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…

Thus you see how saint Jerome teacheth the sumptuousness amongst the Jews to be a figure to signify, and not an example to follow, & that those outward things were suffered for a time, until Christ our Lord came, who turned all those outward things into spirit, faith, and trueth. And the same saint Jerome upon the seventh chapter of Jeremiah saith: God commanded both the Jews at that time, and now us who are placed in the Church, that we have no trust in the goodliness of building and gilt roofs, and in walls covered with tables of marble, and say: the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord. For that is the temple of the lord wherein dwelleth true faith, godly conversation, and the company of all virtues. And upon the Prophet Ag, he describeth the true and right decking of ornaments of the Temple after this sort: I (saith Saint Jerome) do think the silver wherewith the house of God is decked, to be the doctrine of the scriptures, of the which it is spoken: The doctrine of the Lord is a pure doctrine, silver tried in fire, purged from dross, purified seven times. And I do take gold to be that which remaineth in the hid sense of the saints, and the secrete of the heart, and shineth with the true light of God. Which is evident that the Apostle also meant of the saints that build upon the foundation of Christ, some silver, some gold, some precious stones: that by the Gold, the hid sense, by silver, godly utterance, by precious stones, works which please God, might ⟨p. 145⟩be signified. With these metals, the Church of our saviour is made more goodly and gorgeous, then was the synagogue in old time. With these lively stones, is the Church and house of Christ builded, and peace is given to it for ever. All these be saint Hieromes sayings. No more did the old godly Bishops and doctors of the Church, allow the outrageous furniture of Temples and Churches, with plate, vessels of gold, silver, and precious vestures. Saint Chrysostom saith, In the ministry of the holy Sacraments, there is no need of golden vessels, but of golden minds. And saint Ambrose saith, ¹Christ sent his Apostles without gold, and gathered his Church without gold. The Church hath gold, not to heap it, but to bestow it on the necessities of the poor.

Thus you see how saint Jerome teacheth the sumptuousnes amongst ye Jewes to be a figure to signifie, and not an example to follow, & that those outward thinges were suffered for a tyme, vntill Christ our Lorde came, who turned all those outwarde thinges into spirite, fayth, and trueth. And the same saynt Jerome vpon the seuenth chapter of Jeremy saith: God commaunded both the Jewes at that time, and nowe vs who are placed in the Churche, that we haue no trust in the goodlinesse of building and gylte rooffes, and in walles couered with tables of marble, and say: the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord. For that is the temple of the lorde wherein dwelleth true fayth, godly conuersation, and the company of all vertues. And vppon the Prophet Agge, he descrybeth the true and ryght decking of ornamentes of the Temple after this sorte: I (sayth Saint Jerome) do thinke the siluer wherewith the house of God is decked, to be the doctrine of the scriptures, of the whiche it is spoken: The doctrine of the Lorde is a pure doctrine, siluer tryed in fyre, purged from drosse, purified seuen tymes. And I do take golde to be that which remayneth in the hid sense of the saintes, and the secrete of the heart, and shyneth with the true lyght of God. Which is euident that the Apostle also meant of the saintes that buylde vppon the foundation of Christ, some siluer, some golde, some precious stones: that by the Golde, the hid sense, by siluer, godlye vtteraunce, by precious stones, workes whiche please God, myght