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.

In vvhat sorte charitie is necessary to saluation.

M.

CHaritie is not then necessarie to saluation, nor other like vertues, but faith only.

P.

It is necessary there vn∣to and not necessary.

M.

I do not well vn∣derstand this speache, for it is contrary in it selfe.

P.

I say y^t faith is necessary there∣vnto as cause of saluation, withoute the whiche we cannot obtayne it, for the cau∣ses which I haue alredy declared. For so∣much as it is the instrument the whiche the holy Ghoste giueth vs wherewith to receiue him, when he is offered vnto vs by Iesus Christ, and the meane whereby he doth communicate him to vs in hym and by him. But charitie is not there ioy∣ned as a cause of saluation, without the

which we cannot be partakers of it, but as a thing ioyned vnto it, the whiche fol∣loweth faith in suche sorte, whiche is the true cause of saluation, as I haue already sayde, that she cannot be separate, no more than the heate from the lighte, or the mouing or féeling from the life and from the soule. But yet notwithstan∣dyng we haue not saluation thereby, no more than brightnesse by the heate, the whiche we haue of the lighte, or else life by the motion and féeling.

M.

Chari∣tie then and good workes may not be ta∣ken for causes, by the which, or by whose meane we obtaine saluation, but onely so farre as they cannot be separated frō true faith,* 1.1 by the which we ar made par∣takers of it.

P.

It is euen so.

M.

Thou hast here opened vnto me one point that was very harde to vnderstande, the whiche séemeth to me very well worthy to be diligently noted. For there bée fewe whiche do well vnderstande it.

Peter.

If all men did well vnderstande it, there woulde be no more differente betwene the Christians touching iusti∣fication, and touching faith and workes,

and grace and merites, and the causes of oure saluation for that whiche we haue sayde of charitie, is also vnderstoode, of all the other vertues and workes of the regenerate man, as I haue alredy sayde, whiche are the frutes the which Saincte Paule doth call the frutes of the spirite,* 1.2 and the which he doth oppone to y^e frutes of the flesh.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iames. 2. d
• * 1.2

  Galath. 5. c.d.