A14462:85
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.
¶ Of the vices that make men ignorant of God and of his truth, and how the servants of God continually bring accusation against them.
¶ Of the vices that make men ignoraunt of God and of hys truth, and hovv the seruauntes of God continually bring accusation agaynst them.
D. Saint Paul was not ignorant of this, and therefore although he say that he hath obtained mercy for his 1persecuting the Church of God through ignorance, yet doth he not excuse himself by the same, nor letteth to show the grievousness of his sin, calling himself the greatest of sinners, a blasphemer, a persecutor, a man full of violence and oppression, and acknowledgeth him self worthy of death and eternal damnation. If God of his great mercy and grace had not succoured him, whereof he should not have needed, if that he had not sinned, or if that his ignorance mought have excused him. For how good so ever his meaning was, or how great so ever his zeal was toward the law of God, yet notwithstanding his ignorance was not without a great portion of that negligence and carelessness which ⟨p. 20⟩is naturally in men as touching the knowledge of God and godly things, nor without some portion of the pride, rashness, wilfulness, presumption, and arrogance of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of hypocrisy and superstition, which are very great vices, from the which even those that are most perfect and holy, cannot well shift them, although they do not appear unto men. T. If then this doth happen to such as are of the most perfect sort, as to Saint Paul: what shall become then of a sort of glorious and arrogant hypocrites, which are much more full of hypocrisy, then of good conscience, and have a greater care for their own glory and profit, then for the glory of God, and the edification of his church, and have such an opinion of their own knowledge, justice and perfection, that they think that no man may amend or correct any jot thereof? For there be very few such ignorant ones amongst the persecutors of the church, as was saint Paul before his conversion. D. There is no doubt of that. Saint Peter doth also impute unto ignorance, in the sermon that he made in Jerusalem