So much
are these men beholden to the folly and darkness of the former times.
"Many things," as one writeth, "are had in estimation oftentimes, because
they have been once dedicate to the temples of the heathen gods." Even
so we see at this day many things allowed and highly set by of these men,
not because they judge them so much worth, but only because they have
been received into a custom, and after a sort dedicate to the temple of
God.
"Our Church," say they, "cannot err." They speak that, I think, as the
Lacedaemonians long since used to say, that it was not possible to find
any adulterer in all their commonwealth: whereas indeed they were rather
all adulterers, and had no certainty in their marriages, but had their
wives common amongst them all: or as the canonists at this day, for their
bellies' sake, used to say of the Pope, that forsomuch as he is lord of
all benefices, though he sell for money bishoprics, monasteries,
priesthood, spiritual promotions, and part with nothing freely, yet,
because he counteth all his own, "he cannot commit simony, though he
would never so fain.
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