QUOTATION FROM THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 311 



CHAP. vi. Of another Itiu lc of idolatry vpon tJte dead. 



There is an other kinde of idolatry, very different from Lin - 

 the rest, which the Gentiles have vsed for the deads sake 

 whom they loved and esteemed ; and it seemeth that the 

 Wise man would give vs to vnderstand, that the beginning 

 of idolatry proceeded thence, saying thus: &quot;The seeking of p^ -. 

 Idolles was the beginning of fornication, and the bringing 

 vp of them is the destruction of life. For they were not from 

 the beginning, neither shall they continue for ever, but the 

 vanitie and idlenesse of men hath found out this invention, 

 therefore shall they shortly come to an end ; for when a 

 father mourned heavily for the death of his miserable sonne, 

 he made for his consolation an Image of the dead man, and 

 beganne to \vorshippe him as a god, who a little before had 

 ended his daies like a mortall man, commanding his servants 

 to make ceremonies and sacrifices in remembrance of him. 

 Thus in processe of time this vngratious custome waxing 

 strong was held for a lawe, and Images were worshipped 

 by the commaundement of Kings and Tirantes. Then they 

 beganne to doe the like to them that were absent, and such 

 as they could not honour in presence, being farre off, they 

 did worship in this sort, causing the Images of Kings to be 

 brought whom they would worship, supplying, by this 

 invention, their absence whom they desired to flatter. The 

 curiositie of excellent workmen increased this Idolatrie, for 

 these Images were made so excellent by their Art, that the 

 ignorant were provoked to worshippe them, so as by the 

 perfection of their Artc, pretending to content them that 

 gave them to make, they drew Pictures and Images farre 

 more excellent ; and the common people, ledde with the 

 shew and grace of the worke, did holde and esteeme him 

 for a God, whome before they had honoured as a man. And 

 this was the miserable errour of men, who sometimes 



