A03549:140
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.
So is it likewise to erect an idol in this proneness of mans nature to idolatry, nothing but a tempting. Now if any will say that this similitude proveth nothing, yet I pray them let the word of God, out of the which the similitude is taken, 1prove something. Doth not the word of God call idolatry spiritual fornication? Doth it not call a gilt or painted idol or image, a strumpet with a painted face? Be not the spiritual wickedness ⟨p. 131⟩of an idols enticing, like the flatteries of a wanton harlot? Be not men & women as prone to spiritual fornication (I mean idolatry) as to carnal fornication? It this be denied, let all nations upon the earth which have ben idolaters (as by all stories appeareth) prove it true. Let the Jews & the people of God which were so often and so earnestly warned, so dreadfully threatened concerning images & idolatry, and so extremely punished therefore (and yet fell unto it) prove it to be true: as in almost all the books of the old Testament, namely the Kings & the Chronicles, and the Prophets, it appeareth most evidently. Let all ages and times, and men of all ages & times, of all degrees and conditions, wise men, learned men, princes, idiots, unlearned, and commonalty, prove it to be true. If you require examples: For wise men, ye have the Egyptians, and the Indian Gymnosophists, the wisest men of the world, you have Solomon the wisest of all other. For learned men, the Greeks, and namely the Athenians, exceeding all other nations in superstition and idolatry, as in the history of the Acts of the Apostles saint Paul chargeth them. 2For princes and governors, you have the Romans, 3the rulers of the roast (as they say) you have the same forenamed king Solomon, and all the kings of Israel and Judah after him, saving David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, and one or two more. All these (I say) and infinite others, wise, learned, princes, and governors, being all idolaters, have you for examples and a proof of mens inclination to idolatry. That I may ⟨p. 116⟩pass over with silence in the mean time, infinite multitudes and millions of idiots and unlearned, the ignorant and gross people like unto horses and mules in whom is no understanding,