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.

Hovve that euery sinne is of his ovvne nature damnable, and hovv that notvvithstanding, it is not able to damne the faythfull.

T.

SO farre forthe as I maye iudge by thy words, it semeth to me that thou concludest that euery sinne is mortall, which is to say damnable, t•• al y^e vnfaith∣full and reprobates, and that they are ve∣nial, to witte pardonable, to the chosen & faithful peple of god

D.

If thou do vnder∣stand by damnable, sufficient to damne, & by venial, worthy of pardon: it is certaine that there is no sinne of his owne nature worthy of pardon, but is able to damne. But if thou vnderstand by damnable, the sinne that damneth, and by venial, that whiche receyueth pardon, it is very cer∣taine y^t in this meaning there is no sinne that may damne the elect and faithful, but it is pardoned vnto them by reason of the merite and satisfaction of Iesus Christe,* 1.1 for the whiche cause S. Paule saith, that there is no condemnation to those that be

in Iesus Christe, which do not walke af∣ter the flesh, but after the spirite.

T.

Then are they happie whiche beleue in Iesus Christ.

D.

There are none else blessed but they only. Therfore Dauid saith:* 1.2 Blessed are they whose offences are pardoned, & whose sinnes are couered, Blessed is the mā to whom god imputeth not his sinne: he doth not say blessed is the mā that is or shalbe foūd without sin, for there is none such, nor neuer was, nor neuer shalbe, but only Iesus Christ very god and very mā. But he calleth that man blessed, who not∣withstanding that he be a sinner, he hathe yet found grace and pardon for his sinnes in the sight of God. In the meane while, we must take good héed, if we will be par∣takers of this blessednesse, that we do not abuse that grace of God which is giuē vs in Iesus Christe, least that where oure sinnes should be but venial, we cause thē to be twice mortall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom ••.
• * 1.2

  Psalme. 32. Rom. 4.