The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise

Hillarius. I understand what thou wouldest say. The pope hath heaped up together all the merits of Jesus Christ, of the patriarchs, prophets, Apos;tles, Martyrs, confessors, virgins, saints & saints of paradise, & of all the Christian Church in a treasure, and a garner of which he alone hath the keys and can open or shut, & distribute little or much, when he will and as it pleaseth him. ¹For he is the great locksmith. But all the others are but as his servants, of whom he limitteth the power and the office of every one, in such sort, that they cannot distribute, but that that he hath delivered unto them, and of whom they have the keys. Wherefore if it behoveth that he ⟨p. 286⟩have in the treasury & garner a great many of several chambers and cabins, of which many must have the keys every one his own, for to depart and bestow that whereof he hath the dispensation, without daring to touch the rest, except that sometimes, those little varlets and locksmiths do pick the lock and the door of the great locksmith ²and great treasurer, he knowing nothing thereof, and that he be not therewithal content: although that under his name and title, they streth forth their power, as seemeth good unto them, and do forge keys, bulls and pardons as many as they list, and always at the costs of the poor people. Now the great locksmith hath no limit, but that he hath always reasonable cause, for to give bulls and pardons as many as one would, so that money do come: or otherwise he will suffer the poor souls to be roasted and tormented in Purgatory, as long as the world shall continue, for want of one leaf of paper or parchment with a little wax and lead. As concerning the others which have the days limited that they may give pardons, I have a certain doubt, the which I would that I were resolved of it by thee Eusebius. For sith that the one hath power to give two or three thousand, an other two or three hundred, an other an hundred fifty, forty, thirty or twenty, either more or less. I would gladly know of thee what ³horologes & clocks, & what quadrants they have in purgatory, for to measure those days there. For sith that there is no sun, moon nor stars, what days & what years can they have? For the time is taken of the morning, of the heaven & of the course of the sun. But those which are in purgatory, have nothing of all this: