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

Eusebius. If you had read over and ruminated the ancient doctors of the Church, you shall not find that doctrine so new, but you would speak otherwise and should know that the Church hath followed it of long time before that Pelagius or Saint Gregory were borne. §Obiection.¹Wherefore then did Saint Ambrose make mention, writing of the death of the Emperor Theodosius, of the first, seventh, thirty and forty day that the Church did celebrate, making remembrance of the dead, and for what cause they did the same? of whom the words are written in the decrees after this manner. Because that ²some have used to observe the third caye, other some the seventh, and others the thirty in the office of the dead. Let us consider what thing that lesson in the scripture teacheth us. It saith: After that Jacob was dead, Joseph commanded ³his servants that they should bury him: And the ⁴children of Israel buried him and the forty days being accomplished, for so were the days of the burial counted & they lamented seven days. We ought to follow that solemnity, the which the holy scripture describeth unto us It is also written after this manner in Deuteronomium. ⁵that the children of Israel lamented Moses, and did weep thirty days, and then the mourning was ended, heth those two observations have then authority, by the ⟨image 124⟩which the necessary office of piety and humanity is accomplished. Do you not see here plainly by the words of Saint Ambrose, that already in his time the Church did the office and commemoration of the dead, and did celebrate in their memory certain days, and yet the ancients have not instituted them after the imitation and example of the Paynims and Idolaters, as you say and affirm, but after yt imitation of the ancient Patriarchs and Prophets and of the people of God?