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.

Of the sundry tytles which haue bene gi∣uen to God in the holy scriptures, as well before the going foorth out of Egypt, as after, and cheefly sithe the comming of Christe in the fleshe, and for vvhat causes they haue bene giuen.

T.

THis poynt that maketh mention of the going foorth out of Egypte, is euen the most harde of all the Preface. Wherfore I would gladly vnderstande for what cause God did so expresly take to him selfe this title, and that he did not rather take some other which was more common to all nations,* 1.1 séeing that that lawe should serue vnto all.

D.

God might well haue taken greater & more redoub∣ted titles, but it pleased him rather to vse those that were more fauourable and lesse fearfull,* 1.2 which do set him foorth to vs more gracious and mercyfull, than sharpe and rigorous: to the ende that he would not make vs to flée from him, fea∣ring vs with the greatnesse of his ma∣iestie, but rather that he would drawe vs vnto him by the swéetenesse of his mercy.* 1.3 On the other side, he hath also taken the names and titles, according to the tyme, the places, and people, vnto whom he she∣wed him selfe, and according to the ma∣ners and fashiōs that he vsed: and bicause that he would declare him selfe more fa∣miliarly, he did take those titles that were moste speciall, to make him selfe

the better knowen vnto vs, to the ende we should not be ouermuch discouraged, if he had left vs in an ouer-large contem∣plation of him selfe, without giuing any terme or ende to our spirite, to cause him selfe to be knowne to it by some benefite more particular, and more worthy of his louing kindnesse.* 1.4 Before that departure Iacob, bicause of the promise and aliance the God of Abraham, of Isahac, and of out of Egypt, he was oftentimes called made with them: wheras before he was commonly called the maker of heauen and earth. And from the departure out of Egypte, he hath taken this title, euen to the comming of Chryst, of whom it was sayde by the Prophets, that he should no more be called, the God whiche hath brought vs out of Egypt, but, the Lorde which hath drawen vs out from al parts and countreys wherein we were disper∣sed,* 1.5 euen from the time that he was cal∣led God, Father of Iesus Christe, who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessing and heauenly things in Christ, and hath redéemed and deliuered vs from all euill: which thing was not done without good

and iust cause. And also we muste beside all this consider that which hath bene al∣ready spoken, to wit, that that cōmemo∣ration of the deliuery out of Egypt, is ta∣ken for a rememberaunce of all the be∣nefites of God towarde his people, bi∣cause that it was the beginning, wherby he did more excellently and more appa∣rantly declare what care he had for hys people, & dothe helpe them in a more au∣thorised and authentike maner than he did before, and afterwarde he hath al∣wayes continued his mercy vpon them, and vpon all those which by Christ haue ben woon & ioined to this people. Wherin Moyses did vse a maner of speach which was very cōmō to him, which was to sig∣nifie & cōprehēd y^e whole by a part therof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Galath. 3.
• * 1.2

  Mark. 13.
• * 1.3

  Exod. 19. Deut. 32.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 3.
• * 1.5

  Ephe. 1.