we do not speedily and earnestly Repent us of this Wickedness Thus ye have heard dearly beloved out of Gods Word what Reverence is due to the Holy House of the Lord how all Godly Persons ought with diligence at times appointed thither to repair how they ought to behave themselves there with Reverence and Dread before the Lord what Plagues and Punishments as well Temporal as Eternal the Lord in his Holy Word threatneth as well to such as neglect to come to his Holy House as also to such who coming thither do unreverently by gesture or talk there behave themselves Wherefore if we desire to have seasonable Weather and thereby to enjoy the good Fruits of the Earth if we will avoid Drought and Barrenness Thirst and Hunger which are Plagues threatned unto such as make haste to go to their own Houses to Ale-Houses and Taverns and leave the House of the Lord empty and desolate if we abhor to be scourged not with Whips made of Cords out of the material Temple only as our Saviour Christ served the Desilers of the House of God in Jerusalem but also to be beaten and driven out of the Eternal Temple and House of the Lord which is his Heavenly Kingdom Ephes 3. with the Iron Rod of Everlasting Damnation and cast into utter Darkness where is Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth if we Fear Dread and abhor this I say as we have most just cause to do Then let us amend this our negligence and contempt in coming to the House of the Lord this our unreverent behaviour in the House of the Lord and resorting thither diligently together let us there with Reverent hearing of the Lords Holy Word calling on the Lords Holy Name giving of hearty Thanks unto the Lord for his manifold and inestimable benefits daily and hourly bestowed upon us celebrating also Reverently the Lords Holy Sacraments serve the Lord in his Holy House as becometh the Servants of the Lord in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life and then we shall be assured after this Life to rest in his Holy Hill and to dwell in his Tabernacle there to Praise and Magnifie his Holy Name in the Congregation of his Saints in the Holy House of his Eternal Kingdom of Heaven which he hath purchased for us by the Death and Shedding of the precious Blood of his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost one Immortal God be all Honour Glory Praise and Thanksgiving world without end Amen AN HOMILY AGAINST Peril of Idolatry and superfluous Decking of Churches The First Part. IN what points the true Ornaments of the Church or Temple of God do consist and stand hath been declared in the two last Homilies treating of the Right Use of the Temple or House of God and of the due Reverence that all true Christian People are bound to give unto the same The Sum whereof is that the Church or House of God is a place appointed by the Holy Scriptures where the lively Word of God ought to be Read Taught and Heard the Lords Holy Name called upon by publick Prayer hearty Thanks given to his Majesty for his infinite and unspeakable benefits bestowed upon us his Holy Sacraments duly and reverently ministred and that therefore all that be Godly indeed ought both with diligence at times appointed to repair together to the said Church and there with all Reverence to use and behave themselves before the Lord. And that the said Church thus godly used by the Servants of the Lord in the Lords true Service for the effectual presence of Gods Grace wherewith he doth by his holy Word and Promises endue his people there present and assembled to the attainment as well of Commodities worldly necessary for us as also of all heavenly Gifts and Life everlasting is called by the Word of God as it is indeed the Temple of the Lord and the House of God and that therefore the due Reverence thereof is stirred up in the Hearts of the Godly by the Consideration of these true Ornaments of the said House of God and not by any outward Ceremonies or costly and glorious decking of the said House or Temple of the Lord contrary to the which most manifest Doctrine of the Scriptures and contrary to the usage of the Primitive Chruch which was pure and uncorrupt and contrary to the Sentences and Judgments of the most antient learned and godly Doctors of the Church as hereafter shall appear the Corruption of these later days hath brought into the Church infinite multitudes of Images and the same with other parts of the Temple also have decked with Gold and Silver painted with Colours set them with Stone and Pearl clothed them with Silks and precious Vestures fancying untruly that to be the chief Decking and Adorning of the Temple or the House of God and that all People should be the more moved to the due Reverence of the same if all Corners thereof were glorious and glistering with Gold and precious Stones Whereas indeed they by the said Images and such Glorious decking of the Temple have nothing at all profited such as were Wise and Understanding But have thereby greatly hurt the Simple and Unwise occasioning them thereby to commit horrible Idolatry And the covetous Persons by the same occasion seeming to worship and peradventure worshipping indeed not only the Images but also the matter of them Gold and Silver as that Vice is of all others in the Scriptures peculiarly called Idolatry Ephes 5. Coloss 3. or worshipping of Images Against the which foul Abuses and great Enormities shall be alledged unto you First the Authority of Gods holy Word as well out of the Old Testament as of the New And secondly the Testimonies of the holy and ancient learned Fathers and Doctors out of their own Works and ancient Histories Ecclesiastical both that you may at once know their Judgments and withal understand what manner of Ornaments were in the Temples in the Primitive Church in those times which were most pure and sincere Thirdly the Reasons and Arguments made for the defence of Images or Idols and the outragious decking of Temples and Churches with Gold Silver Pearl and precious Stones shall be confuted and so this whole matter concluded But lest any should take occasion by the way of doubting by Words or Names it is thought good here to note first of all that although in common speech we use to call the likeness or similitudes of Men or other things Images and not Idols yet the Scriptures use the said two words Idols and Images indifferently for one thing alway They be words of divers Tongues and Sounds but one in Sense and Signification in the Scriptures The one is taken of the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Idol and the other of the Latin word Imago an Image and so both used as English terms in the translating of Scriptures indifferently according as the Septuaginta
of the Old Testament as contain the immutable Law and Ordinances of God in no age or time to be altered nor of any persons of any nations or age to be disobeyed such as the above rehearsed places be Notwithstanding for your further satisfying herein according to my promise I will out of the Scriptures of the New Testament or Gospel of our Saviour Christ likewise make a Confirmation of the said Doctrine against Idols or Images and of our Duty concerning the same First the Scriptures of the New Testament do in sundry places make mention with rejoycing as for a most excellent benefit and gift of God that they which received the Faith of Christ were turned from their dumb and dead Images unto the true and living God who is to be blessed for ever Namely in these places the 14 and 17 of the Acts of the Apostles the 11 to the Romans and the First Epistle to the Corinthians the Twelfth Chapter to the Galatians the 4th and the 1st to the Thessalonians the First Chapter And likewise the said Idols Images and Worshipping of them are in the Scriptures of the New Testament by the Spirit of God much abhorred and detested and earnestly forbidden as appeareth both in the fore-named places and also many other besides as in the seventh and Fifteenth of the Acts of the Apostles the First to the Romans where is set forth the horrible plague of Idolaters given over by God unto a reprobate Sense to work all wickedness and abominations not to be spoken as usually spiritual and carnal Fornication go together In the first Epistle to the Corinthians the Fifth Chapter we are forbidden once to keep Company or to eat and drink with such as be called Brethren or Christians that do Worship Images In the Fifth to the Galatians the Worshipping of Images is numbred amongst the Works of the Flesh And in the First to the Corinthians the Tenth it is called the service of Devils and that such as use it shall be destroyed And in the Sixth Chapter of the said Epistle and the Fifth to the Galatians is denounced that such Image-Worshippers shall never come into the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven And in sundry other places is threatned that the wrath of God shall come upon all such And therefore Saint John in his Epistle 1 Joh. 5. 1 Cor. 10. exhorteth us as his dear Children to beware of Images And Saint Paul warneth us to flee from the Worshipping of them if we be wise that is to say if we care for Health and fear Destruction if we regard the Kingdom of God and Life Everlasting and dread the Wrath of God and Everlasting Damnation For it is not possible that we should be Worshippers of Images and the true Servants of God also as Saint Paul teacheth in the Second to the Corinthians the Sixth Chapter affirming expresly that there can be no more consent or agreement between the Temple of God which all true Christians be and Images than between Righteousness and Vnrighteousness between Light and Darkness between the Faithful and the Vnfaithful or between Christ and the Devil Which place enforceth both that we should not Worship Images and that we should not have Images in the Temple for fear and occasion of Worshipping them though they be of themselves things indifferent For the Christian is the Holy Temple and lively Image of God as the place well declareth to such as will read and weigh it And whereas all Godly Men did ever abhor that any Kneeling and Worshipping or Offering should be used to themselves when they were alive for that it was the Honour due to God only Acts 10. Acts 14. as appeareth in the Acts of the Apostles by Saint Peter forbidding it to Cornelius and by Saint Paul and Barnabas forbidding the same to the Citizens in Lystra Yet we like Mad Men fall down before the dead Idols or Images of Peter and Paul and give that Honour to Stocks and Stones which they thought abominable to be given to themselves being alive And the good Angel of God as appeareth in the Book of Saint John's Revelation refused to be Kneeled unto when that Honour was offered him of John Beware saith the Angel that thou do it not for I am thy fellow-Servant But the evil Angel Satan desireth nothing so much as to be kneeled unto and thereby at once both to rob God of his due Honour and to work the Damnation of such as make him so low courtesie as in the Story of the Gospel appeareth in sundry places Yea and he offered our Saviour Christ all Earthly goods on the condition that he would kneel down and Worship him But our Saviour repelleth Satan by the Scriptures Matth. 4 Luke 2. saying It is written thou shalt Worship thy Lord thy God and him alone shalt thou serve But we by not Worshipping and serving God alone as the Scriptures teach us and by Worshipping of Images contrary to the Scriptures pluck Satan to us and are ready without reward to follow his desire Yea rather than fail we will offer him Gifts and Oblations to receive our service But let us Brethren rather follow the Counsel of the good Angel of God than the suggestion of subtil Satan that wicked Angel and old Serpent who according to the Pride whereby he first fell attempteth always by such Sacriledge to deprive God whom he envieth of his due Honour And because his own Face is horrible and ugly to convey it to himself by the Mediation of gilt Stocks and Stones and withal to make us the Enemies of God and his own Suppliants and Slaves and in the end to procure us for a Reward Everlasting Destruction and Damnation Therefore above all things if we take our selves to be Christians indeed as we be named let us credit the Word obey the Law and follow the Doctrine and Example of our Saviour and Master Christ repelling Satans Suggestion to Idolatry and Worshipping of Images according to the Truth alledged and taught out of the Testament and Gospel of our said Heavenly Doctor and Schoolmaster Jesus Christ who is God to be blessed for ever Amen The Second Part of the Homily against Peril of Idolatry YOU have heard welbeloved in the first part of this Homily the Doctrine of the word of God against Idols and Images against Idolatry and Worshipping of Images taken out of the Scriptures of the Old Testament and the New and confirmed by the Examples as well of the Apostles as of our Saviour Christ himself Now although our Saviour Christ taketh not or needeth not any Testimony of Men and that which is once confirmed by the certainty of his Eternal Truth hath no more need of the Confirmation of Man's Doctrine and Writings than the bright Sun at Noon-tide hath need of the light of a little Candle to put away Darkness and to encrease his Light Yet for your further content it shall in this Second Part be declared as in the beginning
not things indifferent nor tolerable but against Gods Law and Commandment taking theiâ— own Interpretation and Exposition of it First for that all Images so set up publickly have been Worshipped of the Unlearned and Simple sort shortly after they have been publickly so set up and in conclusion of the Wise and Learned also Secondly for that they are Worshipped in sundry places now in our time also And Thirdly for that it is impossible that Images of God Christ or his Saints can be suffered especially in Temples and Churches any while or space without Worshipping of them And that Idolatry which is most abominable before God cannot possibly be escaped and avoided without the abolishing and destruction of Images and Pictures in Temples and Churches for that Idolatry is to Images specially in Temples and Churches an inseparable accident as they term it so that Images in Churches and Idolatry go always both together and that therefore the one cannot be avoided except the other specially in all publick places be destroyed Wherefore to make the Images and publickly to set them up in the Temples and Churches places appointed peculiarly to the service of God is to make Images to the use of Religion and not only against this Precept Thou shalt make no manner of Images but against this also Thou shalt not bowe down to them nor Worship them For they being set up have been be and ever will be Worshipped And the full proof of that which in the beginning of the first part of this Treatise was touched is here to be made and performed To wit that our Images and Idols of the Gentiles be all one as well in the things themselves as also in that our Images have been before be now and ever will be Worshipped in like form and manner as the Idols of the Gentiles were Worshipped so long as they be suffered in Churches and Temples Whereupon it followeth that our Images in Churches have been be and ever will be none other but abominable Idols and be therefore no things indifferent And every of these parts shall be proved in order as hereafter followeth Simulachra gentium Argentum aurum Fusile Similitudo Sculptile Simulachrum opera manuum hominum And first that our Images and the Idols of the Gentiles be all one concerning themselves is most evident the matter of them being Gold Silver or other Metal Stone Wood Clay or Plaister as were the Idols of the Gentiles and so being either molten or cast either carved graven hewen or otherwise formed and fashioned after the similitude and likeness of Man or Woman be dead and dumb Works of Man's hands having Mouths and speak not Eyes and see not Hands and feel not Feet and go not and so as well in form as matter be altogether like the Idols of the Gentiles Insomuch that all the Titles which be given to the Idols in the Scriptures may be verified of our Images Wherefore no doubt but the like Curses which are men-in the Scriptures will light upon the Makers and Worshippers of them both Secondly that they have been and be worshipped in our time in like form and manner as were the Idols of the Gentiles is now to be proved And for that Idolatry standeth chiefly in the mind it shall in this part first be proved that our Image-maintainers have had and have the same Opinions and Judgment of Saints whose Images they have made and worshipped as the Gentiles Idolaters had of their Gods And afterwards shall be declared that our Image-maintainers and Worshippers have used and used the same outward Rites and manner of honoring and worshipping their Images as the Gentiles did use before their Idols and that therefore they commit Idolatry as well inwardly and outwardly as did the wicked Gentiles Idolaters And concerning the first part of the idolatrous Opinions of our Image-maintainers What I pray you be such Saints with us to whom we attribute the defence of certain Countries spoiling God of his due honor herein but Dij Tutelares of the Gentiles Idolaters Dij Tutelares Such as were Belus to the Babylonians and Assyrians Osiris and Isis to the Aegyptians Vulcan to the Lemnians and to such other What be such Saints to whom the safeguard of certain Cities are appointed but Dij Praesides with the Gentiles Idolaters Such as were at Delphos Apollo at Athens Minerva at Carthage Juno at Rome Quirinus c. What be such Saints to whom contrary to the use of the Primitive Church Temples and Churches be builded and Altars erected but Dij Patroni of the Gentiles Idolaters Such as were in the Capitol Jupiter in Paphus Temple Venus in Ephesus Temple Diana and such like Alas we seem in thus thinking and doing to have Learned our Religion not out of Gods Word but out of the Pagan Poets who say Excessere omnes adytis arisque relictis Dij quibus imperium hoc steterat c. That is to say All the Gods by whose defence this Empire stood are gone out of the Temples and have forsaken their Altars And where one Saint hath Images in divers places the same Saint hath divers Names thereof most like to the Gentiles When you hear of our Lady of Walsingham our Lady of Ipswich our Lady of Wilsdon and such others what is it but an imitation of the Gentiles Idolaters Diana Agrâ—tera Diana Coriphea Diana Ephesia c. Venus Cypria Venus Paphia Venus Gnidia Whereby is evidently meant that the Saint for the Image sake should in those places yea in the Images themselves have a dwelling which is the ground of their Idolatry For where no Images be they have no such means Terentius Varro sheweth that there were Three Hundred Jupiters in his time there were no fewer Veneres and Diana's we had no fewer Christophers Ladies and Mary Magdalens and other Saints Oenomaus and Hesiodus shew that in their time there were Thirty Thousand Gods I think we had no fewer Saints to whom we gave the Honour due to God And they have not only spoiled the true living God of his due Honour in Temples Cities Countries and Lands by such devices and inventions as the Gentiles Idolaters have done before them But the Sea and Waters have as well special Saints with them as they had Gods with the Gentiles Neptune Triton Nereus Castor and Pollux Venus and such other In whose places be come Saint Christopher Saint Clement and divers other and specially our Lady to whom Shipmen Sing Ave maris stella Neither hath the Fire scaped the Idolatrous inventions For instead of Vulcan and Vesta the Gentiles Gods of the Fire our Men have placed Saint Agatha and make Letters on her day for to quench Fire with Every Artificer and Profession hath his special Saint as a peculiar God As for Example Scholars have Saint Nicholas and Saint Gregory Painters Saint Luke neither lack Souldiers their Mars nor Lovers their Venus amongst Christians All Diseases have their special Saints as Gods the curers
and continue in are the Bodies and Minds of true Christians and the chosen People of God according to the Doctrine of the Holy Scripture declared in the First Epistle to the Corinthians Know ye not saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 3. that ye be the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any Man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy For the Temple of God is Holy which ye are And again in the same Epistle Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost dwelling in you whom ye have given you of God 1 Cor. 6. and that ye be not your own For ye are dearly bought Glorifie ye now therefore God in your Body and in your Spirit which are Gods And therefore as our Saviour Christ teacheth in the Gospel of Saint John John 4. they that worship God the Father in Spirit and Truth in what place soever they do it worship him aright For such Worshippers doth God the Father look for For God is a Spirit and those that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and Truth saith our Saviour Christ Yet all this notwithstanding the material Church or Temple is a place appointed as well by the usage and continual Examples expressed in the Old Testament as in the New for the People of God to resort together unto there to hear Gods Holy Word to call upon his Holy Name to give him thanks for his innumerable and unspeakable benefits bestowed upon us and duly and truly to celebrate his Holy Sacraments in the unfeigned doing and accomplishing of the which standeth that True and Right Worshipping of God aforementioned and the same Church or Temple is by the Holy Scriptures both of the Old Testament and New called the House and Temple of the Lord for the peculiar service there done to his Majesty by his People and for the effectuous presence of his Heavenly Grace wherewith he by his said Holy Word endueth his People so there assembled And to the said House or Temple of God at all times by common order appointed are all People that be godly indeed bound with all diligence to resort unless by sickness or other most urgent causes they be letted therefore And all the same so resorting thither ought with all quietness and reverence there to behave themselves in doing their bounden duty and service to Almighty God in the Congregation of his Saints All which things are evident to be proved by God's Holy Word as hereafter shall plainly appear And first of all I will declare by the Scriptures that it is called as it is indeed the House of God and Temple of the Lord. He that Sweareth by the Temple saith our Saviour Christ John 2. Matth. 23. John 2. Sweareth by it and him that dwelleth therein meaning God the Father which he also expresseth plainly in the Gospel of Saint John saying Do not make the House of my Father the House of Merchandize And in the Book of the Psalms Psal 5. the Prophet David saith I will enter into thine House I will Worship in thy Holy Temple in thy Fear And it is almost in infinite places of the Scripture especially in the Prophets and Book of Psalms called the House of God or House of the Lord. Somtimes it is named the Tabernacle of the Lord Exod. 25. and somtimes the Sanctuary that is to say the Holy Place or House of the Lord. And it is likewise called the House of Prayer Levit. 19. 3 Reg. 8 2 Par. 6. as Solomon who builded the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem doth oft call it the House of the Lord in the which the Lords Name should be called upon Isaiah 56. Matth. 12. Matth. 21. Mark 11. Luke 19. Luke 18. Luke 2. And Isaiah in the Fifty sixth Chapter My House shall be called the House of Prayer amongst all Nations Which Text our Saviour Christ alledgeth in the New Testament as doth appear in Three of the Evangelists and in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican which went to pray in which Parable our Saviour Christ saith They went up into the Temple to pray And Anna the Holy Widow and Prophetess served the Lord in Fasting and Prayer in the Temple Night and Day And in the Story of the Acts it is mentioned Acts 3. how that Peter and John went up into the Temple at the Hour of Prayer And Saint Paul praying in the Temple at Jerusalem was wrapt in the Spirit and did see Jesus speaking unto him And as in all convenient places Prayer may be used of the Godly privately So it is most certain that the Church or Temple is the due and appointed place for common and publick Prayer Now that it is likewise the place of Thanksgiving unto the Lord for his innumerable and unspeakable benefits bestowed upon us appeareth notably at the latter end of the Gospel of Saint Luke Luke 24. Acts 22. and the beginning of the Story of the Acts where it is written that the Apostles and Disciples after the Ascension of the Lord continued with one accord daily in the Temple always praising and blessing God And it is likewise declared in the First Epistle to the Corinthians Cor. 11. that the Church is the due place appointed for the use of the Sacraments It remaineth now to be declared that the Church or Temple is the place where the lively Word of God and not Man's Inventions ought to be Read and Taught and that the People are bound thither with all diligence to resort And this proof likewise to be made by the Scriptures as hereafter shall appear In the Story of the Acts of the Apostles Acts 13. we read that Paul and Barnabas Preached the Word of God in the Temples of the Jews at Salamine And when they came to Antiochia they entred on the Sabbath-day into the Synagogue or Church and sate down and after the Lesson or Reading of the Law and the Prophets the Ruler of the Temple sent unto them saying Ye Men and Brethren if any of you have any Exhortation to make unto the People say it And so Paul standing up and making silence with his Hand said Ye Men that be Israelites and ye that fear God give Ear c. Preaching to them a Sermon out of the Scriptures as there at large appeareth And in the same Story of the Acts the Seventeenth Chapter is testified how Paul preached Christ out of the Scriptures at Thessalonica And in the Fifteenth Chapter James the Apostle in that Holy Council and Assembly of his Fellow Apostles saith Acts 15. Moses of old time hath in every City certain that preach him in the Synagogues or Temples where he is read every Sabbath-day By these places ye may see the usage of Reading the Scriptures of the the Old Testament among the Jews in their Synagogues every Sabbath-day and Sermons usually made upon the same How much more then is it
I pray you when they have the same Books at home with them run on Pilgrimage to seek like Books at Rome Compostella or Jerusalem to be taught by them when they have the like to learn at home Do men reverence some Books and despise and set light by other of the same sort Do men kneel before their Books light Candles at Noon-time burn Incense offer up Gold and Silver and other Gifts to their Books Do men either feign or believe Miracles to be wrought by their Books I am sure that the New Testament of our Saviour Jesus Christ containing the Word of Life is a more lively express and true Image of our Saviour than all carved graven molten and painted Images in the World be and yet none of all these things be done to that Book or Scripture of the Gospel of our Saviour which be done to Images or Pictures the Books and Scriptures of Lay-men and Idiots as they call them Wherefore call them what they list it is most evident by their deeds that they make of them no other Books nor Scripture than such as teach most filthy and horrible Idolatry as the users of such Books daily prove by continual practising the same O Books and Scriptures in the which the devilish School-master Satan hath penned the lewd Lessons of wicked Idolatry for his dastardly Disciples and Scholars to behold read and learn to Gods most high dishonour and their most horrible Damnation Have not we been much bound think you to those which should have taught us the truth out of Gods Book and his Holy Scripture that they have shut up that Book and Scripture from us and none of us so bold as once to open it or read in it and instead thereof to spread us abroad these goodly carved and gilded Books and painted Scriptures to teach us such good and godly Lessons Have not they done well after they ceased to stand in Pulpits themselves and to teach the People committed to their instruction keeping silence of Gods Word and become dumb Dogs as the Prophet calleth them to set up in their stead on every pillar and corner of the Church such goodly Doctors as dumb but more wicked than themselves be We need not to complain of the lack of one dumb Parson having so many dumb devilish Vicars I mean these Idols and painted Puppets to teach in their stead Now in the mean season whilst the dumb and dead Idols stand thus decked and cloathed contrary to Gods Law and Commandment the poor Christian People the lively Images of God commended to us so tenderly by our Saviour Christ as most dear to him stand naked shivering for cold and their Teeth chattering in their heads and no man covereth them are pined with Hunger and Thirst and no man giveth them a penny to refresh them whereas pounds be ready at all times contrary to Gods will to deck and trim dead stocks and stones which neither feel Cold Hunger nor Thirst Clemens hath a notable sentence concerning this matter saying thus That Serpent the Devil doth by the mouth of certain men utter these words We for the honour of the invisible God do worship visible Images which doubtless is most false For if you will truly honour the Image of God you shall by doing well to man honour the true Image of God in him For the Image of God is in every man But the likeness of God is not in every one but in those only which have a godly Heart and pure Mind If you will therefore truly honour the Image of God we do declare to you the truth that ye do well to man who is made after the Image of God that you give honour and reverence to him and refresh the hungry with meat the thirsty with drink the naked with clothes the sick with attendance the stranger harbourless with lodging the Prisoners with necessaries and this shall be accounted as truly bestowed upon God And these things are so directly appertaining to Gods Honour that whosoever doth not this shall seem to have reproached and done villany to the Image of God For what honour of God is this to run to Images of stock and stone and to honour vain and dead figures of God and to despise man in whom is the true Image of God And by and by after he saith Vnderstand ye therefore that this is the suggestion of the Serpent Satan lurking within you which perswadeth you that you are godly when you honour insensible and dead Images and that you be not ungodly when you hurt or leave unsuccoured the lively and reasonable Creatures All these be the words of Clemens Note I pray you how this most ancient and learned Doctor within one hundred years of our Saviour Christs time most plainly teacheth that no service of God or Religion acceptable to him can be in honouring of dead Images but in succouring of the Poor the lively Images of God according to St. James who saith This is the pure and true Religion before God the Father to succour fatherless and motherless Children and Widows in their affliction and to keep himself undefiled from this World True Religion then and pleasing of God standeth not in making setting up painting gilding clothing and decking of dumb and dead Images which be but great Puppets and Babies for Old Fools in dotage and wicked Idolatry to dally and play with nor in kissing of them capping kneeling offering to them incensing of them setting up of Candles hanging up of Legs Arms or whole Bodies of Wax before them or praying and asking of them or of Saints things belonging only to God to give But all these things be vain and abominable and most damnable before God Wherefore all such do not only bestow their mony and labour in vain but with their pains and cost purchase to themselves Gods wrath and utter indignation and everlasting damnation both of Body and Soul For ye have heard it evidently proved in these Homilies against Idolatry by Gods Word the Doctors of the Church Ecclesiastical Histories Reason and Experience that Images have been and be Worshipped and so Idolatry committed to them by infinite multitudes to the great offence of Gods Majesty and the danger of infinite Souls and that Idolatry cannot possibly be separated from Images set up in Churches and Temples gilded and decked gloriously and that therefore our Images be indeed very Idols and so all the Prohibitions Laws Curses Threatnings of horrible Plagues as well temporal as eternal contained in the Holy Scripture concerning Idols and the Makers and Maintainers and Worshippers of them appertain also to our Images set up in Churches and Temples and to the Makers Maintainers and Worshippers of them And all those names of abomination which Gods Word in the Holy Scriptures giveth to the Idols of the Gentiles appertain to our Images being Idols like to them and having like Idolatry committed unto them And Gods own mouth in the Holy Scriptures calleth them Vanities