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…

But in the mean season, Gregory's authority was so great in all the west Church, that by his encouragement, men set up images in all places: but their judgement was not so good to consider why he would have them set up, but they fell all on heaps to manifest idolatry by worshipping of them, which Bishop Serenus (not without just cause) feared would come to pass. Now if Serenus his judgement, thinking it meet that images whereunto idolatry was committed, should be destroyed, had taken place, idolatry had ben overthrown: For to that which is not, no man committeth idolatry. But of Gregory's opinion, thinking ⟨p. 81⟩that images might be suffered in churches. so it were taught that they should not be worshipped: what ruin of religion, and what mischief ensued afterward to all Christendom, experience hath to our great hurt and sorrow proved. First, by the schism rising between the East and the West Church about the said images. Next, by the division of the Empire into two parts by the same occasion of images, to the great weakening of all Christendom, whereby last of all, hath followed the utter overthrow of the christian religion and noble empire in Greece and all the east parts of the world, and the increase of Mahomets false religion, and the cruel dominion & tyranny of the Saracens & Turks, who do now hang over our necks also that dwell in the west parts of the world, ready at all occasions to overrun us. And all this do we owe unto our idols and images, and our idolatry in worshipping of them.

But in the meane season, Gregories aucthoritie was so great in all the west Churche, that by his incouragement, men set vp images in all places: but their iudgement was not so good to consider why he would haue them set vp, but they fell all on heapes to manifest idolatrie by worshyppyng of them, which Bishop Serenus (not without iust cause) feared woulde come to passe. Now if Serenus his iudgemēt, thinking it meete that images whervnto idolatrie was committed, should be destroied, had taken place, idolatrie had ben ouerthrowen: For to that which is not, no man committeth idolatrie. But of Gregories opinion, thynkyng ⟨p. 81⟩that images might be suffered in churches. so it were taught that they should not be worshipped: what ruine of religion, and what myschiefe insued afterwarde to all Christendome, experience hath to our great hurt and sorowe proued. First, by the scisme rysing betwene the East and the West Churche about the sayde images. Nexte, by the diuision of the Empire into twoo partes by the same occasion of images, to the great weakening of all Christendome, whereby last of all, hath followed the vtter ouerthrowe of the christian religion and noble empire in Grece and all the east partes of the worlde, and the encrease of Mahomets false religion, and the cruel dominion & tyrannie of the Sarasens & Turks, who do nowe hange ouer our neckes also that dwell in the west partes of the worlde, readye at all occasions to ouerrunne vs. And all thys do we owe vnto our idols and images, and our idolatrie in worshipping of them.