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

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