1Here may all men learn to judge with what spirit these Romish Bishops are led, which notwithstanding call them selves most holy fathers, Christs vicars in earth, Peters successors, holy Church, the spouse of Christ, that pillar of truth, which cannot err. Pope Gregory the first (as you heard) admitted Images into Churches as lay mens Calendars or books, but by no means to be worshipped. Which also is more than can be proved lawful by the word of God.2 Notwithstanding now cometh this most holy father Pope Gregory the third, and he appointeth Images not only to be in Churches, as lay ⟨p. 86⟩mens books, but also to be worshipped, that is to say, to kneel unto them, to sense them, to garnish them with costly vestures, to set up candles before them to go pilgrimage unto them to pray before them and to give them such honour as by no means is due either to stock or stone. The words of Pope Gregory the first are these, concerning yt not worshipping of images, written in a certain epistle unto Serenus Bishop of Massilia, 3which did not only take away Images out of the churches, when he see the people worship them, but he also brake them all on pieces, & burnt them. It was saith he, declared unto us, that thou beholding certain worshippers of images, diddest break & also cast away the same images out of the church. Verily we commend thy zeal that thou wouldest have no man to worship that is made with hands,4 but yet we think (Note good reader, that this Pope doth not plainly affirm by the authority of Gods word, that images ought not to be destroyed, but only bringeth forth his own thinking.) we think saith he, that thou oughtest not to have broken those images. For the picture unto this end is set up in the churches that ⟨image 116⟩such as be unlearned, should at the least by seeing and beholding those Images, read on the walls, that they are not able to read on books, &c. Lib. 7. Epist. 109.
1Here maye all men learne to iudge with what spirite these Romishe Byshops are led, whiche notwithstanding call them selues moste holye fathers, Christes vicares in earth, Peters successors, holye Churche, the spouse of Christe, that pillare of truthe, whiche cannot erre. Pope Gregory the fyrst (as you hearde) admitted Images into Churches as laye mens Calenders or bookes, but by no meanes to be worshypped. Whiche also is more than can be proued lawfull by the worde of God.2 Notwithstandynge nowe commeth this most holy father Pope Gregory the third, and he appointeth Images not only to be in Churches, as lay ⟨p. 86⟩mens bookes, but also to be worshipped, that is to saye, to kneele vnto thē, to sense them, to garnish thē with costly vestures, to set vp candles before thē to go pilgrimage vnto thē to pray before them and to geue thē suche honor as by no meanes is due either to stock or stone. The wordes of Pope Gregory the first are these, cōcerning yt not worshipping of images, writtē in a certein epistle vnto Serenus Bishop of Massilia, 3which did not only take away Images out of the churches, whē he see the people worshyp thē, but he also brake thē all on peces, & brēt thē. It was sayth he, declared vnto vs, that thou beholdīg certain worshippers of images, diddest break & also cast away the same images out of the church. Verely we cōmēd thy zele that thou woldest haue no man to worship that is made with hāds,4 but yet we think (Note good reader, yt this Pope doth not playnely affirme by the autority of Gods worde, yt images ought not to be destroied, but only bringeth forth his owne thinking.) we thinke sayth he, that thou oughtest not to haue broken those images. For the pycture vnto this ende is set vp in the churches that ⟨image 116⟩suche as be vnlearned, should at the least by seyng and beholdyng those Images, reade on the walles, that they are not able to rede on bookes, &c. Lib. 7. Epist. 109.
- 1Note.
- 2Popes together by the parts among them selves.Popes together by ye partes amōg them selues.
- 3Serenus the godly Bishop of Massilia.Serenus the godlye Byshop of Massilia.
- 4☜
