What think ye of these images that are had more than their fellows in reputation; that are gone unto with such labour and weariness of the body, frequented with such our cost, sought out and visited with such confidence? What say ye by these images, that are so famous, so noble, so noted, being of them so many and so divers in England? Do you think that this preferring of picture to picture, image to image, is the right use, and not rather the abuse, of images?But you will say to me, Why make ye all these interrogations? and why, in these your demands, do you let and withdraw the good devotion of the people?Be not all things well done, that are done with good intent, when they be profitable to us?So, surely, covetousness both thinketh and speaketh.Were it not better for us, more for estimation, more meeter for men in our places, to cut away a piece of this our profit, if we will not cut away all, than to wink at such ungodliness, and so long to wink for a little lucre; specially if it be ungodliness, and also seem unto you ungodliness?These be two things,so oft to seek mere images, and sometime to visit the relicks of saints.And yet, as in those there may be much ungodliness committed, so there may here some superstition be hid, if that sometime we chance to visit pigs' bones instead of saints' relicks, as in time past it hath chanced, I had almost said, in England.Then this is too great a blindness, a darkness too sensible, that these should be so commended in sermons of some men, and preached to be done after such manner, as though they could not be evil done; which, notwithstanding, are such, that neither God nor man commandeth them to be done.No, rather, men commanded them either not to be done at all, or else more slowlier and seldomer to be done, forasmuch as our ancestors made this constitution: "We command the priests that they oft admonish the people, and in especial women, that they make no vows but after long deliberation, consent of their husbands and counsel of the priest." The church of England in time past made this constitution.What saw they that made this decree? They saw the intolerable abuses of images.They saw the perils that might ensue of going on pilgrimage.They saw the superstitious difference that men made between image and image.Surely, somewhat they saw.The constitution is so made, that in manner it taketh away all such pilgrimages.For it so plucketh away the abuse of them, that it leaveth either none or else seldom use of them.For they that restrain making vows for going of pilgrimage, restrain also pilgrimage; seeing that for the most part it is seen that few go on pilgrimage but vow-makers, and such as by promise bind themselves to go.And when, I pray you, should a man's wife go on pilgrimage, if she went not before she had well debated the matter with herself, and obtained the consent of her husband, being a wise man, and were also counselled by a learned priest so to do? When should she go far off to these famous images? For this the common people of England think to be going on pilgrimage; to go to some dead and notable image out of town, that is to say, far from their house.Now if your forefathers made this constitution, and yet thereby did nothing, the abuses every day more and more increased, what is left for you to do? Brethren and fathers, if ye purpose to do any thing, what should ye sooner do, than to take utterly away these deceitful and juggling images; or else, if ye knowany other mean to put away abuses, to shew it, if ye intend to remove abuses? Methink it should be grateful and pleasant to you to mark the earnest mind of your forefathers, and to look upon their desire where they say in their constitution, "We COMMAND you," and not, "We COUNSEL you." How have we been so long a-cold, so long slack in setting forth so wholesome a precept of the church of England, where we be so hot in all things that have any gains in them, albeit they be neither commanded us, nor yet given us by counsel; as though we had lever the abuse of things should tarry still than, it taken away, lose our profit? To let pass the solemn and nocturnal bacchanals, the prescript miracles, that are done upon certain days in the west part of England, who hath not heard? I think ye have heard of St.Blesis's heart which is at Malverne, and of St.Algar's bones, how long they deluded the people: I am afraid, to the loss of many souls.Whereby men may well conjecture, that all about in this realm there is plenty of such juggling deceits.And yet hitherto ye have sought no remedy.But even still the miserable people are suffered to take the false miracles for the true, and to lie still asleep in all kind of superstition.God have mercy upon us!
Last of all, how think you of matrimony? Is all well here? What of baptism? Shall we evermore in ministering of it speak Latin, and not in English rather, that the people may know what is said and done?
What think ye of these mass-priests, and of the masses themselves? What say ye? Be all things here so without abuses, that nothing ought to be amended? Your forefathers saw somewhat, which made this constitution against the venality and sale of masses, that, under pain of suspending, no priest should sell his saying of tricennals or annals.What saw they, that made this constitution? What priests saw they? What manner of masses saw they, trow ye? But at the last, what became of so good a constitution? God have mercy upon us! If there be nothing to be amended abroad, concerning the whole, let every one of us make one better: if there be neither abroad nor at home any thing to be amended and redressed, my lords, be ye of good cheer, be merry; and at the least, because we have nothing else to do, let us reason the matter how we may be richer.Let us fall to some pleasant communication; after let us go home,even as good as we came hither, that is, right-begotten children of the world, and utterly worldlings.And while we live here, let us all make bone cheer.For after this life there is small pleasure, little mirth for us to hope for; if now there be nothing to be changed in our fashions.Let us say, not as St.Peter did, "Our end approacheth nigh," this is an heavy hearing; but let us say as the evil servant said, "It will be long ere my master come." This is pleasant.Let us beat our fellows: let us eat and drink with drunkards.Surely, as oft as we do not take away the abuse of things, so oft we beat our fellows.As oft as we give not the people their true food, so oft we beat our fellows.As oft as we let them die in superstition, so oft we beat them.To be short, as oft as we blind lead them blind, so oft we beat, and grievously beat our fellows.When we welter in pleasures and idleness, then we eat and drink with drunkards.But God will come, God will come, he will not tarry long away.He will come upon such a day as we nothing look for him, and at such hour as we know not.He will come and cut us in pieces.He will reward us as he doth the hypocrites.He will set us where wailing shall be, my brethren; where gnashing of teeth shall be, my brethren.And let here be the end of our tragedy, if ye will.These be the delicate dishes prepared for the world's well-beloved children.These be the wafers and junkets provided for worldly prelates--wailing and gnashing of teeth.Can there be any mirth, where these two courses last all the feast? Here we laugh, there we shall weep.Our teeth make merry here, ever dashing in delicates; there we shall be torn with teeth, and do nothing but gnash and grind our own.To what end have we now excelled other in policy? What have we brought forth at the last? Ye see, brethren, what sorrow, what punishment is provided for you, if ye be worldlings.If ye will not thus be vexed, be ye not the children of the world.If ye will not be the children of the world, be not stricken with the love of worldly things; lean not upon them.If ye will not die eternally, live not worldly.Come, go to; leave the love of your profit; study for the glory and profit of Christ; seek in your consultations such things as pertain to Christ, and bring forth at the last somewhat that may please Christ.Feed ye tenderly, with all diligence, the flock of Christ.Preach truly the word of God.Love thelight, walk in the light, and so be ye the children of light while ye are in this world, that ye may shine in the world that is to come bright as the sun, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; to whom be all honour, praise, and glory.Amen.
