The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

If answer be yet made, that this offence may be taken away by diligent and sincere doctrine & preaching of Gods word, as by other means: And that images in Churches and Temples therefore, be not things absolutely evil to all men, although dangerous to some: And therefore that it were to be holden, that the public having of them in Churches and Temples, is not expedient, as a thing perilous, rather then unlawful, as a thing utterly wicked.

Jf aunswere be yet made, that this offence may be taken away by diligent and sincere doctrine & preachyng of Gods word, as by other meanes: And that images in Churches and Temples therefore, be not thynges absolutely euyll to all men, although daungerous to some: And therefore that it were to be holden, that the publique hauyng of them in Churches and Temples, is not expedient, as a thyng perilous, rather then vnlawfull, as a thyng vtterly wycked.

Then followeth the third article to be proven, which is this: That it is not possible, if images be suffered in Churches and Temples, either by preaching of Gods word, or by any other means, to keep the people from worshipping of them, & so to avoid idolatry. And first concerning preaching, if it should be admitted, that although images were suffered in Churches, yet might idolatry by diligent and sincere preaching of Gods word be avoided: it should follow of necessity, that sincere doctrine might always be had and continue, […] as images. And so that wheresoever, to offence, were erected an image, there also of reason, a godly and sincere preacher should and might be continually maintained. For it in reason, that the warning be as common as the stumbling block: the remedy as large as is the offence: the medicine as general as the poison, but that is not possible, as both reason and experience teacheth. Wherefore preaching cannot stay idolatry, images being publicly suffered. For an image which will last for many hundred years, may for a little ⟨p. 119⟩be bought: but a good preacher can not be with much continually maintained.

Then foloweth the thirde article to be prouen, whiche is this: That it is not possible, if images be suffered in Churches and Temples, either by preachyng of Gods worde, or by any other meanes, to keepe the people from worshyppyng of them, & so to auoyde idolatrie. And firste concernyng preachyng, if it shoulde be admitted, that although images were suffred in Churches, yet might idolatrie by diligent and sincere preachyng of Gods worde be auoyded: it shoulde folowe of necessitie, that sincere doctrine myght alwayes be had and continue, as images. And so that wheresoeuer, to offence, were erected an image, there also of reason, a godly and sincere preacher shoulde and myght be continually maynteyned. For it in reason, that the warnyng be as common as the stumblyng blocke: the remedie as large as is the offence: the medicine as generall as the poyson, but that is not possible, as both reason and experience teacheth. Wherefore preachyng cannot stay idolatrie, images beyng publiquely suffered. For an image whiche will last for many hundred yeres, may for a litle