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…

Whereunto may be well replied, that Solomon also the wisest of all men, did well know what an idol or image was, and neither took any harm thereof a great while himself, and also with his godly Writings armed others against ¹the danger of them. But yet afterward the same Solomon suffering his wanton Paramours to bring their idols into his court and palace, was by carnal harlots persuaded and brought at the last to the committing of spiritual fornication with idols, and of the wisest and godliest prince, became the most foolishest ²and wickeddest also. Wherefore it is better even for the wisest to regard this warning, He that loveth danger shall perish therein: and, let him that standeth, beware least he fall, rather then wittingly and willingly to lay such a stumbling block for his own feet and others, that may ⟨p. 136⟩perhaps bring at last to breakneck. The good King Hezekiah did know well enough, ³that the brazen Serpent was but a dead image, and therefore he took no hurt himself thereby through idolatry to it: Did he therefore let it stand, because himself took no hurt thereof? No not so: but being a good king, and therefore regarding the health of his silly subjects, deceived by that image, and committing idolatry thereto, he did not only take it down, but also break it to pieces. And this he did to that image that was set up by the commandment of God, in the presence whereof great miracles were wrought, as that which was a figure of our saviour Christ to come, who should deliver us from the mortal sting of the old Serpent Satan. Neither did he spare it in respect of the ancientness or antiquity of it, which had continued above seven hundred years, nor for that it had ben suffered, and preserved by so many godly kings before his time.

Whereunto maye be well replied, that Salomon also the wysest of all men, did well knowe what an idoll or image was, and neyther tooke any harme thereof a great whyle himselfe, and also with his godlye Wrytinges armed others agaynst ¹the daunger of them. But yet afterward the same Salomon suffering his wanton Paramours to bryng their idolles into his court and palace, was by carnall harlottes perswaded and brought at the laste to the committing of spirituall fornication with idolles, and of the wysest and godliest prince, became the most foolyshest