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.

VVhether the ascention of Iesus Christe be a true ascention or no, or else if he made himselfe only inuisible.

MATHEVV.

IT séemeth to me that all that whiche thou hast spoken of the ascētion of Iesus Christ, is no∣thing against the opiniō of those against whom thou hast so long disputed, for they denie not that Iesus Christe is gone vp into Heauē, neyther that he shall come visiblie and bodily to iudge the li∣uing and the dead, euen as thou hast said.

P.

How do they then agrée their doctrine with this confession?

M.

They alleadge two things vppon this pointe. The firste is, that the heauen and the right hand of God where Iesus Christe is, do stretche ouer all. The other is, that the comming of Iesus Christ which is made by the sa∣crament,

the Supper is inuisible: wher∣fore albeit that he bée there bodily in the propre substance of his bodie & bloud, yet is he not there visibly, but inuisibly.

P.

If they make no space betwéene the earth and the heauen, and that they will stretche out the heauen euen to the earth in suche sort that Chryst hath not absen∣ted him from the earth, as touchyng his bodie, and that he didde retire himselfe, when he went vp into heauen, it may not then be sayde, that he is ascended as the Scripture witnesseth, but that he hathe alwayes remayned vppon earthe, with∣out departing from thence, agaynst that whiche he himselfe did prophecie to his disciples. It muste also be sayde, that hée should then haue made hym selfe inuisi∣ble to them, and that he were stil yet on earth, not visible, but inuisible.