A13932:42
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.
Briefly / if thou haste so great desire and love / to win many men to thy lord / order thy self so that other men may in very deed see and perceive experience and proof that Christ is a live in thee / and that all thy deeds and sayings do breath and savour of him. With out doubt / if thou wilt order thy self in this wise / thou shalt cause even wicked men also / that they can not choose but at the least wise closely in their hearts confess (their conscience driving them thereunto) that thou waste not only moved / but also compelled by the zeal of god to put away images. And ⟨image 28⟩though in the mean season many things be wanting in us: yet that notwithstanding we ought to be nevertheless diligent / to provide that all such manner things be put away / which soever are repugnant to the word of god. Let us take no thought for any manner thing which may cast us out any manner way of the favour of men. Let us go straight forth and take the next way to fulfil the rule of a christen mans life: For a true christen man / although he doth in many things acknowledge him self to be a sinner (as he is in very deed) yet doth he neither allow nor excuse any manner thing / which doth minish or deface the honour of his lord and master Christ.
Brefely / if thou haste so great desyre and loue / to wynne many men to thy lorde / ordre thy selfe so that other men maye in very dede see and perceyue experyence and proufe that Christ is a lyue in the / and that all thy dedes and sayngꝭ do breth and sauour of him. With out doute / if thou wylte ordre thy selfe in this wyse / thou shalt cause euen wycked men also / that they can nat chuse but at the least wyse closly in their hertꝭ confesse (their conscyēce driuyng them thervnto) that thou waste nat onely moued / but also compelled by the zele of god to put awaye ymages. And ⟨image 28⟩though in the meane season many thynges be wantynge in vs: yet that natwithstandynge we ought to be neuerthelesse dilygent / to prouyde that all such maner thynges be put awaye / which soeuer ar repugnant to the worde of god. Let vs take no thought for any maner thynge which may cast vs out any maner way of the fauour of men. Let vs go streyght forth and take the nexte waye to fulfyll the rule of a christen mannes lyfe: For a true christen man / although he doth in many thinges aknowlege him self to be a synner (as he is in very dede) yet doth he neither alowe nor excuse any maner thyng / whiche doth minysshe or deface the honor of his lorde and maister Christ.