For trial hereof, 1I refer me self to the Original. The words thereof be these: Inueni ibi velum pendens in foribus eiusdem Ecclesiae tinctum, atque depictum, & habens Imaginem, quasi Christi, aut Sancti cuiusdam. Non enim satis memini, cuius Imago fuerit. Cùm ergo hoc vidissem in Ecclesia Christi, contra Authoritatem Scripturarum, Hominis pendere Imaginem, scidi illud: & magis dedi consilium Custodibus eiusdem loci, ut pauperem mortuum eo obuoluerent, & efferrent &c. Quaeso, ut jubeas Presbyteros eiudem loci praecipere, in Ecclesia Christi istiusmodi Vela, quae contra Religionem nostram veniunt, non appendi: Decet enim honestatem tuam hanc magis habere sollicitudinem, ut crupulositatem tollat, quae indigna est Ecclesia Christi, & populis, qui tibi crediti sunt: I founde there a Veil hanging at the entry of the Church, stained, and painted, and having the Image, as it were, of Christ, or of some Saint. For, whose Picture it was in deed, I do not remember. Therefore, when I saw the Image of a man to hang in the Church of Christ, contrary to the commandment of the Scriptures, I tare it in sunder: and gave counsel to the Wardens of that Church, that they should wind, and bury some poor body in it &c. I beseech you, charge the Priests of that place, that they command, that such Veils, as be contrary to our Religion, be no more hanged up in the Church of Christ. It behooveth your reverence to have care hereof, that this Superstition, unmeet for the Church of Christ, and unmeet for the people to thee committed, be removed. Now, judge you, M. Harding, wherein we have falsified this Learned Fathers words. You say, He speaketh not one word against the Image of Christ, or his Saints. I beseech you then, against what other Image speaketh he? 2Epiphanius saith plainly, It had the Image, as it were, of Christ, or of some Saint: You say, He found fault with that Veil only, & not with any other. Once again, I beseech you, tell us, what had the Image of Christ, or of his Saints offended Epiphanius, more then other Images? If the Image of Christ may not be suffered in the Church of Christ, what Image then may be suffered? What cause of difference can you imagine, that any other ⟨p. 505⟩Veils should be allowed rather, 3then this? Your answer is this, We cannot say any thing determinately thereof.
For trial hereof, 1I referre mée self to ye Original. The woordes thereof be these: Inueni ibi velum pendens in foribus eiusdem Ecclesiae tinctum, atque depictum, & habens Imaginem, quasi Christi, aut Sācti cuiusdam. Non enim satis memini, cuius Imago fuerit. Cùm ergo hoc vidissem in Ecclesia Christi, contra Authoritatem Scripturarum, Hominis pendere Imaginem, scidi illud: & magis dedi consilium Custodibus eiusdem loci, vt pauperem mortuum eo obuoluerent, & efferrent &c. Quaeso, vt iubeas Presbyteros eiudem loci praecipere, in Ecclesia Christi istiusmodi Vela, quae contra Religionem nostram veniunt, non appendi: Decet enim honestatem tuam hanc magis habere sollicitudinem, vt crupulositatem tollat, quae indigna est Ecclesia Christi, & populis, qui tibi crediti sunt: I founde there a Vele hanginge at the entrie of the Churche, stained, and painted, and hauinge the Image, as it were, of Christe, or of somme Saincte. For, whose Picture it was in deede, I doo not remember. Therefore, when I sawe the Image of a man to hange in the Churche of Christe, contrarie to the commaundemente of the Scriptures, I tare it in sunder: and gaue counsel to the Wardens of that Churche, that they shoulde winde, and burie somme poore body in it &c. I beseeche you, charge the Priestes of that place, that they commaunde, that sutche Veles, as be contrarie to our Religion, be no more hanged vp in the Churche of Christe. It behooueth your reuerence to haue care hereof, that this Superstition, vnmeete for the Churche of Christe, and vnmeete for the people to thee committed, be remoued. Nowe, iudge you, M. Hardinge, wherein wée haue falsified this Learned Fathers woordes. You saie, He speaketh not one woorde againste the Image of Christe, or his Sainctes. I beséeche you then, againste what other Image speaketh he? 2Epiphanius saithe plainely, It had the Image, as it vvere, of Christe, or of somme Saincte: You saie, He founde faulte with that Vele onely, & not with any other. Once againe, I beséeche you, telle vs, what had the Image of Christe, or of his Sainctes offended Epiphanius, more then other Images? If the Image of Christe maie not be suffered in the Churche of Christe, what Image then maie be suffered? What cause of difference can you imagine, that any other ⟨p. 505⟩Veles should be allowed rather, 3then this? Your answeare is this, VVee cannot saie any thinge determinately thereof.
