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…

The same saint Augustine teacheth in the. xxii. book of the city of God, the tenth Chapter, that neither temples or Churches ought to be builded or made for martyrs or saints, but to God alone: and that there ought no priests to be appointed for martyr or saint, but to God only. The same saint Augustine in his book of the manners of the catholic Church, hath these words: I know that many be worshippers of tombs and pictures, I know that there be many that banquet most riotously over the graves of the dead, and giving meat to dead carcasses, do bury them selves upon the buried, and attribute their gluttony and drunkenness to religion. See, he esteemeth worshipping of saints, tombs, and pictures, as good religion as gluttony and drunkenness, and no better at all. Saint Augustine greatly alloweth Marcus ¹Varro, affirming that religion is most pure without images, and saith him self, images be of more force to crooken an unhappy soul, then to teach and instruct it. And saith further: Every child, yea every beast knoweth that it is not God that they see. Wherefore then doth the holy ghost so often monish us of that which all ⟨p. 56⟩men know? Whereunto saint Augustine him self answereth thus, For (saith he) when images are placed in temples, and set in honourable sublimity, and begin once to be worshipped, forth with breedeth the most vile affection of error. This is saint Augustine's judgement of images in Churches: that by and by they breed error and idolatry. It would be to tedious to rehearse all other places which might be brought out of the ancient doctors against images and idolatry. Wherefore we shall hold our self contented with these few at this present. Now as concerning histories ecclesiastical, touching this matter, that ye may know why and when, and by whom images were first used privately, and afterwards not only received into the Christians Churches and temples, but in conclusion worshipped also, and how the same was gainsaid, resisted, and forbidden, aswell by godly Bishops and learned doctors, as also by sundry Christian princes: I will briefly collect into a compendious history, that which is at large and in sundry places written by divers ancient writers and historiographers concerning this matter.

The same saint Augustine teacheth in the. xxii. booke of the citie of God, the tenth Chapter, that neyther temples or Churches ought to be buylded or made for martyrs or saintes, but to God alone: and that there ought no priestes to be appoynted for martyr or saint, but to God onlye. The same saint Augustine in his booke of the maners of the catholique Churche, hath these wordes: I knowe that many be worshippers of tombes and pictures, I know that there be manye that banquet moste ryotously ouer the graues of the dead, and geuyng meate to dead carkases, do bury them selues vppon the buried, and attribute theyr gluttonye and drunkennesse to religion. See, he esteemeth worshyppyng of saintes, tombes, and pictures, as good religion as gluttonie and drunkennesse, and no bettter at all. Saint Augustine greatlye alloweth Marcus