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…

show that they put little difference between the multitude of christians and brute beasts, whose danger they do so little esteem. Besides this, if they be Bishops or parsons, or otherwise having charge of mens consciences, that thus reason, It is lawful to have images publicly, though it be not expedient, what manner of pastors show they them selves to be to their flock, which thrust unto them that, which they them selves confess not to be expedient for them, but to the utter ruin of the souls committed to their charge, for whom they shall give a strait account before the prince of pastors at the last day? For in deed, to object to the weak and ready to fall of them selves such stumbling blocks, is a thing not only not expedient, but unlawful, yea, and most wicked also. Wherefore it is to be wondered how they can call images, set up in churches and temples to no profit or benefit of any, and to so great peril and danger, yea, hurt and destruction of many, or rather infinite, things indifferent. Is not the public setting up of them rather a snare for all men, and the tempting of God? I beseech these reasoners to call to mind their own accustomed ordinance and decree, whereby they determined that the Scripture, though by GOD him self commanded to be ⟨p. 139⟩known of all men, women, and children, should not be read of the simple, nor had in the vulgar ¹tongue, for that (as they said) it was dangerous, by bringing the simple people into errors. And will they not forbid Images to be set up in Churches and Temples, which are not commanded, but forbidden most straitly by God, but let them still be there, yea, and maintain them also, seeing the people are brought, not in danger only, but in deed into most abominable error and detestable idolatry thereby? Shall Gods word, by God commanded to be read unto all and known of all, for danger of heresy (as they say) be shut up? and idols and images, not withstanding they be forbidden by God, and not withstanding the danger of idolatry by them, shall they yet be set up, suffered, & maintained in churches and temples? O worldly and fleshly wisdom, ever bent to maintain the inventions and traditions of men by carnal reason, and by the same to disannul or deface the holy ordinances, laws, and honour of the eternal God, who is to be honoured and praised for ever. Amen.

shewe that they put little difference betwene the multitude of christians and bruite beastes, whose daunger they do so little esteeme. Besides this, if they be Byshoppes or parsonnes, or otherwyse hauing charge of mens consciences, that thus reason, It is lawfull to haue images publiquely, though it be not expedient, what maner of pastours shew they thē selues to be to their flocke, which thrust vnto them that, which they them selues confesse not to be expedient for them, but to the vtter ruyne of the soules committed to their charge, for whom they shall geue a strayte accompt before the prince of pastours at the last daye? For in deede, to obiecte to the weake and redy to fall of them selues such stumbling blockes, is a thing not onely not expedient, but vnlawful, yea, and most wicked also. Wherefore it is to be wondered how they can cal images, set vp in churches and temples to no profite or benefite of any, and to so great peril and daunger, yea, hurt and destruction of manye, or rather infinite, thinges indifferent. Is not the publique setting vp of them rather a snare for all men, and the tempting of God? I beseche these reasoners to call to mynd their owne accustomed ordinaunce and decree, whereby they determined that the Scripture, though by GOD him selfe commaunded to be