A17183:585
Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)
Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, written in three several tomes or sections, by Henry Bullinger minister of the church of Tigure in Switzerland. Whereunto is adjoined a triple or three-fold table very fruitful and necessary. Translated out of Latin into English by H.I. student in divinity.Fiftie godlie and learned sermons diuided into fiue decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, written in three seuerall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger minister of the churche of Tigure in Swicerlande. Whereunto is adioyned a triple or three-folde table verie fruitefull and necessarie. Translated out of Latine into English by H.I. student in diuinitie.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralph Newberrie, 1577London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralphe Newberrie, 1577
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.
Very well and wisely therefore, did Erasmus of Rotterdam being deeply seen in the works of Ecclesiastical writers, when he had wittily spoken many things touching the use of images in Churches, at the last also add this, and say: There is no decree, no not so much as of men, which commandeth that images should be in Churches. For as it is more easy, so is it less perilous, to take all images quite and clean out of the Churches, then to be able to bring to pass that in keeping them still, measure should not be exceeded, nor superstition covertly cloaked. For admit that (as some say) the mind be clean from all superstition, yet notwithstanding, it is not without a show of superstition, for him that prayeth to fall down prostrate before a wooden Idol, to have his eyes steadfastly bent upon that alone, to speak to that, to kiss that, & not to pray at all but before an Idol. And this I add, that who so ever do imagine God to be any other than in deed he is, they contrary to this precept, do worship graven images. And again, in the same Catechism he sayeth: Even until the time of Hierom there were men of sound religion, which suffered not in the church any Image to stand, neither painted, nor graven, nor woven, no not so much as of Christ, because (as I suppose) of the Anthropomorphites, But afterward the use of Images by little and little crept up and came into the Churches. This hath Erasmus.
Verie well and wisely therefore, did Erasmus of Roterodame being deepely séene in the workes of Ecclesiasticall writers, when he had wittily spoken manye thinges touching the vse of images in Churches, at the laste also adde this, and say: There is no decree, no not so much as of men, which commandeth that images shoulde be in Churches. For as it is more easie, so is it lesse perillous, to take all images quite and cleane out of the Churches, then to be able to bring to passe that in keeping them still, measure should not be exceeded, nor superstition couertly cloaked. For admit that (as some say) the minde be cleane from all superstition, yet notwithstanding, it is not without a shewe of superstition, for him that prayeth to fall downe prostrate before a wooden Idole, to haue his eyes stedfastly bent vpon that alone, to speake to that, to kisse that, & not to pray at al but before an Idole. And this I adde, that who so euer doe imagine God to be any other than in déede he is, they contrarie to this precept, do worship grauen images. And againe, in the same Catechisme he sayeth: Euen vntill the time of Hierom there were men of sounde religion, which suffred not in the church any Image to stand, neyther painted, nor grauen, nor woauen, no not so much as of Christe, bycause (as I suppose) of the Anthropomorphites, But afterwarde the vse of Images by little and little crept vp and came into the Churches. This hath Erasmus.