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towards an image as an object,) in the time of Divine worship, or when we otherwise pretend to be worshipping God, is so gross an appearance of inward idolatry, (either as visibly describing God to be like a creature, or else as seeming to mean what idolaters did by that action,) that God hath thought meet to forbid it to all mankind by a special law. (Command. 2.)

6. The scandal of seeming idolatry is a heinous sin, and not to be excused by the contrary meaning of the heart, no more than lying, idolatrous professions are. Because to blaspheme God as if he were like a creature, or to tell the world by our actions that a creature is God, are both very heinous. And so is it to murder our brethren's souls, by tempting them to the like ".

7. It is no appearance of idolatry to kneel to a king, or a father, or superior, when we are professing nothing but to honour them with due honour. But when the church assembleth professedly to worship God, if then they mix expressions of veneration to angels, and saints in heaven, or to a king, or any creature, in their worshipping of God, without a very notorious signification of sufficient difference, it will seem a joining them in part of the same Divine honour'.

8. So we may put off our hats to the chair of state, or king's image, yea and kneel towards it as to him, if he command it in due time and place, when it is human worship only which we profess. But to kneel or bow as an act of honour towards the image of king, saints, or angels, in the time of our professed worshipping of God, is scandalous, and an appearance that we give them a part of that which we are giving to God.

9. Yet it is not unlawful even in the sacred assemblies, to bow to our superior at our entrance, or going out, or in the intervals of God's worship; because the time, and custom, and manner may sufficiently notify the distinction, and prevent the scandal.

10. If any presumptuous clergymen on pretence of their authority, will bring images into the churches, and set them

4 Rom. xi. 4. 1 Kings xix. 18. Rev. xxii. 8, 9. Josh. xxiii. 7. 2 Kings xvii. 35. Exod. xx. 5.

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xxxii. 10. xliv. 8. Exod. xi. 8. 2 Kings v. 18. Gen1 Sam. xxv. 23. 41.

before us in Divine worship, as objects only of remembrance, and means of exciting our affections to God, that they may shew 'quam proxime se accedere posse ad peccatum sine peccato,' how near they can come to sin without sin, it is not meet for any good Christians to follow them in their presumption, nor by obeying them to invite them to proceed in their church tyranny. Though I now determine not, whether in case of necessity, a man may not be present with such a church, if their worship of God himself be sound, supposing him sufficiently to notify his dissent, and that he do not himself scandalously direct his worship toward such images. (As in the Lutheran churches we may suppose they do not.)

Quest. CXIII. What images, and what use of images is lawful or unlawful?

Answ. 1. It is unlawful to make any image of God. Because it would be a blaspheming of him, as pretending him to be like to that which he is not like to, that is, a creature'.

Object. Man is God's image: it is lawful to make an image of man; and so an image of God's image, and that may be a secondary image of God.'

Answ. 1. It is the soul of man, of which no image can be drawn or made, which is the image of God, and not the body. 2. The image of him who secundum quid' as to the soul is God's image, is not God's image, but man's 'quoad corpus,' as to another part. We need not contend much about the name, whether this may be called a remote image of God (though undoubtedly unfit). But we must not really take it to be like him, or use it for his image.

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Object. God hath imprinted his image on the whole creation; e g. he is called a consuming fire; therefore fire may be pictured as his image.'

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Isa. xl. 18. 25. xlvi. 5. Exod. xx. 4. 18. 23. 25. v. 8. xvi. 22. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 7. Ezek. viii. 3. 5. i. 23. Heb. xii. 29. Col. iii. 10. Deut. ix. Exod. xxiii. 24. xxxiv. vii. 5. 1 Kings xiv. 9. 23. 2 Kings xvii. 19. 2 Chron. xiv. 3. 5. Jer. x. 8. Deut. xxvii. 15. Isa. xvii. 8. xli. 29. 2 Chron. xxviii. 2. Hos. xiii. 2. Ezek. xvi. 17. xxiii. 14. xxx. 13. Hos. x. 1, 2. 2 Kings xxi. 7. Jer. viii. 19. li. 47.

Gen. i. 26. v. 1.

Deut. iv. 16

Dan. iii. Rom.

13. Deut.

Hab. ii. 18.

xxxiv. 3, 4.

Answ. The same answer serveth as to the former objection. And it is not all the impressions and vestigia' of God's power, wisdom, and goodness, which is called his image; as the house is not the image of the builder, or a clock of a clockmaker, &c. And if God be metaphorically called fire, as he is called a lion, &c. because of the similitude of some operation or effect, it followeth not that these are his image; much less that the image of these is his image.

2. No image may be made to be a teacher of lies: as we may not lie by words, so neither by images. Therefore false stories, or false images of realities, when made as true, and pretended to be true images or representations, are unlawful.

3. Therefore it is unlawful to make an image of a spirit, pretending it to be a true image. Because it will be a lie. 4. It is unlawful so to make, place, or use any image, as is like to do more harm than good.

5. Therefore it is unlawful so to make, place, or use them, as that they are like to tempt a man to any sin, unless necessity for some greater good require it. (Of which more anon.)

6. Therefore all images of such idols or feigned deities are unlawful, as are like to be any temptation to any to believe in them, or worship them.

7. Therefore also all images of such creatures as others use to give unlawful worship or honour to, are unlawful when they are like to be a temptation to us or others to do the like. As among Papists the image of the crucifix, the virgin Mary, and angels may not be made, placed, or used so as may tempt any to worship them sinfully as they use to do.

8. The image of an over-honoured or falsely honoured person, (though not adored,) may not be so made, placed or used, as tendeth to tempt others also to such honour. As of Mahomet, or Apollonius, (as Alexander Severus placed him and others, with Abraham and Christ in his lararium' or chapel). And many give too much honour by images to Alexander, Cæsar, and such other great thieves and murderers of mankind.

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9. It is unlawful to make lascivious images of naked

persons, and place or use them so, as tendeth to be a temptation to lust or immodesty. A common sin of persons of unclean imaginations.

10. It is also unlawful so to represent plays, pompous honours, splendid cloathing or buildings as tendeth more to tempt the beholders to sinful desires, than to any good.

11. It is unlawful to place images in churches or in secret before our eyes when we are worshipping God, when it tendeth to corrupt the imagination, or by possessing it, to hinder the spiritual exercise of the mind. Which is the ordinary effect of images.

12. It is unlawful to use images scandalously, as any of the aforesaid sinners use them, though we do it not with the same intent. That is, so to use them, as is interpretatively or in outward appearance the same with their use: because by so doing we shall dishonour God as they do, and harden them in sin. Therefore images in churches or oratories, in those countries where others use them sinfully, or near such countries, where the same may harden men in their sin, is evil.

13. It is unlawful to make talismans or shapes, upon false suppositions that the very shape naturally disposeth the matter to receive such influences of the stars, by which it shall preserve men from plagues, fire, wild-beasts, serpents, diseases, or shall otherwise work wonders; for which Gaffarel vainly pleadeth at large: such as they call naturally magical and charming shapes.

14. Much more unlawful is it purposely to make shapes to be symbols or instruments by which the devil shall operate, whether it be for good or evil: it being unlawful so far to use him.

15. So is it to make such shapes, on conceit that God or good angels will operate in or by them. As some use the cross or other images, to defend them from devils, to cure the tooth-ache or other diseases, or such like use: when God hath neither appointed any such means to be used, for such ends, nor promised any such blessing or operation by them.

16. It is unlawful to place the image of a tutelary saint or angel in house, church, or town, on supposition that we shall be the safer while that image is there placed; or else

to profess our trust in that particular guardian. Because no man knoweth what angel God doth make his guardian, nor can we distinguish them; much less that he maketh such or such a saint our guardian. And men's own (foolish) choosing such a one to be their guardian, will not make them so. Nor hath God appointed or promised to bless any such imagery.

17. It is sinful to use such amorous images of the persons towards whom your lust is kindled, as tendeth to increase or keep up that lust, or to make profession or ostentation of it. As lustful persons use to carry or keep the pictures of those on whom they dote.

18. It is unlawful to make such use of the pictures of our deceased friends, as tendeth to increase our inordinate sorrow for them.

19. It is unlawful to make such images, monuments or memorials of the best and holiest persons or martyrs, as may endanger or tempt men to any inordinate veneration of, or confidence in the persons honoured.

20. Inward images of God imprinted on the fantasy are sinful and so are other such false or sinful images as aforementioned, though they be not made externally for the use

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of the eye.

21. I think it is unlawful to make an image, or any equal instituted sign to be the public common symbol of the Christian religion (though it be but a professing sign); because God having already instituted the symbols or public 'tesseræ' of our Christian profession or religion, it is usurpation to do the like without his commission. As the king having made the wearing of the George and star the badge of the order of the garter, would take it ill, if any shall make another badge of the order, much more if they impose it on all of the order: though I presume not to condemn it.

1. All images painted or engraven are not unlawful; for God himself commanded and allowed the use of many in the Old Testament. And Christ reprehendeth not Cæsar's image on his coin ".

2. The civil use of images in coins, sign-posts, banners,

u2 Chron. iii. 10. Matt. xxii. 20. Numb. xxi. 9. 2 Kings x. 17. vii. 18, 19. 25, 26. 29,30.

1 Kings

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