A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…A Christian instruction, conteyning the law and the Gospell Also a summarie of the…
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.
Pierre Viret 1511–1571London: printed by Henry Bynneman? for Abraham Veale, 1573
[8], 400, 403-538 p. · 102k words · STC 24778 · ESTC S119199
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.
For so much as many good men desire to have the copy of the prayer, which the Author of this book hath accustomed to make at the beginning of his sermons, ⟨p. 412⟩so have I thought it no inconvenient to print it here, to the end that all such as would, mought use it to the advancement of the glory of God, to whose grace I commend you.
FOr somuche as many good men desire to haue the copie of the prayer, whiche the Author of this booke hath accustomed to make at the beginning of his sermons, ⟨p. 412⟩so haue I thoughte it no inconuenient to printe it here, to the ende that all suche as woulde, mought vse it to the aduancement of the glorie of God, to whose grace I commende you.
Acknowledging our faults and imperfections, and that of our selves we can have no good thing if it be not given us from heaven, we will humble our selves before the high majesty of our good God and Father, full of all goodness and mercy, beseeching him that he will not enter into Judgement with us, to correct and punish us in his anger and wrath, having regard to our sins and iniquities, but that he look upon the innocency, justice, and obedience of his son Jesus Christ, whom he hath given to death for us, for whose sake if may please him to receive us all to mercy, and by his heavenly light to drive out of our hearts all darknesses, errors, and ignorances, and to fill us with his graces and the graces of his holy spirit, which may
⟨p. 415⟩
bring us to the full knowledge of all truth, and may open to us the true understanding of his holy word, to the end that it be not corrupted by our carnal sense and understanding, but that he may give us the grace, as he hath spoken by his holy Prophets and Apostles, that being governed by one very Spirit, we may declare it to his honour and glory and to the edification of all men: and that we do not hear it only with our carnal ears, to our judgement and condemnation, as the Infidels and hypocrites do: but that we may receive the same into our hearts as true children of GOD, through true and lively Faith, the which may be effectuous and working through charity: learning thereby to renounce our selves, all Idolatry, all wicked superstitions and carnal affections, to put wholly all our trust in him, and to consecrate and conform our selves wholly unto his holy will, to the end that our life and conversation may be to his honour and his praise, and that for our Lord Jesus Christs sake, we may be found without blame, and without spot
⟨p. 416⟩
before his face: the which things with all others, which this good GOD and Father doth know to be necessary for us, we will demand them of him, as this great Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ his dear Son, our Sovereign master hath taught us, saying all with one heart: Our Father which art in Heaven. &c.
ACknowledging oure faultes and imperfections, and that of our selues we can haue no good thyng if it be not giuen vs from heauen, wée will humble our selues before the high maiestie of our good God and Father, full of all goodnesse and mercie, beséeching him that he will not enter into Iudgemente wyth vs, to correct and punishe vs in his anger and wrath, hauing regarde to our sinnes and iniquities, but that he looke vpon the innocencie, iusties, and obedience of hys sonne Iesus Chryst, whom he hath giuen to death for vs, for whose sake if maye please him to receiue vs al to mercy, and by his heauenly lyghte to driue oute of our heartes all darknesses, erroures, and ignorances, and to fill vs with his graces and ye graces of his holy spirit, which may ⟨p. 415⟩bring vs to the ful knowledge of al truth, and may open to vs the true vnderstanding of his holy word, to the ende that it be not corrupted by our carnall sense and vnderstanding, but that he may giue vs the grace, as he hath spoken by his holy Prophetes and Apostles, that being gouerned by one very Spirite, we may declare it to his honoure and glory and to the edification of all men: and that we do not heare it only with our carnal eares, to oure iudgemente and condemnation, as the Infidels and hypocrites doe: but that we maye receyue the same into our hartes as true children of GOD, thorowe true and lyuely Fayth, the whiche may be effectuous and working thorowe charitie: learning thereby to renounce oure selues, all Idolatrie, all wycked superstitions and carnall affections, to put wholly all oure trust in hym, and to consecrate and conforme oure selues wholly vnto hys holy will, to the ende that our lyfe and conuersation may bée to his honour and his praise, and that for our Lord Iesus Christs sake, we may be found without blame, and without spotte ⟨p. 416⟩before his face: the whiche things wyth all others, whiche this good GOD and Father doothe knowe to be necessarie for vs, wée will demaunde them of him, as this great Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Chryste his deare Sonne, our Soueraigne mayster hathe taughte vs, saying all with one heart: Oure Father whiche arte in Heauen. &c.
TIMOTHY, DANIEL. Before that we enter into the Exposition of the Commandments contained in the Law, according to our agreement, I would gladly understand two little points of thee, which Moses maketh mention of.1
TIMOTHE, DANIEL. BEfore that we enter into the Exposition of the Cō maundements conteined in the Law, according to our agréement, I woulde gladly vnderstande two litle poyntes of thée, which Moyses maketh mention of.1
Timothy. The first is, how that God which is in all places, and doth fill both heaven and earth, and is infinite, ⟨p. 418⟩did descend into the mountain of Sinai: for was he not there before? The other, how he spake in proper person, for so much as he hath neither body, mouth, nor voice like unto mans voice, if we do consider him in his being and divinity.1 On the other side, S. Paul, and S. Stephen do plainly testify, that the law was given by the Angels.
Timothie. The first is, howe that God whiche is in all places, and doth fil both heauen and earth, and is infinite, ⟨p. 418⟩did descende into the mountayne of Synai: for was he not there before? The other, howe he spake in proper person, for somuche as he hathe neyther bodye, mouth, nor voyce like vnto mans voyce, if we doe consider him in his béeing and diuinitie.1 On the other syde, S. Paule, and S. Stephen doe playnly testifie, that the lawe was giuen by the Angels.
D. There is no great difficulty in these questions. For albeit God doth fill both heaven and earth through his divinity, yet notwithstanding for so much as he doth not alway declare his majesty, his power, his wisdom, and goodness so manifestly and familiarly in one place as in an other, the holy scripture, to condescend and agree to our grossness, doth oftentimes attribute that unto God which is proper to man, to declare unto us the more plainly and familiarly his presence and assistance. There is no doubt but that God was already in ⟨p. 419⟩the mount Sinai, before the time that he gave his law, as he was throughout the whole world, and even as he is at this day: but he did not show him self in such sort as he did then there show him self to his people,1 wherefore the Scripture saith, because of such a showing of his presence, that he did there descend.
D. THere is no greate difficultie in these questions. For albéeit God doth fill bothe heauen and earth through his diuinitie, yet notwithstanding for so muche as he doth not alway declare his maiestie, his power, his wisedome, and goodnesse so manifestly and familiarly in one place as in an other, the holie scripture, to condescend and agrée to our grosnesse, doth oftentimes attribute that vnto God whiche is proper to man, to declare vnto vs the more plainly and familiarly his presence and assistance. There is no dout but that God was alreadie in ⟨p. 419⟩the mount Sinai, before the time that he gaue his lawe, as he was throughout the whole worlde, and euen as he is at this day: but he did not shew him selfe in such sorte as he did then there shewe him selfe to his people,1 wherefore the Scripture sayth, bicause of such a shewyng of his presence, that he did there descend.
