A03549:139
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.
For if the origin of images, and worshipping of them, as it is recorded in the eight chapter of the book of wisdom, began of a blind love of a fond father, framing for his comfort an image of his son, being dead, and so at the last men fell to the worshipping of the image of him whom they did know to be dead: Howe much more will men & women fall to the worshipping of the images of God, our saviour Christ, & his saints, if they be suffered to stand in churches & temples publicly? For the greater the opinion is of the majesty & holiness of the person to whom an image is made, the sooner will the people fall to the worshipping of the said images. Wherefore the images of God, our saviour Christ, the blessed virgin Mary, the apostles, martyrs, and other of notable holiness, are of all other images most dangerous for the peril of idolatry, and therefore greatest heed to be taken that none of them be suffered to stand publicly in Churches and temples. For there is no great dread least any should fall to the worshipping of the images of Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, or Judas the traitor, if they were set up. But to the other, it is already at full proved, that idolatry hath ben• is, and is most like continually to be committed. Now as was before touched, ⟨p. 130⟩and is here more largely to be declared, the nature of man is none otherwise bent to worshipping of images (if he may have them and see them) then it is bent to whoredom and adultery in •he company of harlots. And as unto a man given to the lust of the flesh, seeing a wanton harlot, sitting by her, and embracing her, it profiteth little for one to say be ware of fornication, God will condemn fornicators and adulterers: 1For neither will he, being overcome with greater enticements of the strumpet, give ear or take heed to such godly admonitions, and when he is left afterwards alone with the harlot, nothing can follow but wickedness: Even so, suffer images to be sight in Churches and Temples, ye shall in vain did them beware of images (as saint John doth) and flee idolatry, as all the scriptures warn us, ye shall in vain 2preach and teach them against idolatry. For a number will notwithstanding fall headlongs unto it, what by the nature of images, and by the inclination of their own corrupt nature. Wherefore as a man given to lust, to sit down by a strumpet, is to tempt God: