An antidote agaynst poperie: most necessarie for all in this back-slyding age. Wherein 1. The trueth is confirmed, by authoritie of scriptures, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of the popish partie. 2. Popish scripturall arguments are answered, by the exposition both of father and of their own doctours / by William Guild.

3. Confession of partie.

IT is certayne, (sayeth Cassander) that in these last tymes too much hath beene ascrybed to the reliques of Saynctes; so that even by good men, endewed with a pious zeale, their whole religion, as it were, hath beene thought to bee placed in getting such Re∣liques, decoring them with Golde, and precious stones, and in buil∣ding moste statelie Temples to their memories. As also that a false confidence hath beene pla∣ced by wicked men, in the foo∣lish and superfluous worship of Reliques: Wherefore, in the Councell of Cabilon they are rebu∣ked, who vnder pretext of Devo∣tion,

went in Pilgrimage to Rome, or Turaine; thinking by the fre∣quenting of those places, (to wit, where manie Reliques were) that they were purged from their sinnes.

To this were added other evils, (sayeth hee) that thorow avaryce, and for entysing simple people, false Reliques haue beene obtru∣ded, and feygned miracles allead∣ged to bee wrought, whereby the superstition of people hath beene nowrished: and sometymes tho∣row the deceat and illusion of the Devill, abusing mens superstition, by Dreames, and Visions, new Re∣liques haue beene revealed: and by the same operation of Satan, miracles haue seemed to bee wrought. Wherefore hee conclu∣deth, That it were more wyselie & better, that men did abstayne from all ostentation of Reliques, and that p••ople were exhorted, (sayth hee) to honour the true Reliques of Saynctes; that is, to imitate their holie ex••mples, which are extant, and may bee seen•• eyther

in Scripture, or were done by th•…•… Apostles, or are recorded o•…•… them.

Notes

• Cas∣sand. cōsult. art. 21 de ve∣nera∣tione reli∣quia∣rum.
• Cap. 45.
• Art, 22.