But M. Harding replieth: God commanded Moses, to make the Cherubins, and the Brazen Serpent. These examples make little against my assertion. For God commanded not, either the Cherubins,1 or the Serpent to be set up to the intent the people should Worship them: which is the whole, and only state of this question. The same objection the Old Idolaters laid sometime against Tertullian. For thus he writeth:2 Ait quidam: Cur ergo Moses in Eremo Simulachrū Serpentis exaere fecit? Some one, or other, that maintaineth Idolatry, will say (as M. Harding now saith) And why then did Moses make the Image of the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness? Hereby we see, that M. Harding is not the first, that devised this objection. The Old Idolaters found out, and used the same above fourteen hundred years ago, and M. Harding hath learned it at their hands. But hereto Tertullian maketh this answer: Been, quòd idem Deus, & Lege vetuit Similitudinem fieri, & Extraordinario Praecepto Se•petis Similitudinem* Interdixit. Well, and good: One, and the same God, both by his General Law forbade any Image to be made: and also by his Extraordinary, and Special Commandment willed an Image of a Serpent to be made. He addeth further, Si •undem Deū obseruas, habes Legem eius, Ne feceris Similitudinem. Et, si Praeceptum factae postea Similitudinis respicis, & in imitare Mosen, Ne facias aduersus Legem Simulacli••• aliquod, nisi & tibi Deus jusserit. If thou be obedient unto the same God, thou haste his Law, Make thou no Image. But, if thou have regard to the Image of the Serpent, that was made afterward by Moses, then do thou, as Moses did: Make not any Image against the Law, onles God command thee, as he did Moses. For God is free, and subject to no Law. He commandeth us, and not him self. He giveth this General Law, Thou shalt not kill: Yet he said unto Abraham, Take thy Son Isaac, and kill him. 4Likewise he saith,5 Thou shalt not Steal: And yet the people of Israel, by his Commandment, stale away the Egyptians goods, without breach of the Law. The same ⟨p. 499⟩answer may also serve for the Images of the Cherubins. Howe be it,6 the Cherubins stood not in the Temple, in the sight, and presence of the people: but within the veil, in the Tabernacle, into which place it was not lawful for any one of the people to cast his eyes.7
But M. Hardinge replieth: God commaunded Moses, to make the Cherubins, and the Braesen Serpente. These examples make litle against my assertion. For God commaunded not, either the Cherubins,1 or the Serpent to be sette vp to thintent the people should Woorship them: whiche is the whole, and onely state of this question. The same obiection the Olde Idolaters laide sometime against Tertullian. For thus he writeth:2 Ait quidam: Cur ergo Moses in Eremo Simulachrū Serpentis exaere fecit? Some one, or other, that maineteineth Idolatrie, wil saie (as M. Hardinge now saith) And why then did Moses make the Image of the Brasen Serpent in the VVildernesse? Hereby wee see, that M. Hardinge is not the first, that diuised this obiection. The Olde Idolaters founde out, and vsed the same aboue foureteene hundred yeeres agoe, and M. Harding hath learned it at their handes. But hereto Tertullian maketh this answeare: Bene, quòd idem Deus, & Lege vetuit Similitudinem fieri, & Extraordinario Praecepto Se•petis Similitudinem* Interdixit. Wel, and good: One, and the same God, bothe by his General Lawe forebade any Image to be made: and also by his Extraordinarie, and Special Commaundement willed an Image of a Serpent to be made. He addeth further, Si •undem Deū obseruas, habes Legem eius, Ne feceris Similitudinem. Et, si Praeceptum factae postea Similitudinis respicis, & in imitare Mosen, Ne facias aduersus Legem Simulacli••• aliquod, nisi & tibi Deus iusserit. If thou be obedient vnto the same God, thou haste his Lawe, Make thou no Image. But, if thou haue regarde to the Image of the Serpente, that was made afterwarde by Moses, then doo thou, as Moses did: Make not any Image against the Law, onles God commaunde thee, as he did Moses. For God is free, and subiecte to no Lawe. He commaundeth vs, and not him selfe. He geueth this General Lawe, Thou shalt not kil: Yet he saide vnto Abraham, Take thy Sonne Isaak, and kil him. 4Likewise he saithe,5 Thou shalt not Steale: And yet the people of Israel, by his Commaundement, stale away the Egyptians goodes, without breache of the Lawe. The same ⟨p. 499⟩answeare maie also serue for the Images of the Cherubines. Howe be it,
- 1Origen. contra Celsum li. 4.
- 2Tertullian. De Idololatriae.
- *He seemeth to use Interdixit, for Edixit.He seemeth to vse Interdixit, for Edixit.
- 4Genesis. 2•.
- 5Exod. 11.
- 6The Barsen Serpent.
- 7The Cherubins.The Cherubines.
