Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles

And indeed since the first entering of Images into the Church, men have for a long time confessed that there was no honour due unto them, but when Idolatry was once entered, then they said that this honour was not done unto the statua or Image, but unto him which was represented by the Image. A most false excuse. For if it were so, why should a man use more devotion to one Image of the same saint, then unto an other? And if this were the meaning of these worshippers of Images, as they say it is, what other thing is this then to answer, that a man playeth not the Idolater with the Image, but with him whom the Image doth represent? I speak in respect of the Images of he & she saints as they call them. For who will dare ⟨p. 411⟩to say (but he shall be convicted by the whole scriptures) that if the virgin Mary, or the Apostles, & by consequent other true Saints were alive at this day on earth, that they could suffer that men should kneel unto them? That they should offer up candles unto them, that they should present incense before them, that they should preach of their merits? Their whole doctrine and their whole life being clear contrary unto it. I let pass to speak of their setting out of these goodly statues & pictures of their our Ladies as they call them, clad in their summer and winter garments, of their virgins attired like shameless strumpets, of horses, asses, dogs and swine which charge their altars among their saints, of their tapers and lamps burning before their blind statues, and other such mere and inexcusable Idolatries, all which notwithstanding is covered with the goodly name of devotion. Alas ô Lord how long?

And indeede since the first entering of Images into the Church, men haue for a long time confessed that there was no honour due vnto them, but when Idolatrie was once entered, then they said that this honour was not done vnto the statua or Image, but vnto him which was represented by the Image. A most false excuse. For if it were so, why shoulde a man vse more deuotion to one Image of the same saint, then vnto an other? And if this were the meaning of these worshippers of Images, as they say it is, what other thing is this thē to answer, that a man playeth not the Idolater with the Image, but with him whom the Image doth represent? I speak in respect of the Images of he & shee saints as they call thē. For who will dare ⟨p. 411⟩