A03549:138
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…
The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in the former part of homilies. Set out by the authority of the Queens Majesty: and to be read in every parish church agreeably.The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in the former part of homilees. Set out by the aucthoritie of the Queenes Maiestie: and to be read in euery parishe church agreeably.
Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richard Jugge, and John Cawood, printers to the Queens Majesty, 1571Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richarde Iugge, and Iohn Cawood, printers to the Queenes Maiestie, 1571
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
What can we, neither in learning, nor holiness of life, neither in diligence, neither authority to be compared with them, but men in contempt, and of no estimation (as the world goeth now) a few also in number, in so great a multitude & malice of men: What can we do I say, or bring to pass, to the stay of idolatry or worshipping of images, if they be allowed to stand publicly in temples and Churches? And if so many, so mighty Emperors, by so severe laws and proclamations, ⟨p. 128⟩so rigorous and extreme punishments and executions, could not stay the people from setting up and worshipping of images: what will ensue think you, when men shall commend them as necessary books of the lay men? Let us therefore of these latter days learn this lessen of the experience of the ancient antiquity, that idolatry can not possibly be separated from images any long time: but that as an unseparable accident, or as a shadow followeth the body when the sun shineth, so idolatry followeth and cleaveth to the public having of images in Temples and Churches. And finally, as idolatry is to be abhorred and avoided, so are images (which can not be long without idolatry) to be put away and destroyed. Besides the which experiments and proofs of times before, the very nature and origin of images them selves draweth to idolatry most violently, and mans nature and inclination also is bent to idolatry so vehemently, that it is not possible to sever or part images, nor to keep men from idolatry, if images be suffered publicly. That I speak of the nature and origin of images, is this: Even as the first intention of them is naught, & no good can come of that which had an evil beginning, for they be altogether naught, as Athanasius in his book against the gentiles declareth, and saint Jerome also upon the prophet Jeremiah the. vi. Chapter, and Eusebius the seventh book of his ecclesiastical history the. xviii. Chapter testifieth, that as they first came from the Gentiles, which were idolaters and worshippers of images, unto us, ⟨p. 113⟩and as the invention of them was the beginning of spiritual fornication, as the word of God testifieth, Sap. 14. So will they naturally (as it were, and of necessity) turn to their origin from whence they came, and draw us with them most violently to idolatry, abominable to God and all godly men.
What can we, neyther in learning, nor holinesse of lyfe, neither in diligence, neither aucthoritie to be compared with them, but men in contempt, and of no estimation (as the world goeth now) a fewe also in number, in so great a multitude & malice of men: What can we do I say, or bryng to passe, to the stay of idolatrie or worshippyng of images, if they be alowed to stand publiquely in temples and Churches? And if so many, so mightie Emperours, by so seuere lawes and proclamations,