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

or else that they are as a consuming fire in this world, which consumeth all, for to make the poor faithful fear, which will not consent unto their blasphemies and tyranny: or in sign and token that they are the Cooks & fire brands of hell, for do tossed and broil the roar souls, & that they have the tharge of those infernal firs and of ⟨p. 159⟩Purgatory. There was in like manner in that procession, chariots, hearses and shrines, all trimmed and engraved in gold and silver, for to carry and bear the other gods and their Images, the which they have afterwards learned to make, as the other Paynims by succession of time did. There were also, which carried goodly rods and staves of gold, as are the crosses of our Abbots and Bishops: and the staves which they do carry in procession, with the Cross. And those were also clothed with white, as our Priests are. Wherefore sith that our Priests do follow them almost in all things, me thinketh that they should have more show of appearance to keep the holy fire in the pyx or box, and to worship it and cause it to be worshipped, as their God that they have made of stower. For this without the other, can have no great virtue, sith that the fore must defend them. Wherefore they do evidently declare, that they esteem it more puissant and more strong, sith that they have recourse unto it. Wherefore one may well answer unto them, that which of old time hath been answered by a certain man, of the pron and of the gold, who was demanded which of them both was the strongest.

or els that they are as a consuming fyre in this world, which consumeth all, for to make the poore faithfull feare, which will not consent unto their blasphemies and tyranny: or in signe and token that they are the Cookes & fyre bronds of hell, for do tost and broyle the roore sules, & that they haue the tharge of those iusernall firrs and of ⟨p. 159⟩Purgatorie. There was in like manner in that processiou, charets, hearses and shrines, all tryumed and engraued in golde and siluer, for to carye and beare the other gods and their Images, the which they haue afterwards learned to make, as the other Panims by succession of time did. There were also, which caried goodly rods and staues of golde, as are the crosses of our Abbots and Byshoppes: and the staues which they do cary in procession, with the Crosse. And those were also clothed with white, as our Priests are. Wherefore sith that our Priests do follow them almost in all things, mee thinketh that they shoulde haue more shew of appearance to kéepe the holye fire in the pyr or bor, and to worshippe it and cause it to bée worshiped, as theyr God yt they haue made of stower. For this without the other, can haue no great vertue, sith that the fore must defende them. Wherefore they do euidently declare, that they estéeme it more puissant and more strong, sith that they haue recourse vnto it. Wherefore one may wel aunswere vnto them, that which of old time hath bene aunswered by a certeine man, of the pron and of the golde, who was demaunded whiche of them both was the strongest.