B00830:18
A brief treatise, concerning the use and abuse of dancing. Collected out of the…A briefe treatise, concerning the vse and abuse of dauncing. Collected oute of the…
A brief treatise, concerning the use and abuse of dancing. Collected out of the learned works of the most excellent dean doctor, Peter Martyr, by paister Rob Massonius: and translated into English by I.K.A briefe treatise, concerning the vse and abuse of dauncing. Collected oute of the learned workes of the most excellent deaine doctour, Peter Martyr, by paister Rob Massonius: and translated into English by I.K.
London: printed by John Jugge, 1580London: printed by Iohn Iugge, 1580
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
and therefore do we well in this thing, to imitate their examples which are written for our instruction. They are (as the rest of the Scripture) to this end left in writing: but beware, least as the sword taken by the handle, helpeth, and by the point hurteth: so this which rightly received, serveth for instruction, wrongfully ⟨image 8⟩received, & taken by the wrong end, serve not to destruction. In the right imitation of our Ancients, three things are chiefly to be considered: first that we play not the deceivable Coiner, who layeth gold upon copper or brass, or some such base metal, to the intent the one might go currant by the means of the other: so that we gild not, and flourish over the deeds of the wicked with the doings of the righteous, and then take them both as currant: take Judas in with the eleven Apostles, & Satan with the sons of God, accept none as our fathers, saving those as be the sons of God. And secondarily, in these men we must not imitate all things, but only the good. And thirdly of the good not all too, nor in all respects: but we must have herewith, these three notes in consideration: upon what spirit, in what order, to what end they did them. For otherwise, those that made their doings commendable in the sight of the Lord: if they or any of them want in us, will make ours abominable. For the two first of the general division you have them, good fathers, & godly Matrons: the last you lack with the three branches, which turneth the other ⟨image 8⟩two into bitter wormwood, as by comparing them together will evidently appear. Abraham's offering up his deer son & only Isaac, 1was to him an high praise by the mouth of the Angel, saying: I know that thou fearest God. The Ammonites, 2offering up their sons and daughters to Moloch, is accounted an abomination: because the one was of the spirit of God, the other of the devils, the one by faith, the other by infidelity, the one to Gods glory, the other to the idolatrous service of Moloch. 3The Prophet Elijah prayer and invocation, was so well liked of the Lord, that twice at his request came fire from Heaven, and consumed the two captains with their fifties: