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

¹or else he will forge and invent a new, after his own brain. On the contrary, if one give bym ceremonies, ⟨image 155⟩for to hold him in religion, and in his office, he will make of them Gods and Idols, and will put all his trust in the outward visible, and material ceremony and will forsake the principal and spiritual things, signified by those ceremonies: and in stead to serve him as for degrees and shows for to attain unto the true spiritual religion, and to enter. into the true Temple of God, stayeth himself upon the degrees, and before the gate, and will not enter into the house: As we see by experience in the people of Israel, who have always more esteemed the exterior ceremonies, then those by which God would teach them. Now if the same be happened unto the people of God, and to the Ceremonies ordained of God himself. as all the Prophets do witness, what may happen unto the ceremonies and traditions invented by men? Especially when the Church hath false Prophets, or negligent and covetous pastors and Shepherds, which have no care of the health and salvation of the people, and which do not travail to pull away the superstition and Idolatry, but rather to augment and increase it, for to abuse the ignorance of the poor simple people to their profit and filthy gain: cursed and too execrable is that which we at this day do prove and feel. For in stead to have abolished by the feast of Candlemas the old Idolatry, one hath augmented and confirmed it a great deal more: the which is so much the more dangerous, that the mask and disguising of Satan is better painted out, and hath found out names and titles more goodly and favourable, as is that of the blessed Virgin the mother of Jesus Christ, as hath been already touched, in speaking of Pantheon.

¹or else hée wyll forge and inuent a newe, after hys owne brayne. On the coutrarye, if one gyue bym ceremonies, ⟨image 155⟩for to holde hym in religion, and in hys office, hée wyll make of them Gods and Idolls, and will put all hys trust in the outwarde visible, and materyall ceremonye and wyll forsake the principall and spyrituall thinges, signified by those ceremonies: and in stéede to serue hym as for degrées and shewes for to attaine vnto the true spirituall religion, and to enter. into the true Temple of God, stayeth hymselfe vppon the degrées, and before the gate, and wyll not enter into the house: As wée sée by experience in the people of Israel, who haue alwayes more estéemed the exteriour ceremonies, then those by which God woulde teache them. Now if the same be happened vnto the people of God, and to the Ceremonies ordayned of God hymselfe. as all the Prophetes doo wytnesse, what may happen vnto the ceremonies and traditions inuented by men? Especially when the Churche hath false Prophetes, or neglygent and couetous pastors and Shepheardes, whiche haue no care of the healthe and saluation of the people, and whiche doe not trauayle to pull awaye the superstytion and Idolatry, but rather to augement and increase it, for to abuse the ignoraunce of the poore simple people to their profite and filthy gayne: cursed and too execrable is that which wée at this daye dooe proue and féele. For in stéede to haue abolyshed by the feast of Candlemas the olde Idolatrye, one hath augmented and confirmed it a greate deale more: the whiche is so muche the more daungerous, that the maske and dysguisinge of Sathan is better paynted out, and hath founde out names and tytles more goodly and fauourable, as is that of the blessed Virgin the mother of Iesus Christe, as hathe bene alreadye touched, in speakinge of Pantheon.