not, in this manner of reforming, by vttter subuersiō, they had great reason so to do, being men, whom neither the abuses might so particularly concerne, as this did Heze∣kiah, and knowing moreover, that, Ad eundem finem multis medijs peruenitur. Reformation of abuses, & taking away of Jdolatry is the end, and this end may be attained by more waies then on, as either, by
Instructing the people, and teaching them the right vse: or by Lawes prohibiting the Jdolatry: or by punish∣ments, either penall, or capitall, vpon the transgressors of the lawes established: or by removing the thing (if it be a materiall thing, as this was) out of the places of resort, in∣to some secluse place, vvhere the people might neither come at it, nor see it, and where without offence it might still be kept, for a monument of Gods mercy: or lastly, if nothing else wil serue, by vtter abolishing, and destroying the thing. Nowe because, of all these waies, hee made choice of that, which he iudged, and which was indeed, the most expedite, and ready way, and withal the surest, that Idolatry might never be cōmitted to it againe; (Re∣ligiosâ potestate Deo serviens, cum magna pietatis laude contrivit) doing God service, with his religious authority, he brake it, and is worthily commended for his piety.
If it had seemed good in his iudgement, to haue taken some of the other courses, as it is likely, David & Asa, & Iehosophat, and other good kings of Iuda before him did, his cōmendations, as theirs, had bin no whit lesse, though his reformatiō had neither bin so expedite, nor so sure for time to come: for which cause also, that great & famous execution, which K. Henrie the eight did vpon the Mo∣nestaries of this Land, is likewise commended: yet manie both zealous, and religious professors, could rather haue wished, that so many famous Monuments, erected some∣time