The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholic religion against popery proving…The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving…

As for the Minor, it were tedious to recite but half the Romish ceremonies and formalities with which •hey both delude and burden poor sinners. For the word of God in a tongue which they understand, they must hear a sound of a strange language which they understand not: Instead of singing praises with the heart (as David) and with the understanding (as Paul requireth) they sing over prayers and Scriptures and other things in uncouth notes and in the ⟨p. 162⟩Latin tongue, which the people understand not: The Eucharist or Lords Supper is also celebrated in Latin and the prayers and praises adjoined; and the Cup taken from the people: and all turned into a mere show, by elevation of the host, adoration of it, gaping while the Priest doth pop the Bread into their mouths. Prayers also are used in Latin, so that the substance of public worship is thus made a very Picture, or unreasonable service: Yea, they teach them to pray partly in Latin in private, and partly with vain repetitions, multiplying over the name Jesus, nine times together, and rehearsing over their canting shreds, and numbering their prayers on their beads to keep tale, and observing such and such hours, and praying to Saints, to one Saint for this and another for that, giving the elogies and prayers and praises to the Virgin Mary, that are due to God alone: Sacraments they multiply: even Marriage which in the Clergy is a deadly sin, and the avoiding it by the Laity is a work of supererogation, yet must it be a Sacrament. The Rules of their several Monastical orders, were tedious to recite: Touch not, taste not, handle not: such meats must not be eaten on such a day: such orders must use such meats, and forbear such: other Orders forbear other meats: some must be thus shorn, shaven, clothed; and some thus: Much of their Devotion consisteth in being sprinkled with Holy Water, anointed with Chrism: creeping to the Altar; striking […] the breast; making and wearing the Cross; setting it up, and worshipping it in high ways and Churchyards, worshipping Crucifixes; and bowing before the Images of God, the Holy Ghost in the form of a Dove, and of the Saints; travelling to certain ⟨p. 163⟩Images and shrines in Pilgrimage, offering to them, especially to our Lady at some famous places; compassing the Church so oft; formal penances: observing multitudes of Holy-days for the Saints;