A13932:13
A treatise declaring [and] showing divers causes take[n] out of the holy scripture[es] of…A treatise declaryng [and] shewig dyuers causes take[n] out of the holy scriptur[es] of…
A treatise declaring [and] showing divers causes take[n] out of the holy scripture[es] of the sent[n]ces of holy fathers [and] of the decrees of devout emperors, that pictures [and] other images which were wont to be worshipped, are i[n] no wise to be suffered in the temples or churches of Christen men. By the which treatise the reader that is indifferent, shall see and perceive, how good and godly a deed it was of the senators of Arge[n]tine, that of late days they caused all the images with their altars to be clean take[n] out of their churches. The authors of this little treatise are the ope[n] preachers of Argte[n]yne.A treatise declaryng [and] shewig dyuers causes take[n] out of the holy scriptur[es] of the sente[n]ces of holy faders [and] of the decrees of deuout emperours, that pyctures [and] other ymages which were wont to be worshypped, ar i[n] no wise to be suffred in the temples or churches of Christen men. By the whiche treatise the reder that is indifferent, shall se and perceyue, how good and godly a dede it was of the senatoures of Arge[n]tine, that of late daies they caused all the ymages with their auters to be cleane take[n] out of their churches. The authours of this litle treatise ar the ope[n] preachers of Argte[n]yne.
London: printed for W. Marshall, 1535
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.
¶ In deed god commanded very many things to his old people ⟨image 7⟩which were greatly available & helping to the principal point and end of his law. But after that christ was ones exalted to the right hand of his father / and the holy ghost was sent all abroad into the world / we are delivered & free from a great pert of such manner ceremonies of the law of Moses.1 As for example it was God's will & commandment / that the Jews should live together by themselves / abstaining from companying & dealing with the gē tiles (for he did not yet vouchsafe that the gentiles should have knowledge of his doctrine) to the intent no doubt of it / 2that they should by so much be the more obedient to his commandment / by how much they were the less corrupted & infected with the company of the gentiles / worshipping false goddꝭ.3 But after that the wall of the heavy burden of so many rites & ceremonies of the Ives ⟨image 7⟩(which not only departed the one people from the other / but also made them enemies) was thrown down. eph. 2 & both the gentiles & also the Jews grew together into one people. This law which forfended the Israelites / companying with the gentiles could do no service nor profit at all. Wherefore it was convenient that the said law should be abrogated & taken away. such another like thing is circumcision / & also the rites & ceremonies of purifications / the choice of metes / the diversities of places & persons: & whatsoever besides these is red to have ben commanded in the old law / concerning outward sacrifices. For these things in as much as neither faith nor charity doth now require them: it shall be lawful & free for us either to observe & keep them / or else to leave them undone. For the true honour & worshipping ⟨image 8⟩of god / which hath ben by the preaching of the apostles indifferently published to the whole world / will in no wise suffer it self to be thrust so narrowly in to such manner straits of places / days / meats / and persons.