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.

VVhat meane it behoueth to kepe to fight against sinne and to resist it, and to be deliuered from it, and how euery mā ought to feare least he shuld be hardned therin, and should fight against his ovvne conscience, to the ende that sinne be not to death.

T.

SHewe me thē what remedy we may finde to auoide this great mischiefe.

D.

If we do walke acording to the spirite, and not according to the flesh, immediat∣ly as soone as our cōcupiscence doth pricke vs, we must resist it by the spirite of God, if we do not resist it, it is a token that the spirite of God dwelleth not in vs, which is a sure token of the vnfaithfull who folow their concupiscence withoute any lette, without any feare of God at all, if we do resist it, and that oure concupiscence and infirmitie doth ouercome vs, the next re∣medy is not to suffer the wicked will to procéede any further: if that the violence of the wicked wil and our infirmitie be so great, that it breake foorth to the outward worke, the other nearest remedy is, not to ••ake an occupation of it, nor to retourne

any more to it, nor to continue any lōger therein, but by true repentaunce, to cor∣recte all suche faults, as well inwarde as outward, and to lead a good life. If it hap∣pē vs to fall againe into any at any time, let vs take heede that we sléepe not in it, nor yet perseuer in it, least that God doe leaue vs, and do harden our hartes, & cast vs off into a reprobat sense, to punish our vnkindnesse and frowardnesse in suche sort, that in the ende we come to resist the spirite of God, & being vanquished by him in our owne harts, we come to blaspheme him, as it doth often times happē to those which do contemne the admonitions that are given vnto them, and the remorse of their cōsciences, & do assure them in their wickednesse, for such a sinne is without re¦mission, & is called by S. Iohn, the sinne vnto death. For somuch as he y^t sinneth a∣gainst the holy Ghoste, dothe cast of him without whome he can neyther aske nor obtayne pardon, nor be partaker of Iesus christ, which only is our way & our helth. Let vs then take héed y^t we folow not the example of Caine, of Pharao, of Saule,

of Iudas, of the Scribes, of the Pharises, who abode still hardned and obstinate in their sinnes, but let vs folow the example of Dauid, of the woman sinner, of S. Pe∣ter, of S. Paule, and such like seruants of God, who haue acknowledged and forsa∣ken their faultes, and retourned to God with all their whole harte.

T.

This decla∣ration and admonition is very well wor∣thy to be noted. Now I am very well cō∣tented and satisfied in all those matters that haue bin handled betwene vs, whereby I do know the diffe∣rences of sinnes, and how God doth iudge, & how we ought to vnder∣stand his law, and that by our frée wil we may be well lost and damned, & that there is none but God only which can saue vs thorow his grace & mercie.

Notes

• Rom. 1.9. Matth. 12. 1. Iohn. 5. 1. Cor. 12. Rom. 8. Genes. 3.9 Exod. 88. Rom. 9. 1. Sam. 15. Matth. 26. Psalm. 51. Luk. 7. Actes. 9. 1. Timo. 1