A13932:16
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.
we could prove it with such manifest ⟨image 11⟩examples & proofs / that even he that were blind should perceive plainly / that there hath not lightly any other more perilous mischief cropen in to the church / than this of honouring images.
we could proue it with such manyfest ⟨image 11⟩examples & proufes / that euen he that were blynde shuld perceyue playnly / that ther hath nat lyghtely any other more perilouse mischefe cropen in to the churche / thā this of honourynge ymages.
Who is he than that doth not here somewhat smell & perceive the false wily crafts of our old enemy / 1which hath never ceased to drive the world unto such madness / that putting away the true honour of god / men should receive & embrace this honour / which maketh them to go the clean contrary way from god deceiving all manner men with the vain appearance & outward sight of images / as though (god wot) men by them were put in remembrance of godly things / wham in very deed by them nothing else hath ben brought in / but an innumerable heap of all evils. Moreover / that man whom ⟨image 11⟩heaven / earth / & whatsoever is contained in them / & most specially man which is created to the image of god: finally whom god him self / the worker of all these things / doth not waken & stir up to love him & praise him:2 No man / owls he be madder than a man of Bedlam / will believe that this man will be moved greatly with deed & unsensible images / if so many works of god / if so many creatures / no less profitable than marvellous / which set the goodness of god before thine eyes / can not inflame the / thou art doubtless to unsensible for to be admonished & stirred ever of unsensible images.