Again, even as the Lord would that his people should be far from such inhumanity and 1barbarousness, so would he provide on the other side, for another great vice, which reigned amongst the Paynims, who did to much exceed in sorrowing and mourning, in ceremonies, superstitions, Idolatries, and with to great expenses about their dead and funerals. Besides all this 2they did many things not seemly to men. For some of them did round and poll their heads, beards & hairs, the mourning, as Herodotus witnesseth of yt Egyptians. There were also which did hurt and prick themselves with lancets, and made the blood to come forth of 3their bodies, in the honour of the dead, & for to witness their dolour, after the same sort as the Priests of Baal did in praying to their God Baal. And the Priests of Cybele in like manner, who in that point followed them. They did also make marks in their flesh, with great superstition the which things the Lord did forbid his people, namely in Leviticus. And therefore those good patriarchs and prophets, who were prudent and wise, and guided through the spirit of God, have found a good means to let and stop those vices and excess which they did commit aswell on the one side as on the other, amongst the Paynims. ⟨p. 121⟩For if the Paynims themselves have regarded that, and have need laws and statutes, for to correct the undecent things that was there committed: And the pomp and foolish cost, that men bestowed about such banities, we must not be abashed, if the people of God, who ought to be the rule and moderation of all others have so well provided for the same, for to keep a mean in all things. For it is not possible that man, how spiritual soever he be, can rob or take from man, all humane affliction, but that there abideth always a marvellous desire in his heart, of the person absent whom he loved, especially when through death it is separated from him. Sith then that one cannot 4pluck away altogether that affection from mans heart, he must at the leastwise set some limit; to the end that he exceed not measure, as the Paynims did. For so long as the affection is too great, insomuch that it draweth us from God, and maketh us to stay more unto the creatures then is needful, it cannot please God.
Agame, euen as the Lord would that his people should be farre from such inhumanity and 1barbarousnes, so would hee prouide on the other side, for another greate vice, which raigned amongst the Panims, who did to much excéede in sorowing and mourning, in ceremonies, superstitions, Idolatries, and with to greate expenses about their dead and funerals. Besides all this 2they did many things not seemely to men. For some of them did rounde and poll their heades, beards & heares, the mourning, as Herodotus witnesseth of yt Aegyptians. There were also which did hurte and pricke themselues with lancets, and made the bloud to come forth of 3their bodies, in the honoure of the dead, & for to witnesse their dolor, after the same sort as the Pricsts of Baal did in praying to their God Baal. And the Priestes of Cyble in lyke manner, who in that pointe followed them. They did also make markes in theyr fleshe, with greate superstition the whiche thinges the Lord did forbid his people, namely in Leuiticus. And therefore those good patriarches and prophets, who were prudent and wise, and guyded thorowe the spirite of God, haue found a good meanes to let and stoppe those vices and excesse which they did commit aswell on the one side as on the other, amongst the Panyms. ⟨p. 121⟩For if the Panims themselues haue regarded that, and haue néede lawes and statutes, for to correct the vndecent things that was there commytted: And the pompe and foolysti cost, that men bestowed about such banities, we must not be abashed, if the people of God, who ought to be the rule and moderation of all others haue so well prouided for the same, for to kéep a meane in all things. For it is not possible that man, how spirituall soeuer he be, can rob or take from man, all humayne aflection, but that there abydeth alwayes a meruaylous desire in his heart, of the person absent whom he loued, especially when thorowe death it is seperated from him. Sith then that one cannot 4plucke away altogether that affection from mans heart, he must at the lcastwise set some lymitte; to the ende that he excede not measure, as the Panims did. For so long as the affection is too great, insomuch that it draweth vs from God, and maketh vs to staye more vnto the creatures then is néedefull, it cannot please God.
- 1The means that we must keep in mourning & at the funerals, and the v.ces of the Paynims.The means that vve must keepe in mourning & at the funeralls, and the v.ces of the Panims.
- 2Barue 6. c 30. Leult. 1. & 21. Heodo. in Enterpe. 3. Reg 18. e. 28
- 3Theod. in Levi ticum, 19. Apul. asinl. aur lt. 1 1. Cice Tusc. q. 3. Levit. 21. a. 3.Theod. in Leui ticum, 19. Apul. asinl. aur lt. 1 1. Cice Tusc. q. 3. Leuit. 21. a. 3.
- 4The limit of human affection.The lymitte of humain affectiō.
