A14463:2416
A14463:2416
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. What difference is there then touching this point?
P. If there were non other difference, but that we have the expressed word of God for the one, and not for the other, it were sufficient: but there is yet this more, that when the superstitious and Idolatrous sort do take for their advocates the dead saints, they put them in the place of Jesus Christ, as though he alone were not sufficient, or else at the least they take them as mistrusting that they should not be hard, neither towards the father nor yet towards Jesus Christ, if they have none other mediators & advocates by whom they may have better access, as well to the father as to Jesus christ.
P. If there were non other difference, but that we haue the expressed worde of God for the one, and not for the other, it were sufficient: but there is yet this more, that when the superstitiouse and Idolatrous sorte do take for their aduocates the dead saincts, they put thē in the place of Iesus Christ, as thogh he alone were not sufficient, or else at the least they take them as mistrusting that they should not be hard, neyther towards the father nor yet towards Iesus Christ, if they haue none other mediators & aduocates by whome they may haue better accesse, as well to the father as to Iesus christ.
M. And they which desire the prayers of the living, do they not the like?
M. And they which desire the praiers of the liuing, do they not the like?
P. If they do it to that end, they commit great fault, for God doth not only command ⟨p. 403⟩us to pray one for another, to give us to understand, that he will not hear us at all, when we shall our selves call upon him in faith, if there be not also other faithful ones, which may pray unto him for us, be they more holy or more perfect than we, or no.
P. If they do it to that ende, they committe great faulte, for God doth not only commaund ⟨p. 403⟩vs to pray one for another, to giue vs to vnderstand, yt he will not heare vs at al, whē we shal our selues cal vpō him in faith, if there be not also other faythfull ones, which may pray vnto hym for vs, bée they more holy or more perfecte than wée, or no.
M. IF then God do hear us when we our selves pray for us, whereunto do the prayers of others serve us?
M. IF then God doe heare vs when wée our selues pray for vs, whervnto do the prayers of others serue vs?
P. There be chiefly two points to consider in that.
M. Which is the first?
P. I have already touched it as by the way, that god commandeth us to pray one for another as an exercise of our faith towards him, & of the charity which we ought to practise the one towards the others. For he is greatly pleased when we do declare by effect that we have care for our brethren as we have for our selves, & that we recommend them by these our prayers, as our selves, knowing that they be aswell theirs as ours, & that we have this confidence in him, that he will hear the prayers which we make for them, as he will do those which we make for our selves.
P. I haue already touched it as by ye way, yt god cōmaūdeth vs to praye one for another as an exercise of our faith towards him, & of the charitie which we ought to practise ye one towardes the others. For he is greatly pleased when we do declare by effect yt we haue care for our brethren as we haue for our selues, & yt we recōmend thē by these our prayers, as oure selues, knowing yt they be aswel theirs as ours, & that wée haue this confidēce in him, yt he wil heare the praiers which we make for thē, as he wil doe those which wée make for our selues.
M. Is not the case like concerning the Saints which are already departed?
M. Is not the case lyke concernyng the Saintes whych are alredy departed?
P. Thou mayest well know no, for so much as they have already ended their course, & that we have no conversation among them nor they with us.
P. Thou maist well knowe no, for so much as they haue alredy ended their course, & that we haue no conuersation among thē nor they with vs.
M. Doth that hinder that they may pray no more for us?
M. Doth that hinder that they may pray no more for vs?
P. If that in deed we were well assured, that they did know our estate, and our heart, and that they should pray for us without cease, yet should it not be lawful for all that for us to pray unto them & to call upon them, for so much as we have no word of God, as we have already said, which teacheth us so to do, nor that doth assure us that our prayers made to them be agreeable to God.
P. If that in déede we were well assured, that they did know our estate, and our harte, and that they should pray for vs without cease, yet should it not be lawfull for all that for vs to pray vnto them & to cal vpon thē, for so much as wée haue no word of God, as we haue alreadie saide, which teacheth vs so to doe, nor that doth assure vs that our prayers made to them bee agréeable to God.
M. Which is yet the other point wherefore God is better pleased that the living pray for the living, and that they do require the prayers the one of the others, than to address them to dead Saints?
M. Which is yet the other poynt wherfore God is better pleased that the lyuing praye for the lyuing, and that they doe require the prayers the one of the others, than to addresse them to deade Saintes?
P. It is that god requireth to be called on by many, and that thanks also be yielded to him by many, not only for the things which in particular touch our persons, but also for all those which concern his Church.
P. It is that god requireth to bée called on by many, and that thanckes also bee yéelded to him by many, not onely for the things which in particular touche our persons, but also for all those which concerne his Church.
M. It is more than reasonable.