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

the which almost all suffered martyrdom, of whom he hath written after this manner: It is long a gone, that Celerin was crowned for a Martyr. Item, his uncle of the fathers side, and Laurence his uncle on the mothers side, and Ignatius, which sometime have fought and been soldiers in the worldly war, but being the true and spiritual soldiers of God, having overcome the devil through the profession of Christ, have obtained of the Lord the rewards and crowns, through his glorious passion. We do offer always, as you remember, sacrifices for them, ¹as often as we celebrate the passions of the martyrs. and that we make commemoration and remembrance universally of their days. Sith that he witnesseth that Laurence and Ignatius have received as being victorious the palms and and crowns of martyrdom, there is no doubt, but that they are already holden for Saints and blessed: and do not think that they were yet detained ²in the pains of Purgatory, and that we must make prayers and sacrifices for them, that they might be delivered from their sins and pains. The thing is so plain that none can deny it. For this sentence is very common and allowed among you, and by your Canons: That he that prayeth for a Martyr, doth wrong and injury to the Martyr. For I doubt not, but that in success of time, all things will be come worse. And above all I will advertise thee, that thou hast not ⟨image 186⟩proved unto me that that manner of doing was ordained by the Apostles in the primitive Church. For saint Augustine and others, whom thou hast alleged, do make mention that the ancient fathers, have been the authors and inventors of that custom, and that the Church of long time hath kept it: But they declare not, that Jesus Christ nor his Apostles, have commanded and ordained it. And although that that Denis which ³hath written the Hierarchies, maketh only in one word mention of the prayer for the dead which are buried, yet he proveth not by the holy Scripture, that we ought to do it: and he speaketh not one word of Purgatory.

the which almost all suffered martyrdome, of whom he hath written after this manner: It is longe a gone, that Celerin was crowned for a Martyr. Item, his vnckle of the fathers side, and Laurence his vndle on the mothers side, and Ignacius, which sometime haue fought and bene souldiers in the worldly warre, but béeinge the true and spirituall souldiers of God, hauing ouercome the diuell thorow the profession of Christ, haue obtayned of the Lorde the rewardes and crownes, thorowe his glorious passion. We doe offer alwayes, as you remember, sacrifices for them,