He that [is] so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree [that] will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, [that] shall not be moved.
Ver. 20. He that is so impoverished - chooseth a tree.] Which therehence may well say, -
“ Olim truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum,
Cum faber incertus scamnum, faceretne Priapum,
Maluit esse Deum; Deus inde ego: ” --
He chooseth a tree that will not rot. ] Which yet is hard to do; the cypress tree is most likely. But what goodly gods were those that could not keep themselves from rotting.
A cunning workman. ] Somewhat better than he who made the ugly rood of Cockram, whereof when they complained to the Mayor of Doncaster, he advised them to clap a pair of horns on the head of it, and then instead of a god, it would make an excellent devil.