A17729:13
A very profitable treatise made
A very profitable treatise made by M. John Calvin, declaring what great profit might come to all christendom, if there were a register made of all saints bodies and other relics, which are aswell in Italy, as in France, Dutchland, Spain, and other kingdoms and countries. Translated out of French into English by Steven Withers. 1561. Set forth and authorised according to the Queens Majesties injunctions.A very profitable treatise made by M. Ihon Caluyne, declarynge what great profit might come to al christendome, yf there were a regester made of all sainctes bodies and other reliques, which are aswell in Italy, as in Fraunce, Dutchland, Spaine, and other kingdomes and countreys. Translated out of Frenche into Englishe by Steuen Wythers. 1561. Set furth and authorised according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.
printed by Rouland Hall, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now then to pretend that it is a goodly thing to have some memorial as well of him as of the saints, for to stir up to devotion. What is this else, but a false cloak to paint out our foolish and vain desire, which is grounded on no reason? And when this reason should seem to be sufficient, yet for so much as it doth manifestly repugn to that which the holy ghost hath pronounced by the mouth of saint Paul, what would we have more? Although it be not now needful to dispute long upon this point: to wit, whether it be good or evil to have relics for to keep them only as precious things without worshipping them. For even as we have said ⟨image 5⟩experience showeth that the one is almost never with out the other.
Now then to pretende that it is a goodly thyng to haue some memoriall as well of hym as of the sainctes, for to styrre vp to deuotion. What is this els, but a false cloke to paint out our folishe and vayne desier, whiche is grounded on no reason? And when this reason shoulde seme to be sufficient, yet for so much as it dothe manifestlye repugne to that which the holye gost hath pronunced by the mouth of sainct Paul, what wold we haue more? Although it be not now nedefull to dispute longe vpon this poynct: to wit, whether it be good or euill to haue reliques for to kepe them only as precious thynges wythout worshippynge them. For euen as we haue sayde ⟨image 5⟩experience sheweth that the one is almost neuer with out the other.
1It is very true that saint Ambrose speaking of Helene mother to the Emperor Constantine, who with great pain and great expenses sought the cross of our Lord: sayeth that she worshipped only the lord that had hanged thereon and not the wood. But it is a very rare thing to have the hart addicted to any kind of relics whatsoever they be, & that one do not by & by defile & pollute himself with some kind of superstition. I grant that men do not come incontinently or at the first to manifest Idolatry: but by little and little they come from one abuse to another, even until they fall to the extremity. So much there is that the people that name themselves Christians, are come even to this point that they have in this case committed as great idolatry as ever did the heathen. For they have bowed them selves and knelled