A07146:1079
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times…The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times…
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times past been brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherents: faithfully gathered out of the most faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and now newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singular profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.
London: printed by John Day, 1563London: printed by Iohn Day, 1563
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Relics of Rome. › Of Purgatory.The Reliques of Rome. › Of Purgatorye.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
That is to say, Mass, Prayers, Gifts, Fastings: These four things set at liberty the souls that are in Purgatory. ⟨image 230⟩And a little after he sayeth. The device to pray for them that are dead, is holy and wholesome. It is holy by the compassion of the dear friends. It is wholesome,1 through giving of alms, and the prayer of the faithful, and specially of the Priests, to whom the souls are committed.2 For alms is the meat of souls and prayer is the drink.3 Fastings also of the faithful is a great refection & banquet for the souls and pilgrimage going of friends is the dispatch and deliverance of pains. As for pardons, they also profit the souls in purgatory even so far, as they deserved, while they lived in this world. But before all remedies, wherewith the soul being in Purgatory may be holpen: the mass far excelleth. Therefore saith Gregory:4 Oh how great and lively gift of God is this? For the divine mysteries are never celebrated (He meaneth that the mass is never song or said) but that two virtuous works do concur, and are brought to pass: that is to say, the conversion of one sinner and the deliverance of one soul at the lest out of Purgatory.
That is to saye, Masse, Prayers, Giftes, Fastings: These foure thinges set at libertie ye soules that are in Purgatorye. ⟨image 230⟩And a little after he sayeth. The deuice to praye for them that are dead, is holy and wholesome. It is holy by the compassion of the deare frendes. It is wholesome,1 thorowe geuyng of almosse, and the prayer of the faithfull, and specially of the Priestes, to whom the soules are committed.2 For almosse is the meate of soules and prayer is the drinke.