Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/17

PREFACE. xiii and on Palm-Sunday devoutly perform a ridiculous action, and drag an ass by a rope, making themselves at most as mere asses as the wooden ass they drag along. They also that have gone on pilgrimage to Compostella have imitated them in this. Let these practices be allowed, let them be allowed to gratify the humours of men ; but it is an insufferable thing that they should make it a part of piety. Those persons also are remarked upon who shew uncertain relics for certain ones, and attribute more to them than ought to be, and basely make a gain of them. In the Ichthyophagia, or Fish-eating, I treat of human constittitions which some wholly reject, deviating much from right reason : and on the other hand, some in a manner prefer them before divine laws : and some again abuse institutions both human and divine to gain and tyranny. I therefore endeavour to temper both parties to moderation, by inquiring from whence human constitutions have had their original, and by what steps they have advanced till this time ; on what persons, and how far they are obligatory ; to what ends they are useful, how far they differ from divine ; shewing by the way the preposterous judg- ments of men of which the world is now full, and from whence this up- roar in the world proceeded. And I have treated of these things more at large for this reason, that I might give occasion to the learned to write more accurately of them ; for those that have written of them hitherto have not given satisfaction to the curious. It was not so much to the purpose to write against whoring, drunkenness, and adultery, be- cause none are deceived by these things ; but true piety is endangered by the other, which either are not perceived or do allure by a deceitful show of sanctity. In the Funeral, inasmuch as death commonly tries the hope of a Christian, I have represented a different kind of death in two private persons, as it were by a lively image, representing the different departure of those that put their trust in fictions and of those who have placed the hope of their salvation in the Lord's mercy ; by the way reproving the foolish ambition of rich men, who extend their pride and luxury even beyond their death, which death at least ought to take away; also reprehending the error of those who abuse the folly of those men to their own profit, when it is their business in an especial manner to correct it. For who is he that shall presume to admonish with freedom men of power and wealth, if monks, who profess themselves dead to the world, soothe their vices ? If there are not any such as I have described, yet I have produced an example that ought to be avoided ; but if more accursed things than I have set forth are reported to be commonly practised, then those that are just ought to acknowledge my civility, and amend that in which they are to blame ; and if they are blameless themselves, let them either reform or restrain those who do offend. I have reviled no order, unless he shall be accounted to defame all Christendom that by way of admonition shall say anything against the corrupt manners of Christians. Those that are so concerned for the honour of the order, ought to be hindered from finding fault with me, especially by those who by their actions do openly disgrace the order. And since they own, cherish, and defend such as are brother-companions, with what face can they pretend that the honour of the order is lessened by one that faithfully admonishes? although what reason is there