A03622:105
A declaration of the ten holy co[m]maundementes of almighty God written Exo. 20. Deu.…A declaration of the ten holy co[m]maundementes of allmygthye God wroten Exo. 20. Deu.…
A declaration of the ten holy co[m]maundementes of almighty God written Exo. 20. Deu. 5. Collected out of the scripture canonical, by Joanne Hopper.A declaration of the ten holy co[m]maundementes of allmygthye God wroten Exo. 20. Deu. 5. Collectyd out of the scripture canonicall, by Joanne Hopper.
Zurich: printed by Augustin Fries, 1549
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
would to God / the church were now / as purely / and well instructed / as it was before these avaricious ministers / and dumb doctors of the lay people / were made preachers / in the church of god. Read August. Epist. 49. et Psal. 113. therfore saint John biddeth us / not only beware of honouring of ymagy / but of the images selves. Thou shalt find the original of images in no part of God's word: but in the writings of the gentiles / and infidels / or in such that more followed there own opinion / and superstitious imaginations / then the authority of God's word. Herodotus li. 2. saith that the Egyptians / were the first that made images / to represent there Godes. and as the gentiles fashioned ⟨p. LXXV⟩there gods with what figures / the listed: so doth the Christians. to declare God to be strong / they made him the form of a lion. to be vigilant / and diligent / the form of a dog. and As Herodotus saith libr. 2. Mendesij / formed there God Pana with a goats face / and goats legs / and thought they did there god great honour / because among them / the herd men of goats / were had in most estimation. So doth those that would be accounted christians / paint God / and his saints with such pictures as they imagine / in there fantasies. god like an old man / with a hoar head / as though his youth were past / which hath nether beginning / nor ending. S. George / with a long spear / upon a Jolly hackney / that gave the dragon his death wound (as the Painters say) in the throat. Saint whit with as many round cheeses / as may be painted a bout his tabernacle. No difference at all between a christian man and gentle in this Idolatry / saving only the name. for they thought not there images to be god / but supposed that there gods would be honoured that ways / as the christians doth. I writ these things rather in a contempt / and hatred of this abominable Idolatry / then to learn any English man / the truth. For my believe / and hope is / that every man in England / knoweth praying to saints / ⟨p. LXXVI⟩and knelling before images / is Idolatry. and instruments of the devil / to lead men / from the commandments of God. And that they are appointed in many places to be as doctors to teach the people: these doctors / and doctrine the bishops / and pastors / shall bewail / before the judgment seat of god / at the hour of death.