A14463:2560
A14463:2560
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.
T. Then doth it follow that whosoever shall do that which shall be forbidden of God, or shall leave undone that ⟨p. 453⟩which he doth command him, the same deserveth condemnation. On the other side, he that shall abstain from that which he hath forbidden, and shall do that which he hath commanded, the same shall receive the praise and commendation of a good & faithful servant.1
T. THen doth it follow that whosoeuer shall do that whiche shall be forbidden of God, or shall leaue vndone that ⟨p. 453⟩which he doth commaund him, the same deserueth condemnation. On the other side, he that shall absteyne frō that which he hath forbidden, and shall do that which he hath cōmanded, the same shall receiue the prayse and commendation of a good & faithfull seruaunt.1
D. These two points that thou touchest, are right well worthy to be noted. For there be some that think that they have sufficiently fulfilled the law of God, if that they have refrained from those things which are therein forbidden, yea and if it have bin don but only in outward appearance, without laying of hands with a prompt courage to those things which are commanded them. On the other side, there be others which think that they may the more lawfully dispense with themselves to do many things that be forbidden in the law, when they have don some little portion of those which are commanded, and think these to be a recompense for the others. But we must needs walk in all other manner of simplicity before god, & must put in use that which Jesus christ hath said: it behoveth to do this, ⟨p. 454⟩and not to leave the other undone,1 for here it ought to have better place, than in any where else. It behoveth to do that which is commanded, and to refrain from that which is forbidden. For he that commandeth and he that forbiddeth, is alway one Lord, who will not suffer his majesty to be more dishonoured of the one part than of the other. Therefore, when thou dost some part of that which is commanded thee, think not by that little well doing which thou hast done on the one side, to have recompensed the great evil which thou hast committed on the other side. For if thou have don any thing well, thou hast done thy duty, and hast done nothing else, yea and that which more is, thou hast not done all that: how mayest thou then recompense the evil which thou hast committed, in doing that which was forbidden thee, by this little good which thou hast done, when that same it self is not sufficient to satisfy for the faults which thou haste committed, in the leaving of that undone which thou oughtest to have done?
D. These two pointes that thou touchest, are right well worthy to be noted. For there be some that thinke that they haue sufficiently fulfilled the lawe of God, if that they haue refrayned frō those things which are therein forbidden, yea and if it haue bin don but only in outward apparance, withoute laying of handes with a prompte courage to those thinges whiche are commaunded them. On the other side, there be others whiche think that they may ye more lawfully dispense wt thēselues to do many things that be forbiddē in the law, whē they haue don some litle porcion of those whiche are commaunded, and thinke these to be a recōpēce for the others. But we must nedes walke in all other manner of simplicitie before god, & must put in vse yt which Iesus christ hath said: it behoueth to do this,
T. I do know that very well.
D. ON the other part,1 when thou doest the work which god commandeth, thou must take good heed to what end thou doest it, and with what mind. For if thou do it more for thine own glory and profit, & for thine own behoof, than thou doest for the honour of God, and for the love thou bearest to him, or to thy neighbour for his sake: thou makest of a good work an evil work, and doest greatly offend him thorough thy hypocrisy, abusing his name, & making a mask of his law, to serve thee and thy wicked affections. And therefore such a work is no more a work of the spirit of God: for so much as it is not done in truth, but in lies. For all hypocrisy is lies, for so much as it is nothing else but falsehood, feigning, ⟨p. 456⟩and dissimulation, which hath an other show outwardly, than the troth of the thing hath inwardly. Now all lies proceed from the devil. The work then which is done in lies, is of the devil, and not of God. Wherefore it cannot much better please God, than doth the troth which the devil speaketh to cover his lies with, and to transfigure himself into an Angel of light: and that all the works do that ever he doth, how fair a show so ever they have, although God do make them serve to his glory. For his intent is always wicked, forsomuch as he never doth thing but for himself, and hath regard neither to the honour of God nor to the profit of any creature, wherefore he is never more perilous, than when he hath the greatest show of well doing, for then it is that he doth most dishonour god, and doth greatest hurt to men, because he is more covered and disguised, & more hard to be known and to be taken upon the sudden: wherefore those which call this devil that is so disguised, a white devil, are not void of reason. Therefore the false Prophets are never ⟨p. 457⟩more dangerous, than when they have the greatest show of holiness, & do most counterfeit the true servants of God: the like is of all hypocrites. The good work which he seemeth to do,2 is often times worse than though it were set forth plainly such as it is. It is the very cause why Christ did condemn the alms, prayers and fastings of the Scribes and Pharisees, and all their other works, forsomuch as they did them only to be seen of men.
T. IF the matter be such that the work it self which God commandeth can not please him, if it do not proceed from such a heart as he requireth, but doth rather displease him, it followeth then, that if a man have not such an heart, he doth not only leese his time in doing of such a work, but he doth also purchase to ⟨p. 458⟩himself a more greater judgement.
T. IF the matter be such that the worke it selfe which God commaundeth cā not please him, if it do not procéede from such a harte as he requireth, but doth rather displease him, it followeth then, that if a man haue not such an harte, he dothe not onely léese his time in doing of suche a worke, but he doth also purchace to ⟨p. 458⟩himselfe a more greater iudgemente.
D. There are also two points to be considered in this matter: if that the man that doth this work, doth it thoroughly of a very malice and to such end as the Devil doth his, to wit, to dishonour God, and to deceive men, and to hurt his neighbour, it were much better that he did nothing at all, for his work can do but hurt, and more to himself than to any other: if he do it not in deed for so evil a purpose, but only to have some worldly honour or profit, the work is then yet somewhat more profitable in sundry sorts, as well to himself as to others, according to the circumstances of the same, than if it had not bin done at all, or else if he had done those works which God hath forbidden. For first of all, those that see such a work, are edified, insomuch as they see it to be good of his own nature, and do think, that it proceedeth from such an heart as it showeth for outwardly: on the other side, if it be a work whereby thy neighbour receiveth any comfort or help in his person, it is then so much the more profitable. ⟨p. 459⟩Wherefore, albeit that the work be not such as God requireth: yet forsomuch as it serveth somewhat to the glory of God, and to the edification of our neighbour, God is so good that he will not suffer it to be unrecompensed.
D. There are also two pointes to be considered in this matter: if that the man that doth this worke, doth it thoroughly of a very malice and to suche ende as the Deuil doth his, to witte, to dishonor God, and to deceiue mē, and to hurte his neyghbor, it were much better that he did nothing at all, for his worke can do but hurte, and more to himselfe than to any other: if hée do it not in déede for so euil a purpose, but onely to haue some worldlye honoure or profite, the worke is then yet somewhat more profitable in sundry sortes, as well to himselfe as to others, according to the circumstaunces of the same, than if it had not bin done at all, or else if he had done those works whiche God hath forbidden. For first of al, those that sée such a worke, are edified, in somuch as they sée it to bée good of his owne nature, and doe thinke, that it procéedeth from such an harte as it sheweth for outwardly: on the other side, if it be a worke whereby thy neyghboure receyueth any comforte or helpe in hys person, it is then so muche the more profitable. ⟨p. 459⟩Wherefore, albeit that the worke be not such as God requireth: yet forsomuch as it serueth somewhat to the glory of God, and to the edification of our neyboure, God is so good that he will not suffer it to be vnrecompenced.
T. What recompense will he then give him?
T. What recompence will he then giue him?
D. That which the worker requireth: he desireth glory among men, and his particular commodity, which things he doth often times receive for his hire, which extend no further than his life: for he hath no further regard at all.1
D. That whiche the worker requireth: he desireth glory among men, and his particular cō moditie, which things he doth often times receiue for his hire, which extend no further than his life: for he hathe no further regard at all.1
T. By this account then thou wouldest conclude that it were better yet that a man should assist the word of god and his Church, and also the poor, and that he should do such like works, although that his heart were not throughly such as it ought to be, rather than to do nothing at all, or to the contrary, so that he do it not in any wise to the intent to dishonour God, and of a determinate purpose, or else rather to hurt his neighbour, than to profit him.
T. By this accoumpte then thou wouldest conclude that it were better yet that a man should assist the worde of god and his Church, and also the poore, and that he should do such like works, although that his harte were not throughly such as it ought to be, rather thā to do nothing at all, or to the contrary, so that he do it not in any wise to the intente to dishonor God, and of a determinate purpose, or else rather to hurte his neyghbor, than to profite him.
D. It is true, for we have in the holy Scriptures many examples, which declare that God hath often ⟨p. 460⟩times in this world done great good to many that have not had such hearts as they ought to have had, because that their works did serve somewhat to his glory, and to the relief of his people.
D. It is true, for we haue in the holy Scriptures many examples, whiche declare that God hath often ⟨p. 460⟩times in this worlde done greate good to many that haue not had suche hartes as they ought to haue had, bycause that their workes did serue somewhat to his glory, and to the reléefe of his people.