A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

Notwithstanding, the Ancient Fathers of the Church have long sithence determinately, ¹and plainly judged against you. Lactantius saith in plaine words: Non est dubium, quin Religio nulla sit, ubicunque Simulachrum est: Out of all doubt, there is no Religion, where so ever there is an Image. Tertullian saithe, ²Idolum tam fieri, quàm coli Deus prohibet. Quanto' praecedit, ut fiat, quod coli possit, tantò prius est, ne fiat, si coli non licet. Facio, ait quidam, sed non colo: quasi ob aliquam causam colere non audeat, nisi ob quam & facere non debeat: Scilicet, ob Dei offensam utrobique. Imò tu colis, qui facis ut coli possit: God hath forbidden an Image, or an Idol, as well to be made, as to be worshipped. As far as making goeth before worshipping, so far is it before, that the thing be not made, that may not be worshipped. Somme man will say, I make it: but I worship it not: As though he durst not to worship it for any other cause, but only for the same cause, for which he ought not to make it. I mean both ways for God's displeasure. Nay rather, thou worshippest the Image, that givest the cause, for others to worship it. Therefore S. Augustine, speaking of the Image of God the Father, ³saith thus, Tale simulachrum Deo fingere, nefarium est: To divise such an Image for God, it is abominable.

Notwithstandinge, the Anciente Fathers of the Churche haue longe sithence determinately, ¹and plainely iudged againste you. Lactantius saithe in plaine woordes: Non est dubium, quin Religio nulla sit, vbicunque Simulachrum est: Out of al doubte, there is no Religion, where so euer there is an Image. Tertullian saithe, ²Idolum tam fieri, quàm coli Deus prohibet. Quanto' praecedit, vt fiat, quod coli possit, tantò prius est, ne fiat, si coli non licet. Facio, ait quidam, sed non colo: quasi ob aliquam causam colere non audeat, nisi ob quam & facere non debeat: Scilicet, ob Dei offensam vtrobique. Imò tu colis, qui facis vt coli possit: God hath forebidden an Image, or an Idole, as wel to be made, as to be woorshipped. As farre as makinge goeth before woorshippinge, so far is it before, that the thinge be not made, that maie not be woorshipped. Somme man wil saie, I make it: but I woorship it not: As though he durste not to woorship it for any other cause, but onely for the same cause, for whiche he ought not to make it. I meane bothe waies for Goddes displeasure. Nay rather, thou woorshippest the Image, that geuest the cause, for others to woorship it. Therefore S. Augustine, speakinge of the Image of God the Father,