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…

And at the second council Nicene, the Bishops and Clergy decreed, that images should be worshipped: and so by occasion of these stumbling blocks, not only the unlearned and simple, but the learned and wise, not the people only, but the Bishops, not the sheep, but also the shepherds them selves (who should have ben guides in the right way, and light to shine in darkness) being blinded by the be witching of images, as blind guides of the blind, fell both into the pit of damnable idolatry. In the which all the world, as it were drowned, continued, untylourage, by the space of above eight hundred years, unspoken against in a manner. And this success had Gregory's order: which mischief had never come to pass, had Bishop Serenus way ben taken, and all idols and images ben utterly destroyed and abolished: for no ⟨p. 122⟩man worshippeth that that is not. And thus you see, how from having of images privately, it came to public setting of them up in Churches and Temples, although without harm at the first, as was then of some wise and learned men judged: and from simple, having them there, it came at the last to worshipping of them. First, by the rude people, who specially (as the ¹Scriptures teacheth) are in danger of superstition and idolatry, and afterwards by the Bishops, the learned, and by the whole Clergy. So that laity and Clergy, learned and unlearned, all ages, sects, and degrees of men, women and children of whole Christendom (an horrible and most dreadful thing to think) have ben at once drowned in abominable idolatry, of all other vices most detested of God, and most damnable to man, and that by the space of eight hundred years and more. And to this end is come that beginning of setting up of images in Churches then judged harmless, in experience proved not only harmful, but exitious and pestilent, and to the destruction and subversion of all good religion universally. So that I conclude, as it may be possible in some one City or little Country, to have images set up in temples and Churches, and yet idolatry, by earnest and continual preaching of Gods true word, and the sincere Gospel of our saviour Christ, may be kept away for a short time:

And at the seconde counsell Nicene, the Byshoppes and Cleargie decreed, that images shoulde be worshypped: and so by occasion of these stumblyng blockes, not onlye the vnlearned and simple, but the learned and wyse, not the people onlye, but the Byshoppes, not the sheepe, but also the shepheardes them selues (who shoulde haue ben guydes in the ryght way, and lyght to shyne in darkenesse) beyng blynded by the be witching of images, as blynde guydes of the blynde, fell both into the pitte of damnable idolatrie. In the whiche all the worlde, as it were drowned, contynued, vntylourage, by the space of aboue eight hundred yeres, vnspoken agaynst in a maner. And this successe had Gregories order: whiche mischeefe had neuer come to passe, had Byshoppe Serenus way ben taken, and all idols and images ben vtterly destroyed and abolished: for no