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…

Read the, xiii. and. xiiii. Chapters of the book of wisdom, concerning idols or images, how they be made, set up, called upon, and offered unto, and how he praiseth the tree whereof the gibbet is made, as happy, in comparison to the tree that an image or idol is made of, even by these very words, Happy is the tree wherethrough righteousness cometh, (meaning the gibbet) but cursed is the idol that is made with hands: yea, both it, and he that made it, and so forth. And by and by he showeth how that the things which were the good creatures of God before (as trees or stones) when they be once altered and fashioned into images to be worshipped, become abomination, a temptation unto the souls of men, and a snare for the feet of the unwise. And why? the seeking out of images, is the beginning of whoredom (saith he) and the bringing up of them, is the destruction of life: for they were not from the beginning, neither shall they continue for ever. The wealthy idleness of men hath found them out upon earth, therefore shall they come shortly to an end, and so forth to the end of the Chapter, containing these points: Howe idols or images were first invented, and offered unto, how by an ungracious custom they were established, how tyrants compel men to worship them, how the ignorant and the common people are deceived by the cunning of the workman, and the beauty of the image, to do honour unto it, and so to err from the knowledge of ⟨p. 34⟩God, and of other great and many mischiefs that come by images. And for a conclusion he saith, that the honouring of abominable images, is the cause, the beginning, and end of all evil, and that the worshippers of them be either mad, or most wicked. See and view the whole Chapter with diligence, for it is worthy to be well considered, specially that is written of the deceiving of the simple and unwise common people by idols and images, and repeated twice or thrice least it should be forgotten. And in the Chapter ¹following be these words: The painting of the picture and carved image with divers colours, enticeth the ignorant so, that he honoureth and loveth the picture of a dead image that hath no soul. Nevertheless, they that love such evil things, they that trust in them, they that make them, they that favour them, and they that honour them, are all worthy of death, and so forth.

Reade the, xiii. and. xiiii. Chapters of the booke of wysedome, concernyng idols or images, howe they be made, set vp, called vppon, and offered vnto, and how he prayseth the tree whereof the gybbet is made, as happye, in comparison to the tree that an image or idoll is made of, euen by these very wordes, Happie is the tree wherethrough ryghteousnesse commeth, (meaning the gybbet) but cursed is the idoll that is made with handes: yea, both it, and he that made it, and so foorth. And by and by he sheweth how that the thynges whiche were the good creatures of God before (as trees or stones) when they be once altered and fashioned into images to be worshypped, become abhomination, a temptation vnto the soules of men, and a snare for the feete of the vnwyse. And why? the seekyng out of images, is the begynnyng of whoredome (sayth he) and the bryngyng vp of them, is the destruction of lyfe: for they were not from the begynnyng, neyther shall they contynue for euer. The welthy idlenesse of men hath founde them out vppon earth, therefore shall they come shortlye to an ende, and so foorth to the ende of the Chapter, conteynyng these poyntes: Howe idols or images were fyrste inuented, and offered vnto, how by an vngratious custome they were establyshed, how tyrauntes compell men to worshyppe them, how the ignoraunt and the common people are deceaued by the cunnyng of the workeman, and the beawty of the image, to do honour vnto it, and so to erre from the knowledge of