Ad Danielis Hofmanni demonstrationes ad oculum, Theodori Bezae Conspicillum

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Christian reader, whoever you are, Théodore de Bèze asks this of you in the name of God: do not believe that I am a sophist, much less an Epicurean, as I am slandered by my adversary contrary to the truth and with intolerable confidence. Rather, believe that by the grace of God, I am a lover of both truth and piety, and, as God knows, a student of peace in the Churches.

First, be persuaded that I was dragged into this contest with the utmost force, though I was entirely unwilling and thinking of no such thing. Now, I am compelled to return to it with a heart that utterly resists, not because I distrust my excellent cause, or because I fear yielding to the truly weak arguments of my adversary, but because I see no end to these writings. Today, so many seek a reputation through them rather than the truth. It is far from the case that the controversies that have arisen in our Churches are extinguished by acting in this way; on the contrary, they are inflamed more and more by private injuries and hatreds.

Next, Bèze also requests, with the same zeal, that you remember, whatever men of the other faction may rave about in their writings and from the pulpit, that we have no doubt regarding the omnipotence of the Best and Greatest God, nor regarding the truth and authority of that covenant or eternal Testament. For what person, even in appearance a Christian, would raise a dispute about these matters? But the controversy between us and them is as follows: First, whether God can desire ἀσύστατα incoherent or contradictory things, or distrust himself and what he has testified he desires through his unchangeable word—which we deny. Secondly, what is the true and orthodox explanation of that covenant, according to the institution of the Lord's Holy Supper, is being debated. We do not base our argument on the sense of an insane flesh, as we are falsely accused, but on the analogy of the chapters of the Christian faith, the accurate collation of other passages of Scripture, and finally, what is drawn from the pure word of God. Furthermore, Christian reader, Bèze affirms to you that the debate does not concern the origin or the twofold matter of the sacraments, nor their form, nor their truth, nor finally...