Christian Instruction and Sum of Doctrine Part 1, Title page – Dedication
The firſte parte of the Chriſtian Inſtruction, and generall ſōme of the doctrine, conteyned in the holy Scriptures, wherein the principall pointes of the Religion are familiarly handled by Dialogues, very neceſſary to be read of all Chriſtians. Tranſlated into Engliſhe, by Iohn Shute, accordyng to the late Copy ſet forth, by th' author Maiſter Peter Viret.
1565.
¶ Ouerſene and peruſed, accordyng to the order appointed, by the Queenes maieſties Iniunctions.
2. Timothe. 3.
Al Scripture diuinely inſpired of God, is profitable for doctrine, to improue, to amend, and to inſtruct in righteouſnes, that the man of God may be perfecte, and prepared vntounto all good worckes.
No man that layeth hys hande to the plow and looketh behind hym, is meete for the kyngdome of God. Luke. 9.
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE
¶ Imprinted at London, by Iohn Day, dvvellyng ouer Alderſgate, beneath Saint Martins.
❧ To the honorable the Lord Robert Dudley, Baron of Denbigh, Earle of Liceſter, Maiſter of her Maieſties horſe, and knight of th' order: and one of her highnes preuye Councel. Iohn Shute, vviſheth health vvith increaſe of honor and Godly vnderſtandyng,
WHen Hanniball a manifold wintered ſouldiour, a Generall of meruelous iudgement and worthines had giuen eare a while to Phormiō ye Philoſopher, diſcourſing before him of martiall matters, the duty of a Generall and office of ech man yt commeth to field: beyng demaunded at length what he thought of him, whome the Lippewiſe men eſtemed the wyſeſt and learnedſt of the worlde, aunſwered: that fooles he had heard many, but a more dotyng foole then this Phormion was, he neuer heard. It ſemed to him very ſtraunge, that he whiche neuer went further then the ſcoole, neuer fought but with the rod, ſhoulde giuegive preceptes to hym that had ſpent all his life in martiall affaires, obtained moe vistories then he had red ouerthrowes. And may it not (right honorable) ſeme as ſtraunge to your good Lordſhip, and be deemed of ſome others, as greate dotage for me a ſimple ſouldior better practiſed abrode in martiall matters, then furniſhed at home with cunnyng of the ſcoole: to deale with matters of hie diuinitie? But I take not vponupon me to teache of my ſelfe: but to tranſlate out of others, nor do I meane to bragge of any ſkill, but to testifie my good will employed to profite others: yet do I not thincke it a matter vnmeete for my profeſſion and callyng, to knowe the truthe of Gods holy worde, and to further in the ſame as many as I may. For requiſite it is (as your honor and wiſedome right well vnderſtandeth) all Christians to knowe their God: further if they will be the children of his kingdome to worcke through obedience to his will as the Apoſtle ſayth: their owne ſaluation with trembling and with feare. A ſouldior is not excluded from this band, he muſt needes in this battell keepe his order …hil. …and do (by grace) his vttermost endeuoure: leaſte the muſter maister, Chriſte do caſſe him, and ſo …oſuc, 7with great reproche deualize hym. VVe read that for a litle pilfering of a common ſouldior, the whole armie of the Lorde was in daunger and lyke to hauehave ben defeacted, But the blaſphemie, incōtinency, outrage, and ſuche lyke that in many countreis, in the warres in our dayes are vſed: are in deede a great occaſion to procure and purchaſe thoſe dreadfull plagues, whiche we often ſee light vponupon nations. VVherfore that we may continew in quiet peace, & whē occaſion ſhall require, obtaine Godly victories, expedient it wer, and for my countreys ſake I wiſh, that our ſouldiors may be well inſtructed, in the knowledge and feare of God: ſo much the rather, for that their lyfe is doubly incertaine. Anacharſis thought ſaylers and ſuch as trauayle by ſea, to be rather of the nōber of the dead, then of the liuing: by cauſe that he which is in moſt aſsuraunce, is alwaye within eight or ten ynches of his death. And is not a ſouldior eueryevery moment of an houre more nere his bane, amyd ſo many great ſhotte, ſamll ſhot and other weapons? VVherfore it were good, not onelyonly for the parties them ſelues, but alſo for all Chriſtian cōmon wealthes, if they whiche are called to ſerue in warres, were well inſtructed in the knowledge & fear of God, as god be thāked ſome of thē are, I would thinck my ſelf ſurerer in the company of fiue hūdred well trayned ſouldiors, whiche were inſtructed in the feare and louelove of God: then in that of xv. hundred whiche are as well trayned and exerciſed in the vſe of their weapons as they, and doe want the other chief inſtruction. And for my parte beyng a ſimple one, am not aſhamed to be exerciſed in the ſtudy of Gods booke: no more, then to be in the fielde exerciſed, in the vſe of any weapō or order, although my ſtudie in it be not ſuch as I wiſh it to be: yet hauyng receiued great profite & cōfort of conſcience, by reding of ſondrie workes of diuinitie: and namely by the readyng of a worcke of Maiſter Peter Viret, intituled the Chriſtian inſtruction, I would not bereaue my countrey mē the commoditie of the ſame: but thought my ſelfe bounde in conſcience to make them partakers therof. VVherfore hauing tranſlated the firſt parte of it into our tounge with boyſtrous and rude termes, as a man vtterly voyde of eloquence: I hauehave committed the ſame to the printe, and ſo farre preſumed vponupon your honours goodnes, as vnderunder your Lordſhippes name to ſuffer it to come to the ſight of others. May it pleaſe you, to accepte this ſimple token of my trauaile & poore good will towardes your honor. I dout not but ſome ſhall receiue ſuch fruite of it, as they ſhall like well my labour, and pray for your Lordſhip, vnderunder whoſe name it is publiſhed. And ſo ſhall my deſire in Chriſt be ſatisfied. God proſper your honor in health and high eſtate. God encreaſe his faith and his feare, in you. Right honorable I hauehave added in the end of this worke, a table contayning the principall matters, that are entreated of, in this worke, to the end that men may the more eaſily find them. God defend you and preſerue you.