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…

For concerning writing against images, and idolatry to them committed, there hath ben alleged unto you in the second part of this treatise a great many of places, out of Tertullian, Origene, Lactantius, S. Augustine, Epiphanius, S. Ambrose, Clemens, and divers other learned & holy bishops and doctors of the Church. And besides these, all histories ecclesiastical, and books of other godly and learned bishops ⟨p. 125⟩and Doctors are full of notable examples and sentences against images and the worshipping of them. And as they have most earnestly written, so did they sincerely and most diligently in their time teach and preach, according to their writings and examples. For they were then preaching Bishops, and more often seen in pulpits, then in princes palaces, more often occupied in his legacy, who said, go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to all men: then in embassages and affairs of princes of this world. And as they were most zealous and diligent, so were they of excellent learning and godliness of life, and by both of great authority and credit with the people, and so of more force and likelihood to persuade the people, and the people more like to believe and follow their doctrine. But if their preachings could not help, much less could their writings, which do but come to the knowledge of a few that be learned, in comparison to continual preaching, whereof the whole multitude is partaker. Neither did the old fathers, Bishops, & Doctors, severally only by preaching and writing, but also together, great numbers of them assembled in synods and counsels make decrees and ecclesiastical laws against images, and the worshipping of them: neither did they so once or twice, but divers times, and in divers ages and countries, assemble synods and counsels, and made severe decrees against images and worshipping of them, as hath ben at large in the second part of this Nomilee before declared. But all their ⟨p. 126⟩writing, preaching, assembling in counsels, decreeing, and making of laws ecclesiastical, could nothing help either to pull down images to whom idolatry was committed, or against idolatry whilst images stood.

For concernyng wrytyng agaynste images, and idolatrie to them committed, there hath ben alleaged vnto you in the second part of this treatise a great manye of places, out of Tertulian, Origene, Lactantius, S. Augustine, Epiphanius, S. Ambrose, Clemens, and diuers other learned & holy byshops and doctours of the Churche. And besides these, all histories ecclesiasticall, and bookes of other godlye and learned byshoppes