IN this third Dialogue by reason that Eusebius maintaineth and upholdeth that the Prayers and Suffrages for the dead, are of Gods ordinance, and of the institution of the ancient Church, it is entreated off very amply by Theophilus and Hillarius, and showed out point by point of what original and beginning that did first begin, & by whom it was begun, and hath been augmented, as well among the Paynims, as the Jews and Christians: And what hath been the customs and ceremonies of the one & the other, as well in their mourning and sorrowing for the dead, as in their Anniversaries, Feasts & Obsequies for the dead. And because that there is great conformity between the feasts dedicated unto the dead, as well among the Paynims as the papistical Christians, we will declare evidently by conferring the one with the other, not only the agreeing that these feasts have together, but also that which is amongest many other ceremonies joined with them, and depending upon them: The which have been borrowed of the Paynims by the papistical Christians, or at the least wife the imitation is so clear and evident, that there is none but that he may easily judge, that they proceeded all from one spirit. For to manifest and declare then this same the better, and for to make it the playnelyer to be seen, we will declare point by point the conformities which are between the one and the other, touching the diverse feasts and days dedicated unto the dead, and touching the forbidding of marriage at certain times. Afterwards the conformity of some feasts and Idols of the Paynims and Papists, and the feast of the candles and divers purifications observed of the one part and of the other: And the consecrations of Torches, Wax, Wax candles, Salt, holy Water, Fire, Ashes and many other such ⟨image 121⟩divers matters, by the which every one may easily judge, who hath ben the author of the popish Ceremonies: and what difference there is between the ancient Panim Rome, and the Romish Church, such as it is at this present. We do call this Dialogue, Anniversaries, or years minds, because that it maketh mention of many Ceremonies, which yearly have been observed among the superstitious and Idolaters about the dead, as of the strange Gods.
IN this thirde Dialogue by reason that Eusebius mainteineth and vpholdeth that the Prayers and Sussrages for the dead, are of Gods ordinaunce, and of the institution of the auneient Church, it is intreated off very amply by Theophilus and Hillarius, and shewed out pointe by pointe of what originall and beginning that did first begin, & by whom it was begun, and hath bene augmented, as well amonge the Panims, as the Iewes and Christians: And what hath bene the customes and ceremonies of the one & the other, as well in their mourning and sorrowing for the dead, as in their Anniuersaries, Feastes & Obsequies for the dead. And bicause that there is great conformitie betweene the feastes dedicated vnto the dead, as well among the Panims as the papisticall Christians, we will declare euidently by conferring the one with the other, not onely the agreeing that these feastes haue togother, but also that which is amongest many other ceremonyes ioyned with them, and depending vpon them: The which haue bene borrowed of the Panims by the papisticall Christians, or at the least wife the imitation is so cleere and euident, that there is none but that he may easely iudge, that they proceeded all from one spirite. For to manifest and declare then thys same the better, and for to make it the playnelyer to bee seene, we will declare pointe by pointe the conformityes which are betweene the one and the other, touching the diuerse feastes and dayes dedicated vnto the deade, and touching the forbiddinge of marriage at certeine times. Afterwardes the conformitie of some feastes and Idols of the Panims and Papistes, and the feast of the candels and diuers purisications obserued of the one part and of the other: And the consecrations of Torches, Waxe, Waxcandles, Salt, holy Water, Fire, Asshes and many other suche ⟨image 121⟩diuers matters, by the which euory one may easely iudge, who hath ben the authour of the popish Ceremonies: and what difference there is betweene the auncient Panim Rome, and the Romish Church, such as it is at this present. We doe call this Dialogue, Anniuersaries, or yeares mindes, bicause that it maketh mention of many Ceremonies, which yearelye haue bene obserued among the superstitious and Idolaters about the dead, as of the straunge Gods.
