All the Familiar Colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus, of Roterdam; Concerning Men, Manners, and Things (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1725 Excerpt: ... C the same time that God, by this means, be not robbed of his Honour. Fijb. We fee a great many Men lay so much Stress u; on corporal Ceremonies, that relying upon them they neglect Matters of real Religion, arrogating that, to their own Merits, which ought to be attributed to the divine Bounty; and there taking up their Station, where they should begin to ascend to greater Perfection, and reviling their Neighbour for those things that in themselves are neither good nor bad. But. And when in the fame Matter there are two things, one better than the other, we commonly chuse the worst of them. The Body, and those things that belong to the Body, are every where made more account of than those of the Mind. And it is accounted a great Crime to kill a Man, and indeed it is so; but to corrupt Mens Minds with poisonous Doctrine and pernicious Principles, is made a Jest on. If a Priest lets his Hair grow, or wears a Lay Habit, he is thrown into Prison and severely punished; but if he sits tippling in a Bawdy-house with Whores, games, or debauches other Mens Wives, and never takes a Bible in his Hand, he is still a Pillar of the Church. Nor that I excuse the wearing a Lay Habit, but I accuse the Absurdity of Mens Notions. Fijb. Nay, if he /hall neglect to fay his Prayers at stated Hours, he must be excommunicated; but if he be an Usurer, or guilty os Simony, he goes scot-free. But. If any body sees a Carthusian in a Dress not of the Order, or eating Flesh, how does he curse him, tremble at the sight, and fall into a Fright, lest the Earth should open and swallow up him for wearing, and himself for beholding x But let the same Person see him drunk as a Lord, reviling his Neighbour with notorious Lyes, imposing upon bis poor Neighbour with manifest Frauds, he is not ...