By these means it came to passe, that the common sort were of opiniō, that those spirits which wer séen and heard, were the soules of the dead, and yͭ whatsoeuer they did say, was without gainsaying to be beléeued. And so the true, simple, and sincere doctrine of yͤ calling vpō God in the name of Christ Iesus only: of the confidence in Christs merits, and redemption from sin and damnation: of yͤ true déeds of Christian charitie, was daily more and more impugned and oppressed. So that when men by litle and litle, forsooke holy scripture, and cast it aside, mens traditions and precepts began straightway to be had in great price and estimation, yea, they were more regarded than Gods owne word. A great offence was it taken to be, if any would presume once to breake mens traditions. On those apparitions of spirits, as on a sure foundatiō of their Purgatory is chiefly builded. For by talke had with them, Popish writers taught that men atteined vnto saluation, by their owne, and by other mens merits: which opinion so blinded them, that they became retchlesse, secure, and sluggish. For if any dyd so perswade himselfe, that he coulde hyre one for mony, which could worke one feate or other to deliuer the deade from torments, then woulde he either delay the amendment of his life, or vtterly neglect it. Wherfore vnto suche fellowes, that happened, whiche chaunced vnto the fiue foolish virgins, of whom mention is made in the .25. of Matthew. By these apparitions of spirits, masses, images, satisfaction, pilgrimages for religion sake, relikes of saints, monasticall vowes, holidaies, auricular confession, and other kinds of worshippings and rites, and to be short, all things whiche haue no grounde in holy scripture, by little and little grewe into authoritie and estimation. So that the matter came at the last to that extremitie and excesse, that many deuoute, and simple soules, pinched and nipped their owne bellies, that they might yͤ better haue by these meanes, wherewithall to finde and mainteine idle monks and priests, and to offer vnto images. They founded chappels, alters, monasteries, perpetuall lights, anniuersaries, frieries, and such like, to release their friends out of the torments of Purgatorie. And this did the walking spirits will them to do. And sometime also by their councell, mens last willes & testaments were altered. Hereby priests and monks increased daily, their parishes, colleges & monasteries with yerely reuenewes, & got into their hands yͤ best farmes, vineyards, lands, medowes, pondes, parkes, bond men, iurisdictions, great lordships, and the authoritie of the sword. For after yͭ this opiniō once tooke firme roote in mēs harts, yͭ mens soules did walke after their death, & appeare on yͤ earth, the greatest part did whatsoeuer they commanded thē. And yͭ it may more plainly be perceiued how much mē estéemed those visions & such like pelf, & how in memorial of thē they deuised &