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

But yet nevertheless although that those things seem to be hard & cruel yet notwithstanding before the face of the Lord, the death of his Saints are precious The Paynims themselves that have had any understanding were not much careful of the burial: although that many superstitious Idolaters have thought that it bringeth great hurt, unto those that have not been buried. Now even as the cost which is done about the dead bodies for their burials profiteth less unto them, then to any other: As much may we think & judge of all the suffrages and cost that is done for them after their death and burial, as Saint Augustine doth plainly declare, upon this place of ⟨image 105⟩the Psalms. They call their lands after their own ¹names. What is that? They bring (saith he,) breads and wine unto the graves and call it there the name of the dead. How much or how often dost thou think, that the name of that rich man hath been called upon afterwards, when men were drunken in remembering him, and one drop of cold water did not descend to quench his hot tongue? Men do serve their belly, and not the souls of their parents and friends. There cometh nothing unto the souls of their dead, but that which they have done with them being alive. But if being ²alive, they have done nothing with them, there cometh nothing unto the dead. What reproach had the men which understood not what they should do with their riches, when they lived, and which did think that they should be blessed, if they had a memorial in a Tomb of marble stone, as an eternal house: or if their parents & friends, unto whom they shall leave their goods, do call their lands after their names: But on the contrary, they ought to prepare for themselves an everlasting house, in good works. They ought to prepare for themselves the immortal life, ³to send the cost & charges before them, to follow their works to have good regard of their needy companion, to give unto him with whom they do walk, not to despise Jesus Christ, to wit, his poor members, lying full of botches & sores before the gate, who hath said: Inasmuch as you have done ⁴