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…

Now images will continually to the beholders preach their doctrine, that is, the worshipping of images and idolatry, to the which preaching mankind is exceeding prone, and inclined to give ear and credit: as experience of all nations and ages doth to much prove. But a true preacher to stay this mischief, is in very many places scarcely heard once in a whole year, and some wheres not once in seven years, as is evident to be proved. And that evil opinion which hath ben long rooted in mens hearts, can not suddenly by one sermon be rooted out clear. And as few are inclined to credit sound doctrine: as many, and almost all, be prone to superstition and idolatry. So that herein appeareth not only a difficulty, but also an impossibility of the remedy.

Nowe images wyl continually to the beholders preache their doctrine, that is, the worshipping of images and idolatrie, to the whiche preaching mankynde is exceedyng prone, and enclined to geue eare and credite: as experience of all nations and ages doth to muche proue. But a true preacher to stay this mischeefe, is in very manye places scarsly heard once in a whole yere, and some wheres not once in seuen yeres, as is euident to be proued. And that euyll opinion whiche hath ben long rooted in mens heartes, can not sodenly by one sermon be rooted out cleare. And as fewe are inclined to credite sounde doctrine: as many, and almost all, be prone to superstition and idolatrie. So that herein appeareth not only a difficultie, but also an impossibilitie of the remedie.

Further, it appeareth not by any story of credit, that true and sincere preaching hath endured in any one place above one hundred years: But it is evident, that images, superstition, ⟨p. 120⟩and worshipping of images and idolatry, have continued many hundred years. For all writings and experience do testify, that good things do by little and little ever decay, until they be clean banished: and contrariwise, evil things do more and more increase, till they come to a full perfection of wickedness. Neither need we to seek examples far of for a proof hereof, our present matter is and example. For preaching of Gods word (most sincere in the beginning) by process of time, waxed less and less pure, and after corrupt, and last of all, altogether laid down and left of, and other inventions of men crept in place of it. And on the other part, images among Christian men were first painted, and that in whole stories together, which had some signification in them: Afterwards, they were embossed, and made of timber, stone, plaster, and metal. And first they were only kept privately in private mens houses: And then after, they crept into Churches and Temples, but first by painting, and after by embossing: And yet were they no where at the first worshipped. But shortly after, they began to be worshipped of the ignorant sort of men: as appeareth by the Epistle that Gregory the first of that name Bishop of Rome, did write to Serenus Bishop of Marseilles. Of the which two Bishops, Serenus for idolatry committed to images, brake them, and burned them, Gregory although he thought it tolerable to let them stand: yet he judged it abominable that they should be worshipped, and