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…

if they be borne, they remove, for they can not go. Fear ye them not, for they can neither do evil nor good. Thus saith the prophet. Upon which text, saint Hierome hath these words: This is the description of idols, which the Gentiles worship, their matter is vile & corruptible. And whereas the artificer is mortal, the things he maketh must needs be corruptible, he decketh it with silver and gold, that with glittering or shining of both metals, he may deceive the simple. Which error in deed hath passed over from the Gentiles, that we should judge religion to stand in riches. And by and by after, he saith, They have the beauty of metals, & be beautified by the art of painting, but good or profit is there none in them. And shortly after again, They make great promises, and devise an image of vain worshipping of their own plantasies, they make great brags to deceive every simple body, they dull and amaze the understanding of the unlearned, as it were with golden senses, and eloquence, shining with the brightness of ⟨p. 149⟩silver. And of their own devisers and makers, are these images advanced and magnified, in the which is no utility nor profit at all, and the worshipping of the which, properly pertaineth to the Gentiles and Heathen, and such as know not God.

yf they be borne, they remoue, for they can not go. Feare ye them not, for they can neyther do euyll nor good. Thus sayth the prophete. Upon which text, saint Hierome hath these wordes: This is the description of idols, which the Gentiles worshyp, theyr matter is vyle & corruptible. And whereas the artificer is mortal, the thinges he maketh must nedes be corruptible, he decketh it with siluer and golde, that with glitteryng or shynyng of both mettals, he may deceaue the simple. Which errour in deede hath passed ouer from the Gentiles, that we should iudge religion to stand in riches. And by and by after, he saith, They haue the beawtie of mettals, & be beawtified by the arte of payntyng, but good or profite is there none in them. And shortly after againe, They make great promises, and deuise an image of vayne worshipping of theyr owne plantasies, they make great bragges to deceaue euery simple body, they dull and amase the vnderstandyng of the vnlearned, as it were with golden senses, and eloquence, shynyng with the bryghtnesse of ⟨p. 149⟩syluer. And of theyr owne deuisers and makers, are these images aduaunced and magnified, in the whiche is no vtilitie nor profite at all, and the worshyppyng of the whiche, properly parteineth to the Gentiles and Heathen, and suche as knowe not God.