A14461:847
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
The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take great pleasure in the reading thereof. Translated out of French into English, by John Brooke of AsheThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take greate pleasure in the reading thereoff. Translated out of French into English, by Iohn Brooke of Ashe
London: printed by Thomas East, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For without the same, neither sackcloth nor ashes, nor the abstinence of meats, will not profit, but for to provoke the wrath of God, through such hypocrisy, the which nothing can 1be more displeasing unto him. For sith that GOD is truth, and the Father thereof, and the Devil is liar and the Father of lies, what thing can be more contrary unto the nature of GOD, and his truth, which ought to shine in his children, then hypocrisy the daughter of the Devil and of lies? & to lye upon the spirit of God and his Church? For what other thing is hypocrisy 2and dissimulation, but lying? And what other thing is the hypocrite before GOD, but a dissembler,beguiler, and a scoffer, a mocker of God and men, and a very traitor and deceiver? who would be esteemed other then he is, and thinketh to deceive both GOD and men, caring but for to please men, as he which playeth his part upon a stage or scaffold, only for to get praise and glory: As our Lord Jesus Christ witnesseth of the Scribes and Pharisees, who do all their works but for the praise of the world: For as 3the Prophet saith, O Lord thou lookest only upon faith. If the best works that God ever commanded be not profitable unto him that doeth them, if they proceed not of a true & lively faith, without unsaincdnesse, with a 4pure heart and a good conscience, without doing it to any other end, but to the glory of God, and health of our neighbour, whereto then can the vare ceremonies serve, 5which of themselves are nothing worth, but forasmuch as they do serve to more greater things, and that they are as the rudiments, and beginnings, and the first elements & degrees, for to come and attain unto greater things, to that which they prepare do: As yt letters, the Alphabet ⟨image 177⟩and the first rules Grammar, do prepare little children and young Grammarians, to a higher knowledge, and more greater perfection: or otherwise all that should serve them but in little stead. Therefore Saint Paul