attribute unto the creatures, the honour which belongeth unto him? Or to shut up and limit his grace, virtue and power by them? And to overthrow and turn upside down altogether the order of God, and the use, for which he hath created them, for he hath not created the water, salt, fire & the ware for to purify the souls: for to orive away the Devils and for to be remedies to all corporal and spiritual diseases: But he hath created the water, for to drink: for to wash away the filthiness of the body, for to refresh, sprinkle and help the natural necessities for which God hath ordained them. As much must we understand of the fire, salt and ware, and all other creatures, which cannot serve us, but according to their natural properties, and according to the ordinance of God. Wherefore whosoever altereth and changeth that order of nature, and use of the creatures, otherwise then he ought, attributing unto them any other property then that which God hath given unto them, he blasphemeth God, and is worthy to be taken ⟨p. 154⟩for a Sorcerer and a Magician. For wherein doth a ¹good Physician and a Philosopher differ from a Charmer and Magician, but in this that those do follow the order of God in his creatures, and their natural disposition, and those here do pervert and overthrow it, and will by words, charms and conjurations, change their nature and bring them to other effects, then God hath appointed them.

Theophilus. Howe can it be to the honour of God, to attribute vnto the creatures, the honour which belōgeth vnto him? Or to shut vppe and lymit his grace, vertue and power by them? And to ouerthrowe and tourne vpside downe altogether the order of God, and the vse, for which hée hath created them, for hée hath not created the water, salt, fire & the ware for to purifie the soules: for to oriue away the Diuelles and for to be remedyes to all corporall and spirituall diseases: But he hath created the water, for to drincke: for to wash awaye the filthinesse of the body, for to refresh, sprinckle and helpe the naturall necessities for which God hath ordayned them. As much must wée vnderstande of the fire, salte and ware, and all other creatures, whiche cannot serue vs, but accordinge to their naturall properties, and according to the ordinaunce of God. Wherefore whosoeuer altereth and chaungeth that order of nature, and vse of the creatures, otherwise then he ought, attributinge vnto them any other propertie then that whiche God hath gyuen vnto them, hée blasphemeth God, and is worthy to be taken