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…

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 ⟨p. 121⟩thought (as is now alleged) that the worshipping of them might be stayed, by teaching of Gods word, according as he exhorteth Serenus to teach the people, as in the same Epistle appeareth. But whether Gregory's opinion, or Serenus judgement, were better herein consider ye I pray you, for experience by and by confuteth Gregory's opinion. For notwithstanding Gregory's writing, and the preaching of others, images being once publicly set up in Temples and Churches, simple men and women shortly after fell on heaps to worshipping of them: And at the last, the learned also were carried away with the public error, as with a violent stream or flood.

Further, it appeareth not by any storie of credite, that true and sincere preachyng hath endured in anye one place aboue one hundred yeres: But it is euident, that images, superstition,