to be placed before the images in the churches, in order to avoid "that most detestable offence of idolatry."[430] The _Ten Articles_ thus authoritatively expounded are anything but "essentially Romish with the Pope left out in the cold." They are rather an attempt to construct a brief creed which a pliant Lutheran and a pliant Romanist might agree upon--a singularly successful attempt, and one which does great credit to the theological attainments of the English King. It was thought good to have a brief manual of religious instruction to place in the hands of the lower clergy and of the people, perhaps because the _Ten Articles_ were not always well received. A committee of divines, chiefly Bishops,[431] were appointed to "compile certain rudiments of Christianity and a Catechism."[432] The result was a small book, divided into four parts--an exposition of the Apostles' Creed, of the _seven_ Sacraments, of the Ten Commandments, of the Lord's Prayer, and the Ave Maria. Two other parts were added from the _Ten Articles_--one on Justification, for which faith is said to be necessary; and the other on Purgatory, which is stoutly denied. Great difficulties were experienced in the compilation, owing to the "great diversity of opinions"[433] which prevailed among the compilers; and the book was a compromise between those who were stout for the old faith and those who were keen for the new; but in the end all seemed satisfied with their work. The chief difference between its teaching and that of the _Ten Articles_ is that the name sacrament is given to seven and not three of the chief ceremonies of the mediæval Church; but, on the other hand, the doctrine of Purgatory is denied. It was expected that the King would revise the book before its publication,[434] but he "had no time convenient to overlook the great pains" bestowed upon it.[435] Drafts of an imprimatur by the King have been found among the State Papers,[436] but the book was finally issued in 1537 by the "Archbishops and Bishops of England," and was therefore popularly called the _Bishops' Book_. All the clergy were ordered "to read aloud from the pulpit every Sunday a portion of this book" to their people.[437] The Catechism appears to have been published at the same time, and to have been in large request.[438] Henry VIII. afterwards revised the _Bishops' Book_ according to his own ideas. The revision was published in 1543, and was known as the _King's Book_.[439]