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

Forasmuch then as he would not only by the holy predication of the gospel, but also by the sacraments, & chiefly by the holy supper, feed & refresh us with his flesh & his blood, & to make us feel the better the virtue & efficacy, & to confirm our ⟨p. 186⟩faith & to comfort our consciences: thou canst not deny, but that the Priests do great wrong unto the Christian people, to deprive them from such a •ood thing: Forasmuch also as they do not admit to their communion the people, they declare y• they are of an other communion & religion then of his, & that they account them not for Christians, but for Jews, Turks, & Infidels, whom we do reject & excommunicate from the sacraments, & from our communion, because y• they are enemies of our religion. Is not that an act altogether repugnant unto y• intention of Jesus Christ, who would that his supper should be common & general to all his people? and those here do make it particularly, Furthermore, wherefore is it called a communion if it be not common unto all the Christian people, as the name importeth and signifieth? of which also is taken the name of excommunication, by the which we do signify the separation ¹and rejection of him, who through his evil deeds is driven out from that holy communion, and cut off from the body of the Church, as a rotten member unworthy to communicate with her to Jesus Christ, who is y• head, according to the ordinance that he hath made, and the practise of his Apostles.

For asmuch then as he would not onely by the holy predication of the gospel, but also by the sacramēts, & chiefly by the holy supper, féede & refresh vs with his flesh & his bloud, & to make vs féele the better the vertue & efficacie, & to confirme our ⟨p. 186⟩faith & to comfort our consciences: thou canst not deny, but that the Priests do great wrong vnto the Christian people, to depriue them frō such a •ood thing: For asmuch also as they do not admit to their communion the people, they declare y they are of an other cōmunion & relygion then of his, & that they accompt them not for Christians, but for Iewes, Turkes, & Infidels, whom we do reiect & excommunicate from the sacraments, & from our communion, bicause y they are enemies of our religion. Is not that an act altogether repugnant vnto y intention of Iesus Christ, who would that his supper should be common & generall to all his people? and those héere do make it perticulerly, Furthermore, wherefore is it called a communion if it be not common vnto all the Christian people, as the name importeth and signifieth? of which also is taken the name of excommunication, by the which we doe signifie the seperation