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…

In the time of Theodosius and Martian Emperors, who reigned about the year of our Lord 460. and. 1100. years ago, when the people of the city of Nola once a year did celebrate the birth day of saint Felix in the temple, and used to banquet there sumptuously, Pontius Paulinus Bishop of Nola caused the walls of the temple to be painted with stories taken out of the old Testament, that the people beholding and considering those pictures, might the better abstain from to much surfeiting and riot. And about the same time Aurelius Prudentius, a very learned & Christian poet, declareth how he did see painted in a Church, the history of the passion of saint Cassian, a schoolmaster and martyr, whom his own scholars at the commandment of the tyrant, tormented with the pricking or stabbing in of their pointels or brazen pens into his body, and so by a thousand wounds and mo (as saith Prudentius) most cruelly slew him. And these were the first paintings in Churches that were notable of antiquity. And so by this example came in painting, and afterward images of timber and stone, and other matter, into the Churches of Christians. Now and ye will consider this beginning, men are not so ready to ⟨p. 60⟩worship a picture on a wall, or in a window, as an embossed and gilt image set with pearl and stone. And a process of a story, painted with the gestures and actions of many persons, and commonly the sum of the story written withal, hath another use in it, then one dumb idol or image standing by it self. But from learning by painted stories, it came by little and little to idolatry. Which when godly men (aswell Emperors and learned Bishops, as others) perceived, they commanded that such pictures, images, or idols, should be used no more. And I will for a declaration thereof, begin with the decree of the ancient Christian Emperors, Valens, and Theodosius the second, who reigned about four hundred years after our saviour Christs ascension, who forbade that any images should be made or painted privately. For certain it is, that there was none in temples publicly in their time. These Emperors did write unto the captain of the army attending on the Emperors, after this sort, Valens and Theodosius Emperors, unto the captain of the army: Whereas we have a diligent care to maintain the religion of GOD above, in all things:

In the tyme of Theodosius and Martian Emperours, who raigned about the yere of our Lorde 460. and. 1100. yeres ago, when the people of the citie of Nola once a yere dyd celebrate the byrth day of saint Felix in the temple, and vsed to banquet there sumptuouslye, Pontius Paulinus Byshop of Nola caused the walles of the temple to be paynted with stories taken out of the olde Testament, that the people beholdyng and consyderyng those pictures, might the better abstayne from to muche surfetting and ryot. And about the same time Aurelius Prudentius, a very learned & Christian poet, declareth howe he dyd see paynted in a Church, the historie of the passion of saint Cassian, a scoolemaister and martyr, whom his owne scollers at the commaūdement of the tyraunt, tormented with the pryckyng or stabbing in of theyr poyntelles or brasen pennes into his body, and so by a thousand wounds and mo (as sayth Prudentius) most cruelly slew him. And these were the first payntings in Churches that were notable of antiquitie. And so by this example came in painting, and afterwarde images of tymber and stone, and other matter, into the Churches of Christians. Nowe and ye wyll consyder this beginning, men are not so redye to