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.

Hovv that the lavv of god is transgres∣sed not only in doing that vvhich is for∣bidden by it, but also in leuing that vn∣done vvhiche is therin commaunded, and hovv that those good vvorks which vve do, are not able to satisfie for them vvhich vve ought to do, and do not, ne yet for those vvhich vve do against the vvill of God.

T.

THen doth it follow that whosoeuer shall do that whiche shall be forbid∣den of God, or shall leaue vndone that

which he doth commaund him, the same deserueth condemnation. On the other side, he that shall absteyne frō that which he hath forbidden, and shall do that which he hath cōmanded, the same shall receiue the prayse and commendation of a good & faithfull seruaunt.

D.

These two pointes that thou touchest, are right well worthy to be noted. For there be some that thinke that they haue sufficiently fulfilled the lawe of God, if that they haue refrayned frō those things which are therein forbid∣den, yea and if it haue bin don but only in outward apparance, withoute laying of handes with a prompte courage to those thinges whiche are commaunded them. On the other side, there be others whiche think that they may y^e more lawfully dis∣pense w^t thēselues to do many things that be forbiddē in the law, whē they haue don some litle porcion of those whiche are commaunded, and thinke these to be a re∣cōpēce for the others. But we must nedes walke in all other manner of simplicitie before god, & must put in vse y^t which Ie∣sus christ hath said: it behoueth to do this,

and not to leaue the other vndone, for here it ought to haue better place, than in any where else. It behoueth to do that whiche is commaunded, and to refrayne from that which is forbidden. For he that commaundeth and he that forbiddeth, is alway one Lord, who will not suffer hys maiestie to be more dishonored of the one parte than of the other. Therefore, when thou dost some part of that which is com∣maunded thée, thinke not by that litle wel doing whiche thou hast done on the one side, to haue recompenced the greate euill whiche thou hast committed on the other side. For if thou haue don any thing wel, thou hast done thy dutie, and hast done nothing else, yea and that which more is, thou hast not done all that: howe mayest thou thē recompence the euill which thou hast committed, in doing that which was forbiddē thée, by this litle good which thou hast done, when that same it selfe is not sufficient to satisfie for the faultes whiche thou haste committed, in the leauing of that vndone which thou oughtest to haue done?

T.

I do know that very well.

Notes

• Two pointes of great effecte.
• Matth. 23. Note this place.