1. Pictures and ornaments in churches are the lessons and the Scriptures of the laity. Whence Gregory: It is one thing to adore a picture, and another by means of a picture historically to learn what should be adored. For what writing supplieth to him which can read, that doth a picture supply to him which is unlearned, and can only look. Because they who are uninstructed thus see what they ought to follow: and _things_ are read, though letters be unknown. True is it that the Chaldeans, which worship fire, compel others to do the same, and burn other idols. But Paynim adore images, as icons, and idols; which Saracens do not, who neither will possess nor look on images, grounding themselves on that saying, 'Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, nor in the earth beneath, nor in the waters {43} under the earth,' [Footnote 237] and on other the like authorities: these they follow incontinently, casting the same in our teeth. But we worship not images, nor account them to be gods, nor put any hope of salvation in them: for that were idolatry. Yet we adore them for the memory and remembrance of things done long agone. [Footnote 238 ] Whence the verse, [Footnote 239] What time thou passest by the rood, bow humbly evermore; Yet not the rood, but Him which there was crucified, adore. And again: [Footnote 240] That thing, which hath his being given, 'tis fond for God to own: A form material, carved out by cunning hands, in stone. And again: [Footnote 241] The form is neither God nor man, which here thou dost behold: He very God and Man, of whom thou by that form art told. [Footnote 237: Exodus xx, 4.] [Footnote 238: _Veneramur_.--We here use the word _adore_ in the sense given to it by the great and good Bishop Montague, in his 'Just Treatise of Invocation': where he says, speaking of the Saints, 'I do admire, reverence, _adore_ them in their kind.'] [Footnote 239: Effigiem Christi, quum transis, pronus honora: Non tamen effigiem, sed quem designat, adora.] [Footnote 240: Esse Deum, ratione caret, cui consulit esse: Materiale lapis, effigale manus.] [Footnote 241: Nec Deus est, nec homo, quam praesens cernis imago; Sed Deus est et Homo, quem sacra figurat imago. The later editions add-- Nam Deus est, quod imago docet, sed non Deus ipse; Hunc videas, sed mente colas, quod noscis in ipsa.]