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 those blind books and dumb Schoolmasters, I mean images and idols (for they call them lay mens books, and Schoolmasters) by their carved and painted writings, teaching and preaching idolatry, prevailed against all their written books, and preaching with lively voice, as they call it. Well, if preaching and writing could not keep men from worshipping of images and idolatry, if pens and words could not do it, you would think that penalty and swords might do it, I mean, that princes by severe laws and punishments, might stay this unbridled affection of all men to idolatry, though images were set up and suffered. But experience proveth, that this can no more help against idolatry, then writing and preaching. For Christian Emperors (whose authority ought of reason, and by Gods law, to be greatest) above eight in number, and six of them successively reigning one after another (as is in the histories before rehearsed) making most severe laws and proclamations against idols and idolatry, images, and the worshipping of images, and executing most grievous punishments, yea, the penalty of death, upon the maintainers of images, and upon idolaters and image worshippers: could not bring to pass, that either images once set up, might throughly be destroyed, or that ⟨p. 127⟩men should refrain from the worshipping of them, being set up. And what think you then will come to pass, if men of learning should teach the people to make them, and should maintain the setting up of them, as things necessary in religion? To conclude, it appeareth evidently by all stories and writings, and experience of times past, that neither preaching, neither writing, neither the consent of the learned, nor authority of the godly, nor the decrees of counsels, neither the laws of princes, nor extreme punishments of the offenders in that behalf, nor no other remedy or means, can help against idolatry, if images be suffered publicly. And it is truly said, that times past are schoolmasters of wisdom to us that follow and live after. Therefore in times past, the virtuousest and best learned, the most diligent also, and in number almost infinite ancient fathers, Bishops, and Doctors, with their writing, preaching, industry, earnestness, authority, assembles, and counsels, could do nothing against images & idolatry, to images once set up:

For those blynde bookes and dumbe Scholemaisters, I meane images and idols (for they call them laye mens bookes, and Scholemaisters) by their carued and paynted wrytynges, teachyng and preachyng idolatrie, preuayled agaynst all their wrytten bookes, and preachyng with lyuely voyce, as they call it. Well, if preachyng and wrytyng could not keepe men from worshyppyng of images and idolatrie, if pennes and wordes coulde not do it, you woulde thynke that penaltie and swordes myght do it, I meane, that prynces by seuere lawes and punishmentes, myght stay this vnbridled affection of al men to idolatrie, though images were set vp and suffered. But experience proueth, that this can no more help agaynst idolatrie, then wrytyng and preachyng. For Christian Emperours (whose aucthoritie ought of reason, and by Gods law, to be greatest) aboue eight in number, and sixe of them successiuelye raigning one after another (as is in the histories before rehearsed) makyng moste seuere lawes and proclamations agaynst idols and idolatrie, images, and the worshipping of images, and executing most greeuous punishmentes, yea, the penaltie of death, vpon the mainteiners of images, and vppon idolaters and image worshyppers: could not bryng to passe, that either images once set vp, myght throughly be destroyed, or that