M. Hardinge. The .9. Diuision.
Of al the Fathers none hathe a plainer testimonie, bothe for the vse, and also for the woorship∣pinge of Images, then S. Basile, whose auctoritie for learninge, wisedome, and holinesse of life, be∣side antiquitie, is so weightie in the iudgemente of al men, that al our Newe Maisters laied in ba∣lance against him, shal be founde lighter then any feather. Touchinge this mater, makinge a con∣fession of his faithe in an Epistle, inueighinge against Iulian the renegate, he saithe thus:* 1.1 Euen as we haue receiued our Christian and pure Faithe of God, as it were by right of heritage: right so I make my confession thereof to him, and therein I abide. I beleeue in one god father almightie, God the Father, God the Sonne, God the Holy Ghoste. One God (in substance) and these three (in personnes) I adore and glorifie. I confesse also the Sonnes Incarnation. Then afterwarde S. Mary, who accordinge to the Fleashe brought him foorthe, callinge her Deiparam. I reuerence also the holy Apostles, Pro∣phetes, and Martyrs, whiche make supplication to God for me: that by their mediation our moste be∣nigne God be merciful vnto me, and graunte me freely remission of my sinnes. Then this foloweth: Quam ob causam, & historias imaginum illorum honoro, & palam adoro: hoc enim no∣bis traditum à Sanctis Apostolis, non est prohibendum, sed in omnibus Ecclesijs nostris eorum Historias erigimus. For the whiche cause I doo bothe honour the stories of their Images, and openly Ad••••re them. For this beinge deliuered vnto vs of the holy Apostles by tradition, is not to be forbidden.* 1.2 And therefore we set vp in al our Churches their stories. Lo M. Iuel, here you see a suffi∣cient testimonie, that Images were set vp in the Churches longe before the ende of your sixe hundred yeeres, and that they were honoured and woorshipped, not onely of the simple Christian people, but of Bishop Basile, who for his excellente learninge, and wisedome was renoumed with the name of Great.