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.

If excommunication may extende further than to the disobedient.

M.

SEeing then that excommunication belōgeth properly to the disobediēt, may they then excōmunicate those which acknowledge their fault, how great so e∣uer it be, and do giue testimonie euident inough of their repentance before they be excommunicated?

P.

Thou must vnder∣stande that all disobedience deserueth ex∣communication, and chéefly when a man hath bene admonished thrée times (accor∣ding to the order giuen by Iesus Christe concerning the same) and doth not amēd his faults, when they be offensiue and of euill example, and that they be not onely little infirmities and ignoraunces, the

which men may not as easily correct as they would, but are great offences.

M.

I do well graunte thée that, fo•• rebellion and contempt of admonitions and war∣nings, is a very great fault, and a very euill exāple in the Church of God, which ought not there to be endured.

P.

Thou hast also to note, that albeit a sinner doe acknowledge his faulte at the first or se∣cond admonition and warning that shall be giuen him, yet for all that, it may be suche, that for example the sinner may deserue to be at the least suspended from the communion of the sacraments for a time.

M.

Why so, if there be no manifest rebellion?

P.

In part, to proue the better the repentance of the sinner, and in time the better to iudge whether there be fay∣ning in it or no, and apertly to giue ex∣ample to others, to the ende they may he the more afrayde to offende, and that al togither they may learne the better to honour the Sacramentes, and to take heede howe they contaminate and pro∣phane them by their slaunderous vyces. For as it is to be fered that by ouer much ••igor the poore sinner may be caste into

desperation: euen so on the other syde, héede is to be taken, least that through ouer muche facilitie, and by defaulte of moderate seueritie, men giue not ouer∣much licence to the vicious, and that they nourishe not nor mayntayne slaunders & offences in the steade of correcting and abolishing of them.