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

Theophilus. If they would deny it, they would be banquished of the contrary as liars, aswell by the prayer and blessing, the which they bse, for to bless the tapers and torches, the day of the feast of Candlemas, as of that that they use the Saturday before Caster or upon Caster even for to bless the fire and the Pascal taper. Park then first of all that which they sing the day of the feast of Candlemas as it is contained in the Pissell, not that I will recite word for word, all their blessing but only the principal points for to prove our meaning, & by the which thou mayest judge of the rest. They sing unto God: we humbly beseech thee, that through the muecation of thy holy name and by the intercession of the holy virgin Mary the mother of thy son, whose feast this day we devoutly celebrate, & by the prayers of all thy Saints, that it would please thee to bless and sanctify these candles, for the use of man, and the health of the souls and bodies, be it in the earth or in the waters: Behold their own proper ⟨p. 152⟩words rehearsed truly word for word, Where have ¹they found, that the Candles do serve for the health of the souls and bodies, and that they have any other use, then for to give light unto the corporal eyes, but in the books of the Paynims. But by and afterwards they do say worse. Park then their words, O Lord Jesus Christ we humbly beseech thee, to bless this creature of war, and shed forth in the same thy heavenly blessing, by the virtue of the holy Cross, to the end that as thou hast given it unto mankind, for to put & drive away the darkness, it may receive such force and benediction, by the sign of thy holy ²cross, in what place soever it shall be lighted, or set, that yt wicked devil may flee and tremble, and avoid altogether amazed and made a fraide, with all his ministers, from those habitations: and that he presume no more to trouble those which do serve God. And by and by after, there is yet more. I do bless thee thou creature of war, in the name of our Lord God, and of the holy Trinity, to the end thou mayst be the extermination and driving away of the Devil, and all his complices. What mockery is this? must the name of GOD be so abused in Charms and Witchcrafts?

Theophilus. If they would denie it, they woulde bee banquished of the contrary as lyers, aswell by the prayer and blessing, the which they bse, for to blesse the tapers and torches, the day of the feast of Candlemas, as of that that they use the Satterday before Caster or upon Caster euen for to blesse the fire and the Pascal taper. Parke then first of all that whiche they sing the daye of the feaste of Candlemas as it is contayned in the Pissell, not that I will recyte word for word, all their blessing but onely the principall points for to proue our meaning, & by the which thou maist iudge of the rest. They sing unto God: we hubly besech thee, that thorow the muecation of thy holy name and by the intercession of the holy uirgin Mary the mother of thy sonne, whose feast this day we deuoutely celebrate, & by the prayers of al thy Saincts, that it would please thee to blesse and sanctifie these candles, for the use of man, and the health of the soules and bodies, bee it in the earth or in the waters: Beholde their owne proper