The Observer of Time, Dialogues · Dialogue 3
¶The thyrde Dialoge.
☞The Collocutours. The Temporiſour, Euſebius, and Ireneus.
☞Temporiſour.
IT behoueth me to go betymes to open the gardyne, and tarye there to receyue my frendes, as it apperteyneth.
☞Ireneus.
Me thinketh, the gardyne is opened, peraduenture I hauehave taryed longeſt.
☞Temporiſour.
Come in hether Irenie, haſte thou not ſene Euſebius?
¶Ireneus.
No. I feared to hauehave come to late.
¶Temporiſour.
Thou comeſt tymeynough: how lykeſt thou this garden.
☞Ireneus.
It is very pleaſaunte. Thinkeſte thou that, that thou ſhalt not offend Euſebius with theſe delectacions? for as farre as I can deſerne he is nor the man that taketh any greate pleaſure in theſe thinges.
¶Temporiſour.
Ther is no daūger, he knoweth wel ynough this gardē, and furthermore as thou heardeſt, he choſe this place, wherin we might come to gether.
¶Ireneus.
It is very wel: for it is my chefe deſyre, that nothing be done, whereby any man may be offended, and therfore. I praye thee take in good part, all that I hauehave ſayd vntounto thee concerning theſame. But ſee, he is here at hande, let vsus go to mere him.
☞Euſebius.
This is my inciuilite to come ſo late. I ought rather to hauehave taryed for them, and ſe they tarye for me: but it goeth well ynough, for I ſee them pleaſauntly diſpoſed. Geue vsus grace (O Chriſt) that we maye perfectely treate and debate this queſtion: it is thy worke & not myne.
¶Temporiſour.
Thou doeſte me great pleaſure Euſebie, in coming hether. I feared leaſt ſome let or trouble had happened vntounto the, that thou couldeſt not come.
¶Euſebius.
There is nothing happened: but (that in coming) I thoughte vponupon our queſtion, in debating the ſame with my ſelf, wherby I came the more ſlowely: Wherein (I praye you,) pardon me.
☞Ireneus.
You dyd well: and neuertheleſſe, we hauehave not taryed long for you.
¶Temporiſour.
Chuſe whether ye wyll walke vnderunder thy… vy…, or ſyt downe at this table, to fyniſhe our c…llation.
¶Euſebius.
Seynge we are three, me thinketh it better for vsus to ſyt downe: to thende eueryevery one maye the better heare, and aunſwere: and alſo propone more deliberately, the which thinge cannot ſo wel be done in walking. But yf your deſy…e be to walke, I am contented.
☞Temporiſour.
You hauehave deuyſed the beſt waye.
☞Ireneus.
And ſo it ſemeth vntounto me.
☞Euſebius.
Pardon me, although I beginne fyrſte: for aſmuch as I hauehave promyſed to aunſwere vntounto the obiections of Temporiſour alledged out of the .x. and .…ej. Chapters of G. Mathew. Yf ſo it be your pleaſures:
¶Temporiſour.
I thinke it good Euſebie, in purſuynge thy promiſe, that thou do proue vntounto vsus, whether I hauehave alledged thoſe ſcriptures, well, or no.
☞Euſebius.
I wyll fyrſt declare, what is the trew ſence of the wordes of Chriſt,Expoſitiō vponupon the paſſage of S. Math. the. 7. cha. and then we ſhall ſee howe well to the purpoſe thou haſte alledged them. It is playne that by dogges & hogges, he doeth meane, all carnall, fleſhely, cruell and bloudthurſtye men: to whom in no reſpect appertayneth holy thinges, nomore then pearles to hogges. And therefore the Lorde wylleth, that we do not wittingly manifeſt and declare the ſecretes of his Kingdome to ſuche people, confyaminge theſame by two pro…able argumentes and reaſons. The one, for the conſeruation of the worde and doctryne. And the other for the preſeruatiō of the preachers & teachers of theſame word. Leaſt haplye (ſayth he) they doe…reade them vnderunder theyr feete, and in retourning do deuoure you. That which he ſpeaketh of treading vnderunder theyr feete, is meant of the worde of God, but that which he rehearſeth of tenring or deuouring, is meante of the myniſters and preachers thereof. So that by theſe wordes hys wyll is not, that the ſecrete myſteries of the Kyngdomme of GOD ſhoulde not be publyſſhed vntounto the worlde, or that we ſhould not freely and expreſſely confeſſe the veryfie of the Goſpell of God before the Maieſtrates when we are called therunto. As hauehave done the Apoſtles & an infynite noū bre of martyrs before vsus. But rather, he doeth adliyſe and perſwade vsus by theſe ſayinges: yt it is not good nor cōuenient raſhely to declare vntounto wicked and carnall men, the miſteries of the chriſtian fayth, whereby comenly enſueth nothing els but contempt and deri…io… of theſame, with manifeſte daunger of theyr lyues. And to theſame ende & purpoſe he vſeth theſe wordes in the .x. of S. Matheme. Beware of men, and be wyſe as ſerpentes. Doeſt not thou acknowledge and confeſſe, Temporiſour, that this is the trew ſence & meaning of the wordes of Chriſt?
☞Temporiſour.
I cannot denye it.
☞Euſebius.
Let … ſeenow then yf thou hauehave rightfully alledg… …hem for thy purpoſe, or no Chriſt commaundeth that thou doe not throwe forth they pearles before wicked and fleſhely people. But he doeth not wyll thee ſo to … them in the ground, that the church neuer ſee them: for thou thinkeſt that thou mayſt lawfully diſſemble alwayes, before all maner of men, Further …ore Chriſt doeth not thereby inhibite the cō feſſion of the veritie, but rather earneſtly commaūdeth and requyreth the fame of eueryevery chriſtian mā, and chefely when they are called before the Maieſtrates. But thou, becouſe thou …ilte auoyde the daunger thereof, thou doeſte not only diſſemble and hyd thy fayth, but that worſt is, thou doeſt by diſſimulation contrary to thy fayth and knowledge in communicating at vnlawful ſeruice… If this mean…s … eſcape were lawful, then ſhould we hauehave no martyrs in the Church of God, neyther yet any publike confeſſion of the veritie of the Goſpel, ſo often cōmaunded and practyſed by Chriſte and hy… Apoſtles.
¶Temporiſour.
What is there then to be done?
¶Euſebius.
What? That which thouſe eſt me do. I abhore & deteſt as a moſt ſtinking carrion, their preſent eſtabliſhed religion, beyng wholy corrupted by the vngodly Biſhops through oure demerites and ſumes. I abſta…e frō theſame both in body and mynd, withall my famylie, & at home. I inſtructe my houſholde in the pure doctryne of Chriſte and in his trew religion eſtabliſhed by his worde. And to this ende we dayly reade at table the holye ſcriptures: & the better to confyrme and augment out fayth, we ſinge certayne Pſalines & holy ſonges. EueryEvery day we do reſyte amongeſt vsus, the ten cōmaundementes of almightye God: the Crede of the Apoſtles, without forgettinge the mayer that the Lord taught vsus, to geue him thankes for al his benefytes. This doe I dayly in my houſe. And yet I go not through myne owne mocron vntounto the Maieſtrate, to declare vntounto hym my fayth, nor yet wittingly to caſt before dogges and ſwyne, the holy thinges of God: but yf … caninduce any one into the waye of the truth, or els reduce anye yt is ſteayed out of the ſame, I do it as dyligently & as ſafely as I can. And furthermore, I am alwayes readye to geue an aunſwere of my fayth to eueryman, & chefely to the Maieſtrate, whē. I ſhalbe required ther vntounto, being wel contented to ſuffre & indure al that the Lord hath ordeined for me, in that behalf. This is a moſte ſimple & chriſtian maner of lyuing, not only to obey chriſt in his worde, but alſo to kepe the conſcience pure, & to geue an aunſwere & reaſon of the hope that is in vsus.
¶Ireneus.
I condemne nor blame not thy purpoſe and doynges Euſebie, ſeyng thy fayth is ſuch, and truely I would doe lykewyſe yf I dyd beleue as thou doeſt. For although I do not agree … you in opinion, yet I cannot cōmend and alow any of thoſe that through feare doe diſſemble in theyr religion, thereby not onelyonly wounding theyr owne conſcience, but alſo leadinge other by theyr example into extreame daunger, the which thinge myghte be eaſelyer remedied yf they dydde proceade therein more gentlye and humblye.
¶Temporiſour.
I knowe well ynough Irenie, thy modeſte and peaceable mynde, and therefore I was the more deſyreous to bringe thee with me to this collation.
☞Euſebius.
Thou haſte nowe, Temporiſour, my…e example, …owe I doe vſe my ſelfe and my famylye in theſe troubleſome dayes, the whiche is not onelyonly myne, but alſo the example of the Apoſtles, & of al thoſe that feare God, by whoſe conuerſacion thou mayeſt eaſelye know what thou oughteſt to do, and whether thou canneſt defende thy facte by the wordes of Chriſt.
¶Temporiſour.
I heare it and vnderſtande it: I do alſo allowe this conſtancye of thy mynde, the which I would gladly imitate and folow… yf I were not letted: for I declared vntounto theem our fyrſt collation what thinges impeached & hindered me in the attempting thereof. And I ſuppoſed verely that I dyd not ſynne in communicating with the body onelyonly at the papiſtical ſeruices, ſeyng that I dyd retayne alwayes in my harte the veritie and trueth. Thou haſt as touchinge this matter, alledged dyuers probable argumentes, ſo that I ſee no way to replye agaynſt the ſame. And chefely amongeſt other thinges thou obiecteſt againſt me, that I do vſe a great diſſimulaciō, the which truely as yet, I do not fele in my ſelf ſuch, as therby my doynges deſerue to be condēned. For I do not cōmunicate at the papiſtical ſeruices, to thende yt I would ſeme to other to approue & alowe theſame, or yt I ſefe prayſe therby, or to abuſe or diſceyue any mā by my preſence, but only becauſe that in obeying the cōmaundemēt of the Maieſtrates I may auoyde al dan̄ger. He truely ſemeth vntounto me properly a diſſēbler, yt through his diſſimulatiō ſeketh to abuſe al thoſe yt ether behold him or heare him: in ſeking his own comodite, wt the detrement & domage of other. But as for me I do none of al theſe thīges to any ſuch end I do not deſire to be reputed a papiſt, … cō tented alſo that all people do know that Iowe no good wyll vntounto theyr relygion, ſo that the Maieſtrate gather no matter agaynſte me of rebellion, that is my onelyonly care.
¶Euſebius.
Hetherto thou haſt diligently laboured to excuſe thy ſelfe, to thende thou wouldeſte not be iudged a diſſembler, or abuſer of other inē: but for all that thou cāneſt not eſcape, but that thy outwarde facte is iudged of all me… for a mere diſſimulation. For although thou doeſte not ſeke to abuſe any man by thy diſſu…latiō, yet for all that, thy outwarde facre beying diſagreable from thy hart, (in cauſing outwardly to appeare vntounto the communicantes another thing of thee, then the trueth is inwardlye) can not, nor ought not to be reputed ſuche as it ſemeth to be outwardly. And furthermore thou art not certayne whether thou doeſt abuſe any mā, or no, with thi outward preſence, for thoſe that are aſſembled there wt the, euen as they be ſimple and rude people, ſo do they thinke that thy comming thither, is to the ſame iud… & purpoſe, that theya… is. Thinkeſt thou, that thyne opiniō, which thou hideſt ſo ſecretly, is … to eueryevery one, ſo that thou doeſt abuſe no maner of perſon in aſſiſtinge at the papiſticall ſeruyces, with the lyke ieſtur… and countenaunce as they doe?
¶Temporiſour.
How can I abuſe any one of all my neyghbours, ſeyng that it is euydently knowen vntounto them al, what fayth and zeale I hauehave had vntounto the Goſpell of God in deteſting … for the ſpace of .…x. yeares paſte?
¶Euſebius.
Yea marye: yf dyuers of late had not onelyonly chaunged theyr outward maner of lyfe, but alſo they: harte & opinion: and are fallen ſo farre that now they doe not onelyonly condemne, but alſo ſharpelye perſecute that, which latelye they dyd extoll vntounto the heauens, I coulde redelye name dyuers ſuch examples.
¶Temporiſour.
I cannot denye it: I knowe ſome ſuche. But I am of another opinion and mynde.
¶Euſebius.
I beleue the ſame: but tell me withoute fayuing, doeſt thou thinke that al men do certaynly know this thy mynde and opinion?
☞Temporiſour.
I coulde be contented it were knowen: but whether it be or no, I am not ſure.
☞Ireneus.
I am ſure thou canneſt not tell: my mynde geueth me that Euſebius ſayth wel. For what iudgement can I hauehave of any man, but only by his preſent fac…. To iudge after thinges paſte, is no ſure iudgement, touching the doynges of men, but moſt certayn of God, in aſmuch as he is not mutable lyke vntounto men.
☞Euſebius.
Thou vnderſtandeſt the thing wel, Ireuie: and thou canſt not deuye it Temporiſour.
¶Temporiſour.
I confeſſe it.
☞Euſebius.
Agreeſt thou then, that in aſſiſting at the …apiſticall ſeruices, tho… doeſt a…uſe … in leadinge them ſo farre thereby that they doe thinke thine opinion to be lyke vntounto theyrs, although it do differ…
☞Temporiſour.
I hauehave ſayd it, and I cannot … ſay it: & that more is, I do not only confuſſe theſame to be poſſible: but I doubt me greatlye, leaſt it ſo happen vntounto dyuers, my cōſcience cōſtreayneth me to confeſſe it.
☞Tuſebius.
Seyng thou vnderſ… and eſt their …ell me, yf thou perceyueſt not alſo aſwell the great euyll that thou doeſt to thoſe, whō thou abuſe ſte by diſſimulatiō, as the great offence againſt God and his church?
☞Temporiſour.
No, I perceyue it not.
☞Ireneus.
Other men might make that aunſwere, that feleth not the prie…t of conſcience, as doeth the Temporiſour.
¶Euſebius.
I wyll make thee vnderſtand and perceyue what I meane Tēporiſour, to thende that thou knowing the ſame, mayſt amende it.
¶Temporiſour.
And I wyl geue dyligent eare thereunto.
☞Euſebius.
Firſte of al, put the caſe, that I were one of thoſe rude ignoraūt people, that nether vnderſtode the cauſe that is in diſputaciō, nether ye… thy mynd in that behalf. Tel me (I pray the) in the name of the liuing God, whē I ſhal ſe thee at the Tēple of Idols, at the …ultar, at their ſacrifices, at their maſſes, in aſſiſtinge the wt thy preſence at althoſe, in puttinge of thy cap, making reuerēce, & kneling downe with thē, what other thing thē can I thinke & iudge of the, but that yu doeſt likewyſe reuerēce & worſhip thoſe ſeruices, as I do? And what other thing doth this thine exāple worke in me, but only a cōfirmaciō in myne errour, in wtdrawingine therby frō the trueth of the goſpel? For I ſhall thinke this wt my ſelf: what, behold yonder the Tēporiſour, who hath ſo many yeres fauoured thys new opiniō, yt is now ſuppreſſed & ouerthrowē it cannot be choſen but yt he knoweth al ye ſecretes therof, & yet ſe now he chaūgeth his opiniō & cōuerteth vntounto vsus, yt which truely he woulde not do, yf he wer… not thorowly perſwaded, yt he was ſeduced & abuſed by ye new goſpel whiche he lately profeſſed, & now knoweth certainly yt we hauehave ye trew goſpel, & yt we are the trew church: god defēde yt euer I ſhould forſake this church and religion: yea, we ſhal wel perceyue ſhortly yt al thoſe yt are ſeduced wil come home agayn to their mother holy church frō yt which thei hauehave ſo lōge ſtraied. Cōſidre here, Tēporſour, what great occaſiō of euil thou geueſt by this thine exāple vntounto the ſimple & ignoran…te people, who hauehave ye zeale of god, but not according to knowledge. For to what other end tendeth theſe wordes of Ieſus Chriſte; but …o thy cōdemnatiō,Nota. Math. 18 wheras he ſaith: who ſoeuer doth offēd or cauſe to ſtūble one of theſe litle ones ye beleue in me, it were better for him that a mylſtone were hanged aboute his necke, & ſo to be caſt into ye middes of ye ſea. For this thine example doth not only cōfirme the blind papiſtes in their errour, in hindring thē therby to come to ye knowledge of the trueth, but alſo that worſt i… it doeth hinder and trouble the feyth of thoſe little …, who hauehave onelyonly begon to beleue in Chriſt, in putting them in daunger to retourne to the papiſi…e agayne: ſo that by thyne example the co…ſt of theyr fayth is hindered: perceyueſt thou theſe thinges?
¶Temporiſour.
Yea: to much.
¶Euſebius.
I would to God that thou dyddeſt thorowly perceyue it. Harken nowe wherin thou arte offenſyue vntounto the religion of God, and vntounto …ll the trew profeſſours and conſtant maynte…ers of theſame. Fyrſt of all, thou cauſeſt that the wicked do ſo boldly ſpeake euyl of ſo good a thing, in vtteringe innumerable reproches againſt the ſame, to thende it may ſeme the more …dious and hateful vntounto al people. Vnderſtā deſte thou not, that, the more the noumbre are that conſente to vntrueth, (although it be but by diſſumulation) ſo muche the greater is hys power? And the more that vntrueth is maynteyned, ſo much the more is veritie vilipended and oppreſſed? Furthermore by thys meanes the wicked become more importunate, bloudtherſty and cruell, agaynſt the trew religiō of God to confound it, and all thoſe that wyl not abandō theſame. And ſo much the more cruelly do they execute theyr tyranny vponupon thē that are conſtāt, as they ſe theyr noumbre increaſed by thoſe that forſake the trueth. Theſe are Tē poriſour, no newfound ymaginacions nor yet vayne cogitacions, but the thing of it ſelf is to notorious & manyfeſt, by the dayly experience, that we hauehave hereof. How canneſt thou no we ymagine and thinke, that thou offendeſte and hur…eſte nom… by thyne example, when thou doeſt anoye it moleſte all men thereby, euē the papiſt, the weake chriſtian and me, and ſuche other as I ami for this thy fac…e tourneth alſo to our great preiudice, in bringinge vsus into extreame daunger, becauſe we wyll not doe as thou doeſt.
¶Temporiſour.
God defend that I ſhould be the cauſe of ſo many great euyls.
☞Ireneus.
I heare horrible thinges.
¶Euſebius.
I do not ſpeake in parables, but do playnely propoſe the thing, as it is to be conſydered. And thou doeſt well, my frende Temporiſour, to deſyre God to preſerue thee from beyng the cauſe of ſo many euyls. But beware, leaſt thou onelyonly requyre theſame with ye mouth, without the conſent of thy harte, & purpoſe to amende.
☞Temporiſour.
As farre as I can perceyue, thou conſtrayneſt me, to communicate no more at the papiſticall ſeruyces, oneleſſe I wyll damne my ſelfe wyllingly, and alſo miniſter greuous offences vntounto other.
☞Euſebius.
Euen ſo I do exhorte and counſay I thee.
☞Temporiſour.
But I know dyuers that hauehave another maner of iudgement. Some hold opinion that yf I wente not to theſe papiſticall aſſembles, I ſhoulde myniſter occaſion of offence vntounto the weake & ſimple. It is not me…e (ſaye they) that …e do gewe offence vntounto the rude & ignoraunt: but it is an offence to contemne the common & ue…ine ſeruices. For the ſimple by this occaſiō do thinke euyl of vsus, as mocker… …f the chriſtiā religion, exteming vsus to be he rety…es, and enemyes of the Churche. Or at leaſte wyſe they are prouoked by oure example to leaue theyr publyke ſeruyces, whiche they as yet exteme to be holy and lawefull, and in ſo doyng ſinne agaynſt theyr conſciences. To thende therfore that we doe not myniſter ſuche occaſion of offence, we oughte to go to theyr ſeruyces, tyll ſuche tyme as they are more playnelye inſtructed in the trueth of Gods worde, and doe abandon theſame by theyr owne proper conſent, as we hauehave done. Furthermore ſome doe ſtaye them ſelues vponupon the facte and example of Naaman the Syrian, Nicodemus and Ioſeph, who were the ſecrete diſciples of Ieſus Chriſt. Yf it were not greuous vntounto the, Euſebie, I would deſyre thee herein to heare thyne aduyſe.
☞Euſebius.
It is eaſye to aunſwere vntounto theyr dreames. As touching the offence, which thou pretēdeſt, It behoueth vsus fyrſt of al to obſerue the difference betwixt the offence that is takē without any iuſt occaſion, and the offence that is geuē, whether it be takē, or no: To know (I ſay) whiche of theſe two is ſinne. The offence, taken wt out occaſiō miniſtred, is, whē that any man is offended wt that which of it ſelf is both good & lawful, as whē the facte is ſuch yt thereby thou oughteſt rather to imitate the ſame, then to be offēded ther wt. And this is the offence yt thoſe do alledge for their excuſe ye purpoſe to accōpany the papiſtes at their ſeruices, leſt haply the ſimple & ignoraūt people would be offēded yf ther did not come thither. But (I affyrme) yt …e that doth not come to theſe papiſtical ſeruices, he doth ye thing yt is neceſſarely required to his ſaluatiō, & worthy the zeale of a chriſtiā. And this exāple is ſuch, that it hindereth not: & although ſome do find thē ſelfes greued & offended therwt, it is theyr fault, & procedeth frō thē ſelfes, & not frō the example geuē: for they may not leaue the thing ye apperteyneth to their ſaluatiō, for any offēce ye other may gather therby For yf we ſhould leaue vndone al thoſe thiges, wherof the wicked gather offence, thē muſt we bandon the pacience & benignite of almightye god, the which alſo the impenitent do abuſe to their owne dānation. We muſt alſo laye a ſyde the great liberalite of ye father of houſhold, mē cioned of in the goſpel, who gaue aſmuch vntounto him yt wrought but one houre in his vineyard, as he yt cōtinued al the day, nothing regarding the offence yt the wicked & enuious perſons did gather therof. Let thē alſo accuſe ye prophetes, Chriſte, the Apoſtles & martyrs, becauſe they did not accōmodate & frame themſelues, to the vulgare & common doynges of other. And fynallye becauſe that the wicked maye gather no offence: is it therfore lawful that the godly do renounce and forſake the bountie of the deuine maieſtie, in prouoking his indignacion againſt thē ſelues: were this expedient thinkeſt thou? Wherefore yf I refrayne to damne my ſelfe, with thoſe that reſiſte the trueth, and prouoke the pacience of God, do I euyll? God forbyd. Yf we maye not do euyll,Roma. iij that good may come thereof, howe muche leſſe then oughte we to doe euyll, whē no goodnes can proceade thereof, but rather much euyll: aſwell to them that doe it, as to thoſe that ſee it? The offence that is geuen, whether it be taken or no, is, when we do any vnlawefull thinge, or els thoſe thinges that are indifferent, whē they are ſo done that they do offend the infyrme & weake, for whoſe ſake we ought to abſtaine, although otherwiſe it lyeth in our powers to doe them, not onelye voyde of ſinne, but alſo vntounto edification. This kynde of offence beyng geuē, is very haynous, although noman be offended therewith: for yf …oman be offended, that is rather to be imputed vntounto the free conſcience of the beholders, (who mighte yf they would, hauehave gathered an offence thereof,) and not vntounto him, that on his behalfe dyd myniſtre the occaſion of offence: vnderſtandeſt thou Temporiſour, thys difference of offence?
☞Temporiſour.
Verye well.
☞Euſebius.
Vnderſtandeſte thou alſo, whiche is euyll, and which is not?
☞Temporiſour.
Suffycyentlye.
☞Ireneus.
You put me nowe in remembraunce of dyuers that are offended at the mariage of Preſtes, but none are offended, that for the moſte parte they are all geuē ouer vntounto filthy whoredom, and common adulterye without al ſhame leauinge dyuers deteſtable examples thereof, by the which all degrees of people are greately corrupted, and cauſeth the common tyttle of oure Chriſtianite to be infamed and yll repo… red of, euen amongeſt the infydelles. This is the thinge, that alwayes hath greued me.
☞Euſebius.
Thou ſpeakeſte wel, Irenie. Is it mete, that … Chriſtian man fearinge GOD, do avſtrayne from lawefull mariage, becauſe he would not offende the ignoraunte: and in the meane tyme polute him ſelfe wyth whoredome, the nexte waye to depryue himſelfe from the Kyngdom of GOD? What greater follye coulde there be? Herein may ye beholde the excuſe of thoſe that would hauehave vsus go into the aſſemble of the papiſtes at theyr ſuperſtitious ſeruyces, becauſe we ſhould not offend the papiſtes: but oure duery is, to doe directelye contrarye, as it hath bene ſayde before.
☞Temporiſour.
Hetherto Euſebie, thou haſte ſufficientlye proued, that the excuſes (the which I hauehave alledged) to auoyde offence, ſerueth nothinge to this purpoſe. I woulde gladlye heare nowe thyne aduyſe, as touchinge the examples of Naaman, Ioſeph, and Nicodemus: for theſe examples are alledged of all thoſe, that wyth me do communicate at the papiſtical ſeruices, onelyonly with the body, and not with the ſpyryte, and truely for my part when my cōſcience dyd accuſe me of my doynge in this behalfe, I alwayes called to my remembraunce the example of theſe men, for the probation of my facte.
¶Euſebius.
It is requyſite that theſe examples be diligently wayed and conſidered, the which thing cannot be forthwith accompliſhed: wherefore myne aduiſe is that we do refarre the ſame vntyll oure next meting and collation.
☞Ireneus.
I am therewith very well contented, for I hauehave nowe certayne buſynes that calleth me home, that beyng done, I wyl retourne agayn: when, and where, it ſhall pleaſe you.
¶Temporiſour.
Seyng you both hauehave thus determyned, I wyl not gayne ſay it: but tell me Euſebie, whē maye we come together agayne to fyniſhe and ende this queſtion?
☞Euſebius.
To morow at this tyme, yf it pleaſe you.
☞Temporiſour.
I am contented. To morowe then, ye ſhall fynd me (God willing) in this place at ye houre appoynted.
☞Ireneus.
The tyme, and the place, pleaſeth me well.
¶Temporiſour.
I thanke you both of your good wyll, yf euer it lye in my facultie, the occaſion ſo myniſtring, I wyll ſhowe you the lyke.
¶Euſebius.
We do thanke thee that thou haſt vouch … ued to call vsus into this plea …nt place.
☞Ireneus.
I wyll go before. Folowe you at your pleaſure, God be with you both.
☞Temporiſour.
God kepe thee my frend, Irenie, we wyl folowe thee by and by.
☞The ende of the thyrde Dialoge.