[3 Thenceforward.] [ This well-known tale first appeared in Sir Thomas More’s Dia-]
[logue, as an illustration of the mistakes which might arise from not]
[distinguishing between a consequence and an effect. ]]
18 Answer to Sir Thomas More’s Dialogue. [chap
that the building of them and such like, through the false faith that we have in them, is the decay of all the havens in England, and of all the cities, towns, highways, and shortly of the whole commonwealth. For since these false monsters crope up into our consciences, and robbed us of the knowledge of our Saviour Christ, making us believe in such pope-holy and works, and to think that there was none other way unto heaven, we have not ceased to build them abbeys, cloisters, e, colleges, chauntries, and cathedral churches with high steeples, striving and envying one another who should do most. And as for the deeds that pertain unto our neighbours and unto the commonwealth, we have not regarded at all, as things which seemed no holy works, or such as God would not once look upon. And therefore we left them unseen to, until they were past remedy, or past our power to remedy them; inas- much as our slow bellies, with their false blessings, had juggled away from us that wherewith they might have been holpen in due séason. So that the silly poor man (though he had haply no wisdom to express his mind, or that he durst not, or that Master More fashioneth his tale as he doth other men’s, to jest out the truth,) saw that neither Goodwin sands, nor any other cause alleged, was the decay of Sandwich haven, so much as that the people had no lust to maintain the commonwealth, for blind devotion which they have to popeholy works.
The Solutions and Answers unto M. More’s
First Book
In the first chapter, to begin the book withal, to bring you good luck, and to give you a say!, or a taste what truth shall follow, he feigneth a letter sent from no man.
The Second Chapter
In the second chapter, besides that it is untrue this use to have been ever since the time of the apostles, he maketh many sophistieal reasons about worshipping of saints, relies, and images?; and yet declareth not with what manner worship, [! That is, an assay.]
[2 Inhis second chapter More says, Very sure I am that St Austin,
but juggleth with the term Zn common?, as he doth with this word church, and this word faith, when the words have divers significations: for all faiths are not one manner faith, and so forth; and therefore he beguileth a man’s understanding. As if a man said, The boy’s will was good, to have given his father a blow;’ and another would infer, that a good will could be no sin; and conclude that a man might lawfully smite his father. Now is good will taken in one sense in the major, and another in the minor, (to use scholars’ terms;) and therefore the conclusion doth mock a man’s wit. Then disputeth he, the servant is honoured for the master’s sake; and what is done to the poor is done to Christ; as the popish shall once feel for their so robbing them. And the twelve apostles shall have their seats, and sit and judge with Christ; as shall all that here preach him truly as they did. And Mary, that poured the ointment on Christ’s head before his passion, hath her memorial, and therefore we ought to set candles before images.
[St Hierome, St Basil, St Gregory, with so many a godly conning]
[man as hath been in Christ’s church from the beginning hitherto, un-]
[derstood those texts, (Thou shalt carve thee none image, &c.) as well]
[as did those heretics—having beside their learning the light and clear-]
[ness of God’s especial grace, by which they were inwardly taught of]
[his only Spirit, to perceive that the words spoken in the old law to the]
[Jews people, prone to idolatry, should have no place to forbid images]
[among his christian flock; where his pleasure would be to have the]
[image of his blessed body, hanging on his holy cross, had in honour]
[and reverent remembrance; where he would vouchsafe to send unto]