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…

For they (I mean the Jews) could neither hear nor see those things which we may now both hear and see, if we will bring with us those ears and eyes that Christ is heard and seen with, that is, diligence to hear and read his holy scriptures, and true faith to believe his most comfortable promises. If one could show but the print of Christs foot, a great number I think would fall down and worship it: But to the holy scriptures, where we may see daily (if we will) I will not say the print of his feet only, but the whole shape and lively image of him, alas we give little reverence or none at all. If any could let us see Christs coat, a sort of us would make hard shift except we mought come nigh to gaze upon it, yea and kiss it to: And yet all the clothes that ever he did wear, can nothing so truly nor so lively express him unto us, as do the scriptures. Christs images made in wood, stone, or metal, some men for the love they bear to Christ, do garnish and beautify the same with pearl, gold, and precious stone: And should we not (good brethren) much rather embrace and reverence Gods holy books, the sacred bible, which do represent Christ unto us, more truly then can any image? The image can but express the form or shape of his body, if it can do so much: But the scripture doth in such sort set forth Christ, that we ⟨p. 298⟩may see both God and man, we may see him (I say) speaking unto us, healing our infirmities, dying for our sins, rising from death for our justification. And to be short, we may in the scriptures so perfectly see whole Christ with the eye of faith, as we lacking faith, could not with these bodily eyes see him, though he stood now present here before us. Let every man, woman, and child, therefore with all their heart, thirst and desire gods holy scriptures, love them, embrace them, have their delight and pleasure in hearing and reading them, so as at length we may be transformed and changed into them. For the holy scriptures are Gods treasure house, wherein are found all things needful for us to see, to hear, to learn, and to believe, necessary for the attaining of eternal life. Thus much is spoken, only to give you a taste of some of the commodities which ye may take by hearing & reading the holy scriptures. For as I said in the beginning, no tongue is able to declare and utter all.

For they (I meane the Jewes) coulde neyther heare nor see those thynges whiche we may nowe both heare and see, if we wyll bryng with vs those eares and eyes that Christe is hearde and seene with, that is, diligence to heare and reade his holy scriptures, and true fayth to beleue his most comfortable promises. If one could shewe but the printe of Christes foote, a great number I thynke would fal downe and worship it: But to the holy scriptures, where we may see daily (yf we wyll) I wyll not say the print of his feete onlye, but the whole shape and liuely image of hym, alas we geue litle reuerence or none at all. If any coulde let vs see Christes coate, a sorte of vs woulde make hard shift except we mought come nygh to gase vppon it, yea and kysse it to: And yet all the clothes that euer he dyd weare, can nothyng so truely nor so liuely expresse hym vnto vs, as do the scriptures. Christes images made in wood, stone, or mettall, some men for the loue they beare to Christe, do garnishe and beautifie the same with pearle, golde, and pretious stone: And shoulde we not (good brethren) muche rather imbrace and reuerence Gods holy bookes, the sacred bible, whiche do represent Christ vnto vs, more truely then can any image? The image can but expresse the fourme or shape of his body, if it can do so muche: But the scripture doth in such sort set foorth Christe, that we