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

whom Saint Hierome rebuked, because they dare not eat bread for fear to break their fastings, but they must make great provision for Pheasants, Partridges, and other dainty fowls. They do as ours do, which dare not eat of the lard and fat bacon, but they seek both sea and land for to find out new delicate dishes. Is not the perpetual abstinence from wine which the Lurks kept to be preferred? But I will not at this time enter into that matter of fastings any further. For it cannot be ended in a small time. But if the fastings and such corporal exercises do little profit, except ¹they have with them the things, by reason whereof they are ordained, to what end can sackcloth and ashes serve: especially after that sort as they are given at this day, the which hath no likelihood or agreeing with the custom of the ancient servants of God? For they did not think to be purified and sanctified by those ashes, nor that they should bring any health or salvation unto the soul by that sprinkling, as you do by yours. Let the prayer, the which you do use in the consecration and hallowing of them: be a witness in the which you do pray God, that it would ²please him to send his holy Angel from heaven, to bless and sanctify these ashes, to the end they may be a ⟨image 178⟩healthful remedy unto all those which do call upon his ³name: and that althose which de poure them upon them, may receive bealish of their body, and safeguard of their soul, for the redemption of their sins. Those ashes should have as much virtue as the blood of Jesus Christ. They should have yet more show and colour, as already hath been declared, to restore the ancient Jewish Ceremony, ⁴and to make ashes of the young heifer, then to do that that they do, or to make them of a Calf, as the Pomaines did. For they should have more colour in the holy Scripture, in the which they shall find no institution of their ashes.

whom Saincte Hierome rebuked, bicause they dare not eate bread for feare to breake their fastinges, but they must make greate prouision for Phesauntes, Partriges, and other deyntie foules. They doe as ours doe, which dare not eate of the larde and fat bacon, but they séeke bothsea and lande for to finde out new delicate disshes. Is not the perpetuall abstinence from wyne which the Lurkes kept to bée preferred? But I wyll not at this time enter into that matter of fastinges any further. For it cannot bée ended in a small tyme. But if the fastinges and such corporall exercises doe lyttle profite, excepte