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

& to teach every one how he ought to prepare himself to dye, and to confirm & strengthen them in the hope of the resurrection, declaring unto them that the blood of Jesus Christ is the true Purgatory of the souls, and that there is none other, their ringing and singing would have a little more appearance, and should be more conformable to the ancient Church: But they do it altogether for none other end but to induce and lead the people to superstition, and for to strengthen them in their opinion of purgatory, making them ¹to pray for the dead, without any word of God. But do they not yet allege an other goodly reason, saying: that they do ring their Bells in their processions, funerals, and at other times, to that end to make the devils afraid, and to compel them to flee: For they say that those are the trumpets of the Church militant, of which the Devil hath as great fear, as a tyrant hath when he heareth that one giveth him the Larame, and as the sound of the Trumpets and Drums of a puissant King or Prince, which is his enemy, and come for to discomfort him: For that cause say they, do they carry the banner and the cross, and that they cause the Bells to be rung and tolled for the tempests, and also for to admonish the people to pray unto God: But it were a great deal better that they would make such admonitions ²by the preaching of the Gospel, and that they would arm the people with the buckler of faith, & weapon them with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, for to defend them against the Devil, & to drive him away. For these are the true weapons, which the Devil feareth, and which S. Paul giveth to the Christian knight.

& to teach euery one how he ought to prepare himselfe to dye, and to confirme & strengthen them in the hope of the resurrection, declaring vnto them that the bloude of Iesus Christ is the true Purgatory of the soules, and that there is none other, their ringing and singing would haue a little more appearance, and should be more conformable to the auncient Church: But they do it altogether for none other ende but to induce and leade the people to superstition, and for to strengthen them in their opinion of purgatory, making thē ¹to pray for the dead, without any word of God. But do they not yet alledge an other goodly reason, sayinge: that they doe ring their Bels in their processions, funerals, and at other times, to that ende to make the diuels afraide, and to compell them to flée: For they say that those are the trumpets of the Church militant, of which the Dyuell hath as great feare, as a tyrant hath whē he heareth that one giueth him the Larame, and as the sounde of the Trumpets and Drummes of a puissaunt King or Prince, which is his enemy, and come for to discomfort him: For that cause say they, doe they carry the banner and the crosse, and that they cause the Bells to bée ronge and towled for the tempests, and also for to admonish the people to pray vnto God: But it were a great deale better that they would make suche admonitions