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.

THE FIFTHE dialogue, is of the faith in God.

Of the true foundation of Faith, & of the difference that it maketh betweene the Christian religion, and all other religions.

MATHEVV.

SEing it is so that man re∣ceyueth of God, all these great goodnesses, whereof thou hast made mention, by the meane of the one∣ly faithe in Iesus Christe, it followeth then according to thy saying, that Iesus Christ is the true foūdation of the same.* 1.1

P.

It is not to be doubted. For we cannot lay hold vpon the mercie of God, nor be assured, that he is become our louing and merciful father, but only in Iesus Christ and by Iesus Christe his beloued sonne.

M.

Then if it bée so, it followeth, that Man hathe no true faythe in GOD,* 1.2 but that whereby man dothe imbrace hym in Iesus Christ, when he beléeueth

in him.

P.

It is very true, and therefore that faith is the very point whiche discer∣neth the christian Religion from all o∣thers, and the Christians from all other people.* 1.3

M.

But séeing that the fayth is in the heart, wherby man beléeueth to iusti∣fication, how can it distinguishe the reli∣gions?

P.

I do not here speake proprely of the distinction whiche is made by the outwarde confession whiche men make, but of that whiche lyeth in the true foun∣dation and in the propre substance of the religion, which hath his only foundation in God and in his word,* 1.4 albeit that vnder the name of the faith, I comprehend also the confession of the same.

M.

Doest thou meane that all other religions which are not grounded vppon the faithe in Iesus Christe, are no true religions, but false?

P.

If religion maye be religion withoute hauing a God which is honoured therby, they may be accompted for religions, and not otherwise.

M.

Why sayst thou so?

P.

Forsomuche as there is no true God, but only he whiche hath shewed himselfe in Iesus Christ,* 1.5 no more can he also be kno∣wen nor honoured as God, but in Iesus Christ.

How that all religion is without God, sa∣uing the Christian religion.

M.

IF that be true, the Iewes, the Tur∣kes, and all other men, which beleue not in Iesus Chryste, nor in the Gospel, haue then no God.

P.

No in déede, but only by imagination.

M.

Why sayst thou so?

P.

Forsomuch as God can be none o∣ther than he is.

M.

I vnderstand it wel: but what wilt thou conclude thereof?* 1.6

P.

That séeing that God can not be knowne suche as he is, but in Iesus Chryste, who soeuer doth not acknowledge him in Ie∣sus Chryste, knoweth hym not at all. Wherfore he forgeth to himself an other God than the true God.

M.

In what sorte doth he forge him?

P.

In so muche as he maketh and pourtraiteth God, not suche an one as he is in déed, but such as he hath béen able to imagine hym in his brayne and vnderstandyng.

M.

Thou then cal∣lest other gods, and strāge gods, the ima∣ginations that men do cōceiue of God in their vnderstāding, wherby they do ima∣gine and estéeme him other thā he is, and did manifest him selfe in his sonne Iesus

Chryste, and in his woorde.

Pe.

What thinkest thou then that the strange gods are?* 1.7 For séeing ther is but one true God only, it followeth then very wel, that al the others whiche men call gods, are not gods at all, but onely by the imagination of men.* 1.8

M.

Is that the cause why Saint Paule did write to the Ephesians, that the Pagans wer without God?

P.

Ther is no doubte thereof. For albeit they had many by name, and by fantasie, yet not∣withstanding they had none in déede, see∣ing they were ignorant of the true God.

Of the summarie of the christian faith, and for what cause it is called the Symbole of the Apostles.

M.

SEing it is so as thou saist, it séemeth to me then to be wel doone, & very néedfull to consider yet some thing more néere, the principall poyntes, that thys christian fayth doth comprehende, whiche is of so great vertue as thou haste sayde.

P.

They are conteyned in the fourme of the ordinarie confession, whiche the chri∣stians make dayly, the which is cōmonly

called, The Symbole of the Apostles.

M.

What signifieth this word symbole?

P.

It is taken of the Gréekes,* 1.9 of whome the Latines haue borrowed it, to signifie an enseigne of acknowledging, and the part that is gathered of euery mā in any thing, as whē euery man giueth his shot.

M.

Why is this confession of faythe cal∣led by that name?

P.

Chéefly for two cau∣ses.

M.

Whiche is the first?

P.

It is by∣cause that it conteyneth as chosen and gathered togither into a summe, the chief pointes of the doctrine sette foorth by the Apostles,* 1.10 whome Iesus Chryst hath gi∣uen and sent as vniuersall doctours of all the worlde.

M.

Which is the seconde?

P.

It is, for that this doctrin is the true mark whereby euery man that voucheth the same, yeldeth certain testimonie that he is a membre of the Christian Churche, as the men of warre declare by the en∣seigne whiche they beare, what prince they belong vnto, and serue.

The Symbole of the Apostles.

M.

WHich is the summe of thys faith the whiche thou callest Sym∣bole?

P.

I beléeue in God the Father al∣mightie, maker of heauen and of earthe: And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lorde: whiche was conceyued by the ho∣lie Ghost: borne of the virgin Mary: suf∣fered vnder Ponce Pylate: was cruci∣fied, deade, and buryed: he went downe into hell: the third day he arose from the deade: ascended into heauen: he sitteth at the right hande of God the Father al∣mightie: and from thence shall he come to iudge the liuing and the deade. I beléeue in the holie Ghoste: I beléeue the holie vniuersall Churche: the communion of Sainctes: the forgiuenesse of sinnes: the resurrection of the bodie: and the eter∣nall lyfe.

Of the generall diuision of the princi∣pall pointes conteined in the Sym∣bole of the Apostles.

M.

HOw many articles and principall pointes bée there in this summe?

P.

Men do commonly distinguish them in twelue: but me thinketh we may reduce them all into two generally, out of the

whiche men may drawe the others after∣warde.

M.

Whiche be these two pointes?

P.

The first is touching our faith towards God, the seconde concerneth his Churche which is builded vppon the same faith.

Of the faith that a Christian man oughte to haue in God.

M.

WHat ought we to beleue of god?

P.

There are first two principal thinges to be considered in this matter.

M.

Which is the first?

P.

That whiche he hath declared vnto vs of his diuine na∣ture by his worde.

M.

Whiche is then the second?

P.

That whiche we oughte to be∣leeue of his works, by the whiche he hath declared vnto man what was his power, his wisedome and goodnesse, and the other vertues & proprieties whiche are in him, of the whiche we can haue no knowledge but by his works.

Of the vnitie and trinitie that is in the essence of God.

M.

* 1.11WHat thinges ought we to consi∣der concerning his diuine na∣ture, according as he hath declared vnto vs in his worde?

P.

There be two prin∣cipall.

M.

Which is the firste?

P.

It is the vnitie whiche is in his diuine essence, whereby we are taughte that there is but one God in whome we beléeue.

M.

Whiche is the seconde?

P.

It is the tri∣nitie of persons, that is in that vnitie of the diuine essence, the whiche we do con∣fesse when we saye, that we beléeue in the Father,* 1.12 in the Sonne, and in the ho∣ly Ghost.

Of the difficultie that is in this matter.

M.

IT séemeth to me that there is great contrarietie in this matter.

Peter.

Wherein?

M.

In that that it séemeth that it is as muche as if one should saye, that there is but one only God, and that there be three.

P.

We ought not so to take thē, séeing that we confesse but one only di∣uine essence, albeit that we acknowledge in the same, the father, the sonne, and the holy Ghost, in such sorte distincte in pro∣prieties

of persons, that yet for all that these thrée persons are but one only and very God.

M.

Canst thou expounde the same vnto me something more plainely by some similitude?

P.

As there is but one Sunne in the world, no more is there but one only God:* 1.13 and as the Sunne sheweth himselfe by his beames, euen so God, as father, doth shewe himselfe by his sonne Iesus Christ, which is his worde and E∣ternall wisedome: and as the Sunne by his heate doth make vs féele his force, e∣uen so God maketh vs to féele his vertue by his holy spirite whiche is his infinite power.

Of the principall vvorks of God vvhere∣of mention is made in the Simbole of the Apostles.

M.

SEing that we haue spoken of the things that we ought to consider in the essence of God, and in his diuine na∣ture, declare vnto me nowe y^t which thou hast to say concerning his workes, by the whiche he hath declared himselfe to man suche as it hathe pleased him to be knowen of him.

Peter.

The Sim∣bole of the Apostles doth comprehende

chiefly thrée, out of the which a man may drawe all the rest.

M.

Which be they?

P.

The first is, the works of y^e creation of al things.

M.

And the second?

P.

The works of the redemption of man.

M.

And the thirde?

P.

The worke of vinification, the which we may also cal the works of sanc∣tification.

M

What dost thou vnderstand by that worke of viuification and sancti∣fication?

P.

I vnderstande the vertue that the holy Ghost hath to make vs wholly partakers of Iesus Christ, and of all hys benefites.

Of the vnion that is betvvene the father, the sonne, and the holy Ghost in their vvorks.

M.

ACcording to this purpose, the fa∣ther, the sonne and the holy Ghost haue they any thing particuler, concer∣ning their works, or else haue they them all common togither, and chiefly those whereof thou hast now spoken?* 1.14

P.

Seing they are but one only God, it is certaine that they can do no worke wherein they may be separated the one from the other.

M.

It séemeth to me notwithstanding, that in this summe of the faith, men doe attribute as proper to the Father, the worke of the creation, and to the sonne, that of the redemption, and to the holy Ghost, that which thou callest viuificati∣on, and sanctification.

P.

That must not be vnderstande as though these workes were done by diuers workers.* 1.15

M.

Howe doest thou then vnderstande it?

P.

After that we haue firste confessed that we be∣léeue in one only GOD, we then by and by after declare also, howe he is ma∣nifested by hys workes, suche as we haue saide that we oughte to consider him in hys diuine essence and nature, and what it is that we beléeue.

Of the moderation and measure that ought to be holden in this matter.

M.

IT séemeth to me that this matter is very high and harde for mans vn∣derstanding to comprehende.

P.

There is none more high nor more incomprehen∣sible.

M.

What is there then to be done in the same?

P.

Without enquiring of more

than we may vnderstande and compre∣hende,* 1.16 it oughte to suffise vs that God which in his diuine nature and essence is incomprehensible, is euen so declared in his worde, vpon the which only we must stay and builde our faith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 5. a. 8. c Galath. 4. ••
• * 1.2

  Iohn. 5. d 1. Iohn. 2. d
• * 1.3

  Rom. 10. b.
• * 1.4

  Hebr. 11. a
• * 1.5

  Rom. 1. a. Hebr. 1. a Matth. 10. d
• * 1.6

  Malach. 2. b Psalm. 102. d Iohn. 1. c Colloss. 1. b Hebr. 1. a. Esaye. 44. c. Psal. 50. d
• * 1.7

  1. Cor. 8. b.
• * 1.8

  Ephe. 2. c Act. 4. c. 17. c. Rom. 1. c.
• * 1.9

  Plautus. Terentius in Andriana.
• * 1.10

  Iohn. 17 c. c. 22. e Matth. 28. d Marke. 16. ••
• * 1.11

  Deu 6. a. 32. Esay. 44. a. 1. Cor. 8. b. Matth. 3. d. 28. d. Iohn. 14. b. c. 15. d.
• * 1.12

  Galla. 3. d. Act. 20. d.
• * 1.13

  Iohn. 1. c. 17 d. Act. 17. g. Hebr. 1. a. Iohn. 1. a 1. Iohn. 1. a. Colloss. 1. c. Iohn. 14. b. d. 15. d. 16. b. Act. 1. a. Ephe. 2. a. 1. Cor. 2. a b 1. Iohn. 3. d. 5. b.
• * 1.14

  Gene. 1. Iohn. 5. c. Iohn. 1. a. Hebr. 1. a. Galath. 4. •• Rom. 1. a.
• * 1.15

  2. Thes. 2. c. 1. Peter. 1. a Psal. 19. a. Act. 14. c. Rom. 1. c. Hebr. 11. a.
• * 1.16

  Exod. 33. d. Rom. 11. d. Deut. 4. a. b Rom. 10. d.