And that he presume not to rehearse and recite jests and unlawful scoffings, plays and vain fables: nor by any means to singe: And 1that he suffer not that one should make before him vile games and toys, and that he consent not that one should bring before him false visages and masks of Devils. For that is diabolical, and forbidden of the holy Canons. We may well understand by that decree of the counsel, ⟨image 106⟩what honesty the Priests and Christians have kept in such banquets, sith that they must make laws by the counsels, and wherein they differed from the Paynims. Wherefore if the good ancient fathers have made any memory of the dead, it was after that sort and manner, as we have already spoken off, and for to abolish by that means the superstitious fashions of the Paynims, and to change them to better manners, sith that they cannot pluck them away altogether. For if such religion was pleasing unto God, it was marvel, that God did not as well ordain, 2certain feasts, sacrifices and ceremonies, for the dead, as he hath done in all other things, and many, which seem not to be so necessary, as those here do esteem the offering for the dead, whom they do grieve more, then any commandment that God hath ever given. If that were comprised in the love that we owe unto our neighbour, how could the spirit of God hold his peace, Jesus Christ and saint Paul his Apostle, who have so much strove against it, and commanded love towards our neighbour, and have not once spoken any word to make prayers, almost nor sacrifices for the dead? If that same had been necessary, and according to the will of God, why would they have more hidden it from us then any other thing? how can that which Jesus Christ and also his Apostles have said be true, that they have declared and manifested unto us all the will of God? Do we not then unto them great injury, to make that a commandment of love and charity of which they have never spoken off? But I am not abashed sith that almost in all other things the Priests do follow the Paynims, and the Jews the Mosaical Ceremonies, abolished by Jesus Christ, how they have not followed them in this matter, and that they do not abstain to come near the dead, and to assist them at their burials, as the ancient Priests of the law, unto whom GOD hath forbidden it.
And that hée presume not to rehearse and recyte iestes and vnlawfull scoffinges, playes and vaine fables: nor by anye meanes to singe: And 1that he suffer not that one shoulde make before hym vyle games and toyes, and that hée consente not that one shoulde bringe before hym false visages and maskes of Dyuelles. For that is dyabolicall, and forbiden of the holy Canons. We maye well vnderstand by that decrée of the counsayle, ⟨image 106⟩what honestie the Priestes and Christians haue kept in such bankets, sith that they must make lawes by the counsailes, and wherein they differed from the Panims. Wherefore if the good auncient fathers haue made anye memory of the deade, it was after that sorte and manner, as wée haue already spoken off, and for to abolysh by that meanes the superstitious fashions of the Panims, and to chaunge them to better manners, sith that they cannot pluck them away altogether. For if such religion was pleasinge vnto God, it was meruayle, that God dyd not as well ordayne, 2certeyne feastes, sacrifices and ceremonies, for the dead, as he hath done in all other thinges, and many, which séeme not to be so necessary, as those héere doe estéeme the offering for the dead, whom they doe grieue more, then any commaundement that God hath euer gyuen. If that were cōprised in the loue that we owe vnto our neighbour, how could the spirite of God holde his peace, Iesus Christ and saint Paul his Apostle, who haue so much stroue against it, and commaunded loue towardes our neighbour, and haue not once spoken any word to make prayers, almoste nor sacrifices for the dead? If that same had bene necessary, and according to the will of God, why would they haue more hidden it from vs then any other thinge? howe can that which Iesus Christ and also his Apostles haue sayde be true, that they haue declared and manifested vnto vs all the wyll of God? Doe we not then vnto them greate iniury, to make that a commaundement of loue and charitie of whiche they haue neuer spoken off? But I am not abashed sithe that almost in all other thinges the Priestes dooe followe the Panims, and the Iewes the Mosoycall Ceremonyes, abolyshed by Iesus Christe, howe they haue not followed them in this matter, and that they doe not absteyne to come néere the deade, and to assist them at their buryalles, as the auncient Priestes of the lawe, vnto whome GOD hath forbidden it.
- 1Masks and Morrishes.Maskes and Morrishes.
- 2God hath not instituted feasts nor sacrifices for the dead.God hath not instituted feasts nor sacrafices for the dead.
