Div. 2.
That neither faith, nor praier, nor any other part of the honour which is due to God, ought to be communicated to any creature.
THe law was written in two tables, to teach vs, that the due∣ty * 1.1 which we owe to God, and the duety which we owe to our neighbour, is distinct and diverse, and that we shoulde giue vnto God that which is Gods, and vnto man that which is mans. And yet faith, praiers, and vowes, being the principall partes of that service and honour which is due only to God, as Beda witnesseth, the church of Rome communicateth with the * 1.2 Saintes, and so bestoweth vpon the creature the honour due to the Creator, and confoundeth the dueties which the Law-maker himselfe hath distinguished and divided; contrary to the iudge∣ment of the church of Christ in former ages. The saintes vvhich * 1.3 haue shut vp the course of their liues with a blessed ende, ought worthely to bee honoured of vs as the most worthy members of Christs body, but not vvith that honour which is due to God, but vvith that reverent regarde of society and loue, wherewith holy men may be honoured of vs even heere in this life. So Saint Austine: we worshippe the saintes with charitie * 1.4 and not with service, neither doe wee builde temples vnto them. And a∣gaine. Let not the worshippe of the dead bee to vs a matter of religion: for they are to bee honoured for imitation, and not to bee adored for religion. And therfore when information was giuen by the Iewes vnto the heathen magistrates against the christians a little before the exe∣cution of that blessed Martyr Policarpe, that they meante ••o steale * 1.5 away his dead body after his death, and to worshippe him insteed