A14462:78
The first part of the Christian instruction, and general so[m]me of the doctrine, contained…The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned…
The first part of the Christian instruction, and general so[m]me of the doctrine, contained in the holy Scriptures wherein the principal points of the religion are familiarly handled by dialogues, very necessary to be read of all Christians. Translated into English, by John Shute, according to the late copy set forth, by th'author Master Peter Viret. 1565. Overseen and perused, according to the order appointed, by the Queens majesties injunctions.The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned in the holy Scriptures wherein the principall pointes of the religion are familiarly handled by dialogues, very necessary to be read of all Christians. Translated into Englishe, by Iohn Shute, accordyng to the late copy set forth, by th'author Maister Peter Viret. 1565. Ouersene and perused, accordyng to the order appointed, by the Queenes maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by John Day, 1565London: printed by Iohn Day, 1565
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.
¶ How that the want of the knowledge of God, & his truth, reigneth not in man, without his great fault.
¶ Hovv that the vvāt of the knovvledge of God, & his truth, raigneth not in man, vvithout his great faulte.
T. Then if those that are ignorant in the doctrine of the Lord, and by means of their ignorance do not fo• ⟨p. 16⟩low it at all, shall not be excused by their ignorance: how much less shall they that are not only content to be ignorant of it, but do openly persecute the same? For there is no ignorance in that behalf, but that a great piece of the fault is in our selves. For in how many & sundry sorts doth God daily declare him self to us? By how many means doth he call, and as it were draw us unto him? We do all know that there is one God which is the Lord of all. T. That is very true. D. If he be the Lord of all, then all men are bound to obey his laws and ordinances. T. That is but reason. D. We can not observe and keep them, but first we must know them and understand them. Wherefore before all other things we must seek for this knowledge and understanding. For there is nothing more honest, more profitable, nor more necessary for us; and contrariwise there is no thing more unhonest, more worthy of blame, nor more hurtful, then is the ignorance of the law, and of the will of God. For if the ignorance of any thing that is worthy to be known (men having means to attain to the knowledge thereof) be to be condemned, and that so much the sooner, in so much as the knowledge of the thing is more commendable and more necessary: how much should we esteem unhonest and intolerable the ignorance of the law, and of the will of God? Of the which the knowledge is more necessary for us, then is the light of the sun, and the usage of the fire and water, without the which this humane life can not continue. T. I confess no less. For in as much as the soul of man is more excellent then is the body, even so are the things more excellent & more necessary that do concern the soul, or at the least both soul and body together, then are those which appertain only to the body. For if the soul be well and in good case, the body can not be but well: but if the body be well entreated and delicately used, and the soul evil entreated and negligently looked unto, the evil entreaty