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. Now what reason have you for to excuse your self of that same Idolatry, more lawfully then they?

Hillarius. Now what reason haue you for to excuse your selfe of that same Idolatry, more lawfully then they?

Theophilus. That Idolatry is the most ancient which hath been almost amongest men, chiefly before that there was any use of Images: And I doubt not but that we refer it, unto the Idolatry of the fire, following also the opinion of Saint Hierome and of ¹Lyra, that which Moses calleth, Ur of the Chaldees. For notwithstanding that that name is taken for the place, wherein Tarch the Father of Abraham dwelled, yet nevertheless it is very like that that place hath taken his name of that fire, which the Chaldeans worshipped, as we see daily that many Townes and Villages do take their name of the Gods, Saints and Patrons which are there adored & honoured, as are S. Claudus, S. Hippolite, Saint Denis, Saint James, & others innumerable. For Ur, signifieth in the Hebrew and Chaldee tongue, fire and furnace. And unto that agreeth well that which is spoken off in the book of Joshua, that Tareh the Father of Abraham was an Idolater, although ²there be no mention made that he worshipped Images and Idols: But it was because he was defiled and infected with that Idolatry of the Chaldees, for the which Abraham departed from his country, in not worshipping the fire in stead of the true God.

Theophilus. That Idolatry is the most auncient which hath bene almost amongest men, chiefely before that there was any vse of Images: And I doubte not but that wée referre it, vnto the Idolatry of the fire, followinge also the opinion of Sainct Hierome and of ¹Lyra, that which Moses calleth, Vr of the Chaldees. For notwithstanding that that name is taken for the place, wherein Tarch the Father of Abraham dwelled, yet neuerthelesse it is very lyke that that place hath taken his name of that fire, which the Chaldeans worshipped, as wée sée dayly that many Townes and Villages dooe take their name of the Gods, Sainctes and Patrons whiche are there adored & honoured, as are S. Claudus, S. Hippolite, Sainct Denis, Sainct Iames, & others innumerable. For Vr, signifieth in the Hebrew and Chaldee tongue, fire and furnayse. And vnto that agréeth well that which is spoken off in the booke of Iosua, that Tareh the Father of Abraham was an Idolater, although