The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The fourth conclusion.

Popish inuocation, adoration, visitation, translation, eleuati∣on, asportation, and reseruation, is superstitious, blasphemous, and idololatrical. This conclusion is euidently proued, by that which is already said of the inuocation and adoration of saints. For if no religious worship nor adoration can be giuen to the liuing saints, as is already proued; much lesse may that which is contained in this conclusion, be yeelded to the dead bodies & reliques of the same. And doubtlesse the faithlesse Gentiles haue not committed more grosse and palpable idolatrie in ado∣ring their idols, then our late Papists in adoring their relikes. For first, when the relique which they terme (Ʋultus sanctus) [ 1] is eleuated as solemnly as their bread-god in the masse, though not ouer the priests head, but publiquely in both his hands; the people of Rome are taught to crie aloude; misericordi, miseri∣cordi, mercie, mercie, for our sinnes. Which, as euerie child [ 2] knoweth, is the proper inuocation of God himselfe. Againe, they doe ascribe so much Religion in handling, and in tou∣ching the tabernacles or coffers, wherein the reliques are put, that the lay people may scarcely touch them with their bare handes, or yet the priestes eleuate the same, vnlesse they first adore them vpon their knees, and in their surplesses with stoles about their neckes. Thirdly, they thinke, that if their beades [ 3] do but once touch those coffers, they receiue a great holinesse from thence. Fourthly, they think that to come on pilgrimage [ 4] to Rome especially, is a great parte of satisfaction for their sinnes. Fiftly, they thinke it a farre greater holines to pray [ 5] in one place, then in another; greater at one altar then at ano∣ther; more blessed in one church then in an other; and that it is the next step to heauen, to say masse, or cause masse to be said, [ 6] at the church of the blessed virgin in Lauretto. Sixtly, they

repute such holines in externall rites, and corruptible reliques; that the bone of a dead dogge,* 1.1 (if it be saide by any to be a re∣lique of a saint) will drawe them with facilitie to touch it, to kisse it, and to adore it, as if it were God almightie. For which cause saint Austen saieth truely, that many bodies are adored vpon earth, whose soules are damned in hell. Yea, the dead corps of Hermannus was adored for a saint twenty yeeres at Ferrara; who yet was an heretique,* 1.2 as writeth their owne Platina.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In all superstiti∣ous adoration, one imitateth an other without time or reason.
• * 1.2

  Platina in 8. Bo∣nifac.