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

Hillarius: The Bull of Pope Clement may bear witness of it, the which is kept yet at this day well sealed with seals of lead at Vienna, Limoges, Poitiers, & in the coffers of yt privileges. It is very true that the Sorbonists of Paris would not allow it, but condemned it. But yet nevertheless it must needs be that it must pass by their hands. He hath also a great many other properties in him, for the which one may compare both him & his unto Mercury, who was in ¹like manner holden & accounted of the Paynims, for the God of gain, of merchants, deceivers, hers & thieves. And therefore they painted him with a scrip, did set his Image in the middle of the market, & before the gates of the houses, for to keep them, & for to drive away the other thieves: because that he was the greatest, & Prince of others. For did the earth bring forth ever such deceivers, abusers, and liars, such merchants, and more covetous of filthy gain? They may well carry the scrip. For that is the cabin from ²which do come forth all these laws, canons & decrees, for to yet the money both of the living and also of the dead. And he carieth not the key without a cause, for to open and shut the gates, and to empty the coffers and scrips, and to take away the pray from other thieves, of whom he is the Captain. At the leastwise, none can ⟨p. 132⟩deny, but that the doctrine of the Paynims, as much as concerneth the dead; is more reasonable then that of the Papists. For although that the Theologians of the ³Paynims, do allow the Ceremonies, Feasts, and Anniversaries of the dead, yet nevertheless they do also teach, that it is not now needful to bestow any great cost about them, but that they content themselves with a little thing, even as Ovid the master of ceremonies, witnesseth ⁴in his Calendar, in these words. It is an honour dew to souls and bodies that be dead To bring such gifts to irksome grave, as satisfy their mead. The souls do much delight therein and much the same doth crave, By means whereof themselves they think, from Pluto's force: to save. With flowers green and garlands gay, their heads they do adorn: And wine and salt is put thereto with other fruits and corn. Nor things of more weight I reprove For souls therein delight, On grave say thou thy prayers then, that ghosts may have their right.