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

Wilt thou now deny, but you do make of the Virgin Mary a Proserpina: and of the other side a Ceres? whom in like manner you do honour by putting on of white apparel, and ¹with fastings & superstitious abstinences, even as Ovid hath written of Ceres, saying. The Goddess Ceres best doth like² the garment made of white And for her use in garment black she no thing doth delight. Behold as touching the apparel. Give ear also to that ³which he speaketh of the superstitious fastings. Their feasting lasted all the day till time of night drew near And then they straight to supper went⁴ when stars in sky appear As much did they in like manner unto Isis and Cybele, whom you will bring all into the Christianity under the ⁵title of that good virgin. And not being contented with ye ye do add yet Juno Sospita, unto whom the title was given, because that the Paynims did attribute unto her the virtue to ⁶heal & save men. For Sospita signifieth as much as a saveresse or woman saver. Therefore all those ye were sick or ⁷diseased did call upon her with Jupiter the saviour, Jesus Christ is not sufficient for you for a saviour, except you do add a saveresse or a woman saviour. It is not sufficient for you to have him for a Porter and key bearer in heaven, but ye must join to him a she porter and she key keeper, to the end that we should have the Goddess Carua ⁸aswell as the Paynims had, unto whom Ovid giveth such ⟨p. 168⟩power, as you do give in that prose unto your new Virgin Mary, the which you have forged and made of your own mind. For she which was the Mother of Jesus would not commit sacrilege, for to steal from Jesus Christ her son the honour which to him alone appertaineth. But mark well whether the verse of Ovid speaking of the Goddess Carua, doth evil agree with your prose. Through her great force and mighty power