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…

Now ye have heard how plainly, how vehemently, and that in many places, the word of God speaketh against not only idolatry and worshipping of images, but also against idols and images them selves: (I mean ⟨p. 83⟩always thus herein, in that we be stirred and provoked by them to worship them, and not as though they were simply forbidden by the new Testament, without such occasion and danger) And ye have heard likewise out of histories Ecclesiastical, the beginning, proceeding, and success of idolatry by images, and the great contention in the Church of Christ about them, to the great trouble and decay of Christendom: and withal ye have heard the sentences of old ancient fathers and godly learned Doctors and Bishops against images and idolatry, taken out of their own writings. It remaineth, that such reasons as be made for the maintenance of images, and excessive painting, gilding, and decking, aswell of them, as of the Temples or Churches, also be answered and confuted, partly by application of some places before alleged, to their reasons, and partly by otherwise answering the same. Which part hath the last place in this treatise, for that it can not be well understanded of the meaner sort, nor the arguments of image maintainers, can without prolixity to much tedious, be answered without the knowledge of the treatise going before. And although divers things before mentioned, be here rehearsed again: yet this repetition is not superfluous, but in a manner necessary, for that the simple sort can not else understand how the foresaid places are to be applied to the arguments of such as do maintain images, wherewith otherwise they might be abused.

NOwe ye haue heard howe plainelye, how vehementlye, and that in manye places, the worde of God speaketh agaynste not onlye idolatry and worshipping of images, but also agaynste idols and images them selues: (I meane ⟨p. 83⟩alwayes thus herein, in that we be stirred and prouoked by them to worshyp them, and not as though they were simplie forbidden by the newe Testament, without suth occasion and daunger) And ye haue hearde lykewyse out of histories Ecclesiasticall, the begynnyng, proceedyng, and successe of idolatrie by images, and the greate contention in the Churche of Christ about them, to the great trouble and decay of Christendome: and withall ye haue hearde the sentences of olde auncient fathers and godly learned Doctours and Byshoppes agaynste images and idolatrie, taken out of their owne wrytynges. It remayneth, that suche reasons as be made for the maintenaunce of images, and excessyue payntyng, gyldyng, and deckyng, aswell of them, as of the Temples or Churches, also be aunswered and confuted, partly by application of some places before alleaged, to their reasons, and partly by otherwyse aunswering the same. Which part hath the last place in this treatise, for that it can not be well vnderstanded of the meaner sorte, nor the argumentes of image maynteyners, can without prolixitie to muche tedious, be aunswered without the knowledge of the treatise going before. And although diuers thyngs before mentioned, be here rehearsed agayne: yet this repetition is not superfluous, but in a maner necessarye, for that the simple sorte can notels vnderstand how the foresayde places are to be applied to the argumentes of suche as do maynteyne images, wherewith otherwyse they myght be abused.