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…

Do men kneel before their books, light candles at noon time, burn incense, offer up gold and silver, and other gifts to their books? Do men either feign or believe miracles to be wrought by their books? I am sure that the new Testament of our saviour Jesus Christ, containing the word of life, is a more lively, express, and true image of our saviour, then all carved, graven, molten, and painted images in the world be, and yet none of all these things be done to that book or scripture of the Gospel of our saviour, which be done to images & pictures, the books and scriptures of lay men and idiots, as they call them. Wherefore call them what they list, it is most evident by their deeds, that they make of them no other books nor scriptures then such as teach ⟨p. 156⟩most filthy and horrible idolatry, as the users of such books daily prove by continual practising the same. O books and scriptures, in the which the devilish schoolmaster satan, hath penned the lewd lessons of wicked idolatry, for his dastardly disciples and scholars to behold, read, and learn, to Gods most high dishonour, and their most horrible damnation. Have not we ben much bound, think you, to those which should have taught us the trueth out of Gods book and his holy scripture, that they have shut up that book and scripture from us, and none of us so bold as once to open it, or read on it? and in stead thereof, to spread us abroad these goodly carven and gilded books and painted scriptures, to teach us such good and godly lessons? Have not they done well, after they ceased to stand in pulpits them selves, and to teach the people committed to their instruction, keeping silence of Gods word and become dumb dogs (as the prophet calleth them) to set up in their stead, on every pillar and corner of the Church, such goodly doctors, as dumb, but more wicked then them selves be? We need not to complain of the lack of one dumb Parson, having so many dumb devilish Vicars (I mean these idols & painted puppets) to teach in their stead.

Do men kneele before theyr bookes, light candels at noone time, burne incense, offer vp gold and siluer, and other giftes to theyr bookes? Do men eyther fayne or beleue miracles to be wrought by theyr bookes? I am sure that the newe Testament of our sauiour Jesus Christe, conteynyng the worde of lyfe, is a more lyuely, expresse, and true image of our sauiour, then all carued, grauen, moulten, and paynted images in the worlde be, and yet none of all these thynges be done to that booke or scripture of the Gospell of our sauiour, which be done to images & pictures, the bookes and scriptures of lay men and idiotes, as they call them. Wherfore call them what they list, it is most euident by theyr deedes, that they make of them no other bookes nor scriptures then suche as teache