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…

First, he judged it contrary to Christian religion and the authority of the scriptures, to have any images in Christs Church. Secondly, he rejected not only carved, graven, and molten images, but also painted images out of Christs Church. Thirdly, that he regarded not whether it were the image of Christ, or of any other saint, but being an image, would not suffer it in the Church. Fourthly, that he did not only remove it out of the Church, but with a vehement zeal tare it a sunder, and exhorted that a corpse should be wrapped and buried in it, judging it meet for nothing but to rot in the earth, following herein the example of the good king Hezekiah, who brake the brazen serpent to pieces, and burned it to ashes, for that idolatry was committed to it. Last of all, that Epiphanius ⟨p. 52⟩thinketh it the duty of vigilant Bishops, to be careful that no images be permitted in the Church, for that they be occasion of scruple and offence to the people committed to their charge. Now whereas neither saint Hierome, who did translate the said Epistle, nor the authors of that most ancient history ecclesiastical tripartite (who do most highly commend Epiphanius as is aforesaid) nor no other godly or learned Bishop at that time or shortly after, have written any thing against Epiphanius judgement concerning images: it is an evident proof, that in those days, which were about four hundred years after our saviour Christ, there were no images publicly used and received in the Church of Christ, which was then much less corrupt, & more pure then now it is.

First, he iudged it contrary to Christian religion and the aucthoritie of the scriptures, to haue any images in Christes Churche. Secondly, he reiected not only carued, grauen, and moulten images, but also painted images out of Christes Churche. Thirdly, that he regarded not whether it were the image of Christe, or of any other saint, but beyng an image, woulde not suffer it in the Churche. Fourthlye, that he dyd not onlye remoue it out of the Churche, but with a vehement zeale tare it a sunder, and exhorted that a corse shoulde be wrapped and buryed in it, iudgyng it meete for nothyng but to rotte in the earth, folowyng herein the example of the good kyng Ezechias, who brake the brasen serpent to peeces, and burned it to ashes, for that idolatrie was committed to it. Last of al, that Epiphanius ⟨p. 52⟩thinketh it the duetie of vigilant Byshoppes, to be carefull that no images be permitted in the Churche, for that they be occasion of scruple and offence to the people committed to theyr charge. Nowe wheras neyther saint Hierome, who did translate the sayde Epistle, nor the aucthours of that most auncient historie ecclesiasticall trypartite (who do most highly commende Epiphanius as is aforesaid) nor no other godly or learned Bishop at that time or shortly after, haue wrytten any thing against Epiphanius iudgement concerning images: it is an euident profe, that in those dayes, whiche were about foure hundreth yeres after our sauiour Christe, there were no images publiquely vsed and receaued in the Churche of Christe, whiche was then muche lesse corrupt, & more pure then nowe it is.