A13932:39
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.
¶ But if any foolish wise man doth think that images are therefore not to be taken away / because he feareth that those weak persons which now superstitiously do worship images / would be offended with the putting down of images:1 this man doubtless whiles he goeth about to avoid from the smoke (as it is said in the proverb) is fallen into the flaming fire. For whiles he feareth to offend desperate persons / with hurtful offences of images he holdeth back & hindereth better men / which have begun to run the way of the lord ⟨image 25⟩without any turning again. Whosoever doth this shall be guilty of that crime / of which Paul accuseth Peter in the epistle to the Galatians.2 For Peter whiles he was afraid to offend certain jews of Jerusalem at Antioch / & for that cause would not use the liberty of eating all manner meats as he was wont to do before: Paul withstood him to his face in the presence of the whole multitude because he walked not the right way / according to the truth of the gospel. For as much as was in him with his unwise desire to avoid offending of the jews / he febled the right faith / & also nourished the incredulity and unbelief of them / whom he studied to please in the mean season. Briefly he did no thing else / than whiles he went about unwisely to avoid one jeopardy ⟨image 25⟩he did cast him self into twain. Doubtless after this manner to desire to avoid occasions of slanders and offences / is the full cause of offences. And would god it were not of so great strength as it is among very many men now in these days. For a man shall see very many / which because they would imagine some honest cloak and colour of their unbelief do feign them selves both to do & also to eschew very many things lest they might give any man occasion to be offended / when in very deed they do it rather to keep the cross of Christ from themselves. For with this feigned desire to win certain curable persons / they shift well for themselves / that they may neither have the evil will of desperate persons / neither any displeasure or hurt done unto them by the ⟨image 26⟩same. We do not deny verily / that such manner of doctrine and living is most to be embraced and followed / which is an obstacle or letting to no man / which doth purposely anger no man / which doth turn no mans mind away from the truth: