A07146:74
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.
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.
Other matters there are, wherein the Papists find great fault with the Protestants, which may be answered as easily, as we have done these aforesaid. For we have rehearsed the chief & principal: of what force & strength they be, who seeth not. But forasmuch as they make the simple and ignorant people believe, that if these things be taken away, the whole Religion of Christ falleth down and utterly perisheth (the people being persuaded that they are not trifling traditions of men, but the grave and weighty ordinances of God.) And that therefore as an other Atlas they with their shoulders hold up the old and ancient Catholic Religion, which otherwise would fall to ruin and utter decay: I pitying and much lamenting the miserable state of the simple, blind, and ignorant Christians, so wretchedly seduced through the subtle and crafty persuasions of these most subtle and crafty hypocrites,1 which being in deed grievous and ravening wolves, clothe themselves with sheep's apparel, that they may the easelier make a ravine and spoil of the Christen flock: I have thought good to declare and show out of Chronicles and Histories. who were the Authors and inventors of all these trifling traditions, drowsy dreams, ⟨image 26⟩and idle inventions, which heretofore have been counted for true Religion and Gods service: Again, at what time or year of our Lord, every one of their beggarly ceremonies were thrust into the Church: that by this means such as will open their eyes, and no more be obstinately blind, may easily perceive and see, how wickedly the wicked and Popish hypocrites have in times past seduced and received the simple poor Christians, while they have made them believe, that whatsoever is done in their Church, is divine service, and God is highly pleased therewith, contrary to this saying of Christ:2 They worship me in vain, teaching doctrines, which are the commandments of men: and that to leave these things undone, is deadly sin, and worthy great punishment. A Priest to read the Gospel at Mass without candle light: to receive the Sacramental wine, without mingling of water, to say Mass abroad without a Super•ltare:
Other matters there are, wherin the Papystes finde great faulte with the Protestantes, whiche may be answered as easely, as we haue done these aforesaid. For we haue rehearsed the chief & principall: of what force & strength they be, who seeth not. But forasmuche as they make the simple and ignoraunt people beleue, that if these thinges be taken away, the whole Religion of Christ falleth downe and vtterlye perisheth (the people being persuaded that they are not tryfling traditions of mē, but the graue and weyghtie ordinaunces of God.) And that therfore as an other Atlas they with their shulders holde vp the olde and auncient Catholyke Religion, whiche otherwise would fall to ruine and vtter decay: I pitieng and much lamenting the miserable state of the simple, blinde, and ignoraunt Christians, so wretchedly seduced thorowe the suttle and craftye persuasions of these most suttle and craftye hypocrites,