A14463:1538
A14463:1538
A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the principal points of the Christian faith and religion, and of the abuses and errors contrary to the same. Done in certain dialogues in french, by M. Peter Viret, sometime minister of the Word of God at Nymes in Province. Translated by I.S. Seen and allowed according to the Queens Majesties injunctions.A Christian instruction, conteyning the law and the Gospell Also a summarie of the principall poyntes of the Christian fayth and religion, and of the abuses and errors contrary to the same. Done in certayne dialogues in french, by M. Peter Viret, sometime minister of the Word of God at Nymes in Prouince. Translated by I.S. Seene and allowed according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by Henry Bynneman? for Abraham Veale, 1573
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.
Ma. Thy meaning is then that charity hath not that office.
Ma. Thy meaning is then that charitie hathe not that office.
Peter. It is true. For albeit that faith cannot be without charity, yet faith goeth before it in order, the which doth engender it afterward.
Peter. It is true. For albeit that faithe cannot bée withoute charitie, yet faithe goeth before it in order, the whiche doth engender it afterwarde.
Peter. After that we are made partakers of the benefits of Jesus Christ thorough faith, after that GOD by the same hath justified us by his holy Spirit in Jesus Christ our Lord, he doth also sanctify us, communicating unto us his gifts and Graces which are the fruits of Faith, to the end that we should be dedicated and consecrated unto him all the days of our life, to serve and honour him as his ⟨p. 228⟩children, regenerate by his holy spirit into a new life.
Peter. After that we are made partakers of the benefites of Iesus Chryste thorough faythe, after that GOD by the same hathe iustified vs by his holye Spirite in Iesus Chryste oure Lorde, he dothe also sanctifye vs, communicating vnto vs his gyftes and Graces whyche are the frutes of Faythe, to the ende that we shoulde bée dedicated and consecrated vnto hym all the dayes of our lyfe, to serue and honour hym as hys ⟨p. 228⟩childrē, regenerate by his holy spirite into a newe life.
Ma. Thou doest report faith to justification, and charity to the work of sanctification which are both works of the holy Ghost.
Ma. Thou doest reporte faith to iustification, and charitie to the worke of sanctification whiche are both works of the holy Ghost.
P. Thou mayest understand it by the discourse which we have already made of justification and sanctification.
P. Thou maiest vnderstand it by the discourse whiche we haue already made of iustification and sanctification.
M. Charity is not then necessary to salvation, nor other like virtues, but faith only.
M. CHaritie is not then necessarie to saluation, nor other like vertues, but faith only.
P. It is necessary there unto and not necessary.
P. It is necessary there vnto and not necessary.
M. I do not well understand this speech, for it is contrary in it self.
M. I do not well vnderstand this speache, for it is contrary in it selfe.
P. I say that faith is necessary thereunto as cause of salvation, without the which we cannot obtain it, for the causes which I have already declared. For so much as it is the instrument the which the holy Ghost giveth us wherewith to receive him, when he is offered unto us by Jesus Christ, and the mean whereby he doth communicate him to us in him and by him. But charity is not there joined as a cause of salvation, without the ⟨p. 229⟩which we cannot be partakers of it, but as a thing joined unto it, the which followeth faith in such sort, which is the true cause of salvation, as I have already said, that she cannot be separate, no more than the heat from the light, or the moving or feeling from the life and from the soul. But yet notwithstanding we have not salvation thereby, no more than brightness by the heat, the which we have of the light, or else life by the motion and feeling.
P. I say yt faith is necessary therevnto as cause of saluation, withoute the whiche we cannot obtayne it, for the causes which I haue alredy declared. For somuch as it is the instrument the whiche the holy Ghoste giueth vs wherewith to receiue him, when he is offered vnto vs by Iesus Christ, and the meane whereby he doth communicate him to vs in hym and by him. But charitie is not there ioyned as a cause of saluation, without the ⟨p. 229⟩which we cannot be partakers of it, but as a thing ioyned vnto it, the whiche followeth faith in suche sorte, whiche is the true cause of saluation, as I haue already sayde, that she cannot be separate, no more than the heate from the lighte, or the mouing or féeling from the life and from the soule. But yet notwithstandyng we haue not saluation thereby, no more than brightnesse by the heate, the whiche we haue of the lighte, or else life by the motion and féeling.
M. Charity then and good works may not be taken for causes, by the which, or by whose mean we obtain salvation, but only so far as they cannot be separated from true faith,1 by the which we are made partakers of it.
M. Charitie then and good workes may not be taken for causes, by the which, or by whose meane we obtaine saluation, but onely so farre as they cannot be separated frō true faith,1 by the which we ar made partakers of it.
P. It is even so.
P. It is euen so.
M. Thou hast here opened unto me one point that was very hard to understand, the which seemeth to me very well worthy to be diligently noted. For there be few which do well understand it.
M. Thou hast here opened vnto me one point that was very harde to vnderstande, the whiche séemeth to me very well worthy to be diligently noted. For there bée fewe whiche do well vnderstande it.
Peter. If all men did well understand it, there would be no more different between the Christians touching justification, and touching faith and works, ⟨p. 230⟩and grace and merits, and the causes of our salvation for that which we have said of charity, is also understood, of all the other virtues and works of the regenerate man, as I have already said, which are the fruits the which Saint Paul doth call the fruits of the spirit,1 and the which he doth upon to the fruits of the flesh.
Peter. If all men did well vnderstande it, there woulde be no more differente betwene the Christians touching iustification, and touching faith and workes, ⟨p. 230⟩and grace and merites, and the causes of oure saluation for that whiche we haue sayde of charitie, is also vnderstoode, of all the other vertues and workes of the regenerate man, as I haue alredy sayde, whiche are the frutes the which Saincte Paule doth call the frutes of the spirite,1 and the which he doth oppone to ye frutes of the flesh.