A14463:2280
A14463:2280
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.
M. Give me an example of that which thou sayest.
M. Giue me an example of that which thou sayest.
P. For so much as the Sacraments are seals & confirmations of the doctrine, thou dost understand already, that they belong but only to those which are first sufficiently instructed, at the least in the principal points of the doctrine whereof they be Sacraments, & without understanding whereof none may communicate but to his condemnation, in mocking of the ordinances of Jesus Christ, and of his Church.
P. For so muche as the Sacraments are seales & confirmations of the doctrine, thou dost vnderstand already, that they belong but onely to those which are first sufficiently instructed, at the least in the principall points of the doctrine wherof they be Sacramēts, & without vnderstanding wherof none may communicate but to his condemnation, in mocking of the ordināces of Iesus Christ, and of his Church.
M. I do well understand that.
M. I do well vnderstand that.
P. And therefore men may lawfully set forth the doctrine to the most ignorant of the world, and to those in deed which never heard speak of it. For it is ordained to teach such men. But the sacraments may not be administered but to those which first are sufficiently instructed, in such sort, that they understand as much as is required for their salvation, of the mysteries contained in the same.
P. And therfore men may lawfully set foorth the doctrine to the most ignorant of the world, and to those in déede which neuer heard speake of it. For it is ordeined to teach such men. But the sacraments may not be administred but to those which first are sufficiently instructed, in suche sort, that they vnderstande as muche as is required for their saluation, of the mysteries conteyned in the same.
M. BY this reckoning then, all those that can not yield an account of their faith, must be shut out from the communion of the sacraments, if at the least they be not able to declare by some mean that they understand that which behoveth them to understand, to be found capable of the Sacraments.
M. BY this reckning then, all those that can not yéelde an accompt of their faith, must be shut out from the cōmuniō of the sacramēts, if at the least they be not able to declare by some meane that they vnderstand that which behoueth them to vnderstande, to be founde capable of the Sacraments.
P. It is also the cause why that in the well reformed Churches there is not only Catechisms for the instruction of young children, but also familiar & private instruction for such as be of age, beside the preachings and the other public Catechisms. There are also particular examinations, whereby they cause all such to yield reason of the faith, which have not as yet at all yielded any certain reason of their faith, to the end that they may the better know which they be that ought to be admitted to the communion of the sacraments, & which not, to the end that they be not profaned and polluted neither by the ministers which distribute them, ne yet by them which receive them at their hands, aswell to the condemnation of the one sort as of the other.
P. It is also the cause why that in the well reformed Churches there is not onely Cathechismes for the instruction of yong children, but also familiar & priuate instruction for suche as be of age, beside the preachings and the other publike Cathechismes. There are also particuler examinations, wherby they cause all suche to yelde reason of the fayth, which haue not as yet at all yelded any certayne reason of their fayth, to the ende that they may the better knowe which they be that ought to be admitted to the communion of the sacraments, & which not, to the ende that they be not prophaned and polluted neither by the ministers which distribute them, ne yet by them which receiue them at their hands, aswel to the condemnation of the one sort as of the other.
M. IF they which receive them, receive them unworthily to their condemnation, the ministers which distribute them unto them are they faulty also on their part?
M. IF they which receiue them, receiue them vnworthily to their condemnation, the ministers which distribute them vnto them are they faultie also on their parte?
P. Thou mayest well understand that they can not profane and pollute the holy things without yielding them selves greatly culpable of such profanation and pollution, for so much as it is expressedly forbidden them, to give the holy things to the dogs,1 and to cast pearls & precious stones before swine.
P. Thou mayest wel vnderstande that they can not prophane and pollute the holy things without yéelding them selues greatly culpable of such prophanation and pollution, for so muche as it is expressedly forbidden them, to giue the holy things to the dogges,1 and to cast pearles & precious stones before swine.
M. And what if they know not which be the dogs & the swine, or the sheep, and the worthy or unworthy, shall not their ignorance excuse them?
M. And what if they knowe not which be the dogges & the swine, or the shéepe, and the worthy or vnworthy, shall not their ignorance excuse them?
P. No, if it be through their default. For they ought as shepherds diligently to enquire of their sheep.
P. No, if it be through their default. For they ought as shepherds diligētly to enquire of their shéepe.
M. And what if after they have diligently enquired, the hypocrites deceive them, feigning them selves to be sheep, and lambs, where they be not only ⟨p. 375⟩swine and dogs, but a also cruel wolves: shall they be culpable of the pollution and profanation of the Sacraments, if they administer them to such men, having a fair show to be christians?
M. And what if after they haue diligētly enquired, the hipocrites deceiue them, faining them selues to be shéepe, and lambes, where they be not onely ⟨p. 375⟩swine and dogges, but a also cruel wolues: shal they be culpable of the pollution and prophanation of the Sacraments, if they administer them to suche men, hauing a faire shew to be christiās?
P. Seeing they be not judges of the heart, of which thing God hath reserved to him self only the judgement, they are without blame on their part, in as much as the fault proceedeth not of their negligence, and that God hath not as yet discovered unto them the hypocrisy of hypocrites. For the Church can not judge but of that which is apparent unto them, and not of hidden and secret things, which God hath reserved to his knowledge only.
P. Séeing they be not iudges of the heart, of which thing God hath reserued to him selfe onely the iudgement, they are without blame on their parte, in as muche as the fault procéedeth not of their negligence, and that God hath not as yet discouered vnto thē the hypocrisie of hypocrites. For the Church can not iudge but of that which is apparant vnto them, and not of hidden and secret things, which God hath reserued to his knowledge onely.
M. IT followeth then on the contrary, that they be without excuse, when they receive to the communion of the Sacraments, them which they know manifestly to be unworthy?
M. IT followeth then on the contrary, that they be without excuse, when they receyue to the communion of the Sacramentes, them which they knowe manifestly to be vnworthy?