And taking the very refuse among those which served to no use, being a crooked piece, of wood, and full of knots, hath carved it diligently, when he had nothing else to do, and formed it by the skill of his understanding, and fashioned it to the image of man.

And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in wall, and made it fast with iron.

For he provided for it that it might not fall, knowing that it was unable to help itself; for it is an image, and hath need of help.

Then maketh he prayer for his goods; for his wife and children, and is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life.

For health, he called upon that which is weak; for life, prayeth to that which is dead; for aid, humbly beseecheth that which hath least means to help; and for a good journey, he asketh of that which cannot set a foot forward.

And for gaining and getting, and for good success of his hands, asketh ability to do, of him that is most unable to do anything.

Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood, more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him.

For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.

For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual foundation, and the invention of them the corruption of life.

For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.

For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end. For a father afflicted with untimely mourning when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now

honored him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonics and sacrifices.1

Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.

Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.

For he, peradventure, willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.

And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honored as a man.

And this was an occasion to deceive the world; for men serving either calamity or tyranny did ascribe into stones and stocks the incommunicable name.

Moreover, this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God, but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.

One slew another traitorously, or grieved him by adultery; so that there reigned in all men without exception, blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury.

Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.

For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end of all evil.

For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.

1

This describes what good Catholics have always done in worshipping dead men called saints.

For inasmuch as their trust is in idols which have no life, though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.

Howbeit, for both causes shall they be justly punished both because they thought not well of God, giving hecd unto idols, and also unjustly sword in deceit, despising holiness.

For it is not the power of them by whom they swear, but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.

But thou, O God, art gracious and true, long-suffering, and in mercy ordering all things.

For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power; but we will not sin, knowing that we are counted thine.

For to know thee is perfect righteousness, yea, to know the power is the root of immortality.

For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor an image spotted with divers colors, the painter's fruitless labor.1

The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they desired the form of a dead image, that hath no breath. Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to have such things to trust upon.

For the potter, tempering soft earth, fashioneth every vessel with much labour for our service; yea, of the same clay he maketh both the vessels that serve for clean uses and likewise also all such as serve to the contrary; but what is the use of either sort, the potter himself is the judge. And employing his labours lewdly, he maketh a vain god of the same clay, even he which a little before was made of earth himself, and within a little while after returneth to the same, out of the which he was taken, when his life which was lent him shall be demanded.

Notwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much 1 "Just like the pictures worshipped by Catholics."

labour, nor that his life is short, but striveth to excel goldsmiths and silversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it his glory to make counterfeit things.

His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of less value than clay.

Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.

But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market for gain, for say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by evil means.

For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.

And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection, are most foolish, and more miserable than very babes.

For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be gods, which neither have the use of eyes to see nor noses to draw breath, nor ear to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle; and as for their feet they are slow to go.

For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them; but no man maketh a God like unto himself.

For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands; for himself is better than the things which he worshipped, whereas he lived once, but they never.

But I shall worship thee, O God of mercy, gracious and

true.

Thou, O God of love, who through thine Wisdom hath created all things;

Thou, the first author of beauty, I worship only.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF CHRIST.

In the beginning was the word (Wisdom and Love) and this word was with God, and this word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by Wisdom and Love, and without them was not anything made that was made.

In them was life, and the life was the light of Wisdom and Love.

And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

I was the man inspired by Wisdom and Love.

I was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

I was in the world which was made by Wisdom and Love.

I spake unto the men and they listened not.

But as many as listened to me, to them I gave the power to become the sons of Wisdom and Love.

A beautiful girl, whose name was Maria, brought me forth, and my name was Emanuel, which means Wisdom and Love, with us.

I was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King.

And I was called Jehoshua, which means the one who is born of love.

My first teacher was Elchanan; I loved him; through him I got the first understanding.