Sermons upon Deuteronomy

that if ye mount up yet higher, the true Prophets were commended for crying out against Images and the manner of worshipping of Images, and the holy Kings were well liked of God for pulling down, razing out, and rooting up the occasions of such superstitions among their people: that the good Judges and governors had done likewise before the kings: and that even Moses himself (who was ancienter than any others that have left any books of long time) spake of them after the same manner, and dealt accordingly thereto, because he had both the administration of the doctrine and the government of the common weal together, which was not ordinary afterward in others. Ye see then, ye see how the true Catholic Church is on their side which follow the Gospel, whatsoever men list to say to the contrary. And now that we be delivered from outward Idolatry, it standeth us on hand to look nearly to our selves, that our life be agreeable to the pureness of Gods service, so as we shun Covetousness (which also is named Idolatry) ambition, excess and vanity of the world, taking good heed (as much as is possible for us to do) that no man be withdrawn from the Gospel and the love thereof through our undiscreete dealing: to the end it may appear that whereas the disobedient do seek excuses and take occasion of stumbling, they do it ⟨image 5⟩without any cause given on our behalf. Furthermore the strange blindness or rather wilful stubbornness which is to be seen nowadays in a number of them that call themselves Christians, ought to make us so much the earnester in praying, to the end aforesaid, that is to wit, that our good God may vouchsafe to work so effectually in the hearts of all men, as well great as small, Kings, Princes, and other governors, as their subjects: as the wretched world may not always continue at the A. B. C of Christianity, without learning any further. We term the second commandment an A. B. C, because it is and ever hath been one of the first and surest grounds of the true religion, and is (as ye would say) a necessary appurtenance to the first commandment. For whosoever mingleth the worshipping of Images with the serving of God, doth as much as in him lieth, to set forth other gods than the true God.

that if yee mount vp yet higher, the true Prophetes were commended for crying out against Images and the manner of worshipping of Images, and the holy Kinges were well liked of God for pulling downe, razing out, and rooting vp the occasions of such superstitions among their people: that the good Iudges and gouernours had doone likewise before the kings: and that euen Moses himselfe (who was auncienter than any others that haue left any bookes of long time) spake of them after the same manner, and dealt accordingly thereto, bicause he had both the administration of the doctrine and the gouernement of the common weale together, which was not ordinarie afterwarde in others. Yee see then, yee see howe the true Catholike Church is on their side which follow the Gospell, whatsoeuer men list to say to the contrarie. And nowe that we be deliuered from outwarde Idolatrie, it standeth vs on hande to looke neerely to our selues, that our life bee agreeable to the purenesse of Gods seruice, so as wee shunne Couetousnesse (which also is named Idolatrie) ambition, excesse and vanitie of the worlde, taking good heede (as much as is possible for vs to doe) that no man bee withdrawne from the Gospell and the loue thereof through our vndiscreete dealing: to the ende it may appeare that whereas the disobedient doe seeke excuses and take occasion of stumbling, they doe it