❧ An epistle of the prophet Hieremie. ❧   

¶ The translator of this work unto a certain friend of his, sendeth greeting.  
Sir  
after most hearty recommendation, it may like you to understand that I writ unto you at this time for the accomplishment of my promise, for you remember (I am sure) that in our last communication had together, you desired effectually to know mine opinion concerning imagery, wherein at that time, though peradventure for default of learning, I was not able to satisfy your mind, yet for as much as at this day, the same matter is put in question, and divers great learned men do vary in opinions upon the same, I thought it not unconvenient to take some further pain for to appeal the truth thereof. And so perusing divers great authors, I fortuned in the reading of the old testament, otherwise called the Bible, to find out the sixth chap. of Baruch the prophet, which by cause it entreateth principally and all together of imagery, for the satisfying of your desire, I translated & drew in to english as near as I might, according to the pure truth of the text: whereby, I doubt nothing, but you shallbe clearly put out of all doubt and error/ if ye can find in your heart to bestow a little of your leisure in the reading of it. For I do advertise you not only read it/ but also exactly and thoroughly to ponder & mark every point thereof. And for the declaration of my mind herein/ I have always thought that for because these images lack the use of the .v. sensis, and besides that in process of time do both corrupt and consume like as doth gold/ silver/ stone/ and wood/ and the stuff and mattiere whereof they be made, I suppose them to have none other supernatural virtue/ than they had before they were made into images. And not withstanding that there hap some true and unfeigned miracles to be done at the places where such images be worshipped/ yet I think that they be not done by the virtue of those images/ nor of god for the images sake/ but to th'intent that the people should know that the saints, whom thimages do represent and bring unto our remembrance, were the true & faithful servants of god in preaching & teaching his word. But I will detain you no longer from the reading of Baruch his epistle, wherein (because it is the very scripture & word of god) you shall perceive the effect of this matter much better than I or any other can open or declare unto you. And thus far ye well.   

The copy of an Epistle, the which Hieremie the prophet sent unto the children of Israhel, being in captivity under Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon, for to instruct them as he was commanded by god, taken out of the vi chap. of Baruch.  
Because of the sins that ye have committed before God, ye shallbe led prisoners in to Babylon by Nabuchodonozor king of the Babylon's, when ye therefore shall come unto Babylon, ye shallbe there many years and long time unto vii generations, but after that, I shall deliver you from thence in peace, Than shall ye see gods of gold, of silver, of stone, and of tree, that shallbe borne upon men's shoulders, putting the people in fear. Beware therefore that ye do not like unto the strangers, and that ye dread them not, nor be moved with any fear. Therefore when ye shall see the people worshipping before and behind, say in your hearts, Lord god, it is thou, which must be worshipped, And mine angel is with you, & I my self shall require your souls. For the wood of them is framed & fashioned by the carpentours, and those that be of gold & silver, are false, and can not speak. And like as apparel is made for a virgin that loveth, so are they made of the gold that they have received. Their gods have golden crowns on their heads, from which the priests do take the gold and silver, and divide it among themselves. They give also thereof unto harlots, & garnish whores therewith. And when they have received it again of the harlots, they garnysshe their gods therewith, yet can they not be kept from rusting and vermin. For when they be covered with garments of purple, the priests must be fain to make clean the faces of them, by cause of the dust of the house, whereof there is moche plenty in those parties. Some also have septres in their hands like unto men, & like unto judges of a realm, the which putteth not him to death that trespasseth against them. Some also have sword in their hands and axes, yet can not they deliver themselves from battle, nor from thieves. wherefore be it known unto you, that they be no gods, therefore do ye no worship unto them. And like as a man's vessel when it is broken serveth to no purpose, even so be their gods, when they are set up in a house, their eyes are full of dust by reason of their feet that come in. And like as doors are made fast about him that hath offended a king, or as a corpse that is brought unto his grave, is kept in, Even so do the priests make sure the doors with bars and locks, to th'intent that they shall not be rob of thieves. The people do light candles befor● them, and that in great number, of the which they see not one, for they are as it were blocks in an house. And they say that the serpents of the earth do lick their hearts, when they do eat them & their garments, and yet they feel them not. Their facis are made black with the smoke that is in the house. The howlets and swallows, and the birds do flee upon their heads, ye and also the wawling cats, whereby ye may know that they are no gods▪ therefore do ye not fear them. The gold also which they have to make them glorious, will not glister, except the rust be scoured of. For when they were first cast, they felt nothing. They were bought with all manner of prices, yet is there no spirit in them. For lack of feet, they are carried on folkis shoulders, whereby the people may perceive their impotency. Confounded be they therefore that worship them. And for that cause, if they hap to fall down on the earth, they are not able to rise by themselves. And again, if one do set them upright, they can not stand by themselves, but men be fain for to stay them up with their shoulders, like as they do corpses. Their priests do sell that that is offered unto them, and abuse it, ye and their women do take thereof, and give never a whit unto the sick nor unto the poor women unpuryfyed and having their flowers do handle of their sacrifices. seeing therefore that ye do know by these things, that they be no gods, do not fear them. For what cause are they called gods? because women do offer all manner of things unto those gods of gold, of silver, and of tree, and priests do sit in the houses of them, with jagged vestments, having their heads and beards shaven, whose heads are bare. And they roar crying out upon their gods, like as they do at the supper of one that is deed. The priests take away their garments, & therewith do cloth their wives & their children. And if any do them displeasure, or do them pleasure, they are not able to requite it, no more are they able to make a king, nor to depose. Semblably they can give no riches, nor can revenge their harm. If any have made a vow unto them, and hath not performed it, they do not require it. They save no man from death, neither do they defend the weak from the mighty, They restore not the blind unto sight, neither do they deliver any man from necessity. They take no pity of the widow, neither do they any good unto orphelyns.  
Their gods of tree, stone, gold, and silver, be like unto stones of the mountain. And they that worship them shall be confounded. How than may it be supposed or said that they be gods? Moreover the Caldees do no honour unto them which when they perceived that the dumb could not speak, they presented it unto Bel, praying him that he would make it to speak, as though the things that move not, might have any sense or feeling. And they themselves when they perceive this, will forsake them. For their gods themselves lack their senses. women also being girded with cords do sit in the high ways, burning the leaves of the olive trees, And when it fortuneth that one of them is taken up by any man passing by the high way, and sleepeth with him, she upbraideth her neighbour therewith, that she is not esteemed so worthy as herself, and that her cord is not broken, but all things that be done unto them are false. How than may it be supposed or said, that they be gods? For they are made by workmen and gold smiths, They shallbe none other things, but even as it pleaseth priests to have them. The goldsmiths also that make them, live not ever. How is it possible than the things of their making should be God's? But they have left feigned things and opprobred to them that shall come after them. For when war shall chance unto them and adversity, the priests do imagine where they may hide themselves with them. How than may it be believed, that these are gods? The which can neither save themselves from battle, nor deliver themselves from adversities. for all be it they be made of wood, of stone, of gold, and of silver, it shall be known afterward, through out all nations, that they are counterfeit things, And it shallbe manifest unto kings, that they are no gods, but the works of man's hands, and that no work of God is in them, whereby than it is evident that they be no gods, but the works of man's hands, & that no work of God is in them. They constitute no king in any realm, nor will send rain unto men. They will discern no judgement, neither will they defend countries from injuries. For they can do nothing no more than the crows that are betwixt the sky and the earth. For if there chance any fire upon the house of those gods of tree, of gold, and of silver, their priests forthwith will flee, & save themselves, but their gods shall be burned in the mids like as blocks, and will not withstand any king nor battle. How than may it be esteemed or suffered, that they should be gods? These gods of tree, of stone, of gold, and of silver, the which are of less strength than are the wicked, can not save themselves from thieves. They shall rob them of their gold & silver, and their garments, where with they be clothed, & yet can not help themselves. Better it is therefore to be a king that showeth his puissance, or to be a profytayle vessel in an house, wherein the owner may take pleasure, or to be a door in an house, that keepeth the stuff in safeguard than to be false gods. The son and the moan, and the stars that do shine, when they are sent forth for necessary things, do obey.  
Semblably the lightning when it appeareth, it is visible, And like wise the wind doth blow in every country. And the clouds (when they are commanded by god to pass through the world) they do according as they be commanded. The fire also that is sent from above for to consume hills and woods, doth as it is commanded. But these are not like neither in beauty nor in virtue, unto any of these things. wherefore it is neither to be esteemed nor said, that they be gods, for asmuch as they can not give judgement, nor profit any thing unto men. Ye therefore knowing that they be no gods, do not fear them, for they will neither curse kings, nor bless them. Also they do not show unto the people signs from heaven, neither shall they shine as the son, ne give light as the moan. The beasts are better than they, which can flee under houses, & help themselves. And so it can appear unto you by no means, that they are gods, for which cause do not fear them. For like as in a place where gourds do grow, fear keepeth nothing, even so be their gods of wood, silver, and gold. They be in like case as is a white thorn in a garden, whereupon every bird sitteth. Semblably their gods of wood, gold, and silver, are like unto a corpse that is cast into the dark. Ye may know also by the purple & the other painted colours, that they have upon them, that they be no gods. And in conclusion they shallbe eaten up, & rebuke shall come in the country, Better is the just man, which hath no images for he shallbe farthest from rebukes.  
Finis.  
Thus endeth the divine epistle of the prophet Hieremie, dissuading the people from idolatry, that is to say, worshipping of images.   

Imprinted in Southwark by Iohn Redman for Roberte Redman.   

¶ CUM PRIVILEGIO