Many things are here forbidden:
I. The representation of God, by an image. For it is a lie. Habak. 2. 18. What profiteth the image? for the maker thereof hath made it an image and a teacher of lies. Zach. 10.2. The idols have spoken vanity. Jerem. 10. 8. The stock is a doctrine of vanity. The Eliber Council in the 39. canon hath this edict. We thought it not meet to have images in Churches, least that which is worshipped and adored, should be painted upon walls. Clement. book 5. ad Jacob. Dom. That serpent by others is wont to speak these words: We in honour of the invisible God, are accustomed to adore visible images, the which out of all controversy, is very false. August. in his treatise upon the 113. Psalm.
The image also of the cross and Christ crucified, out to be abolished out of Churches, as the brazen serpent was, 2. King. 18.4. Hezekiah is commended for breaking in pieces the brazen serpent to which the children of Israel did then burn incense. This did Hezekiah, albeit at the first this serpent was made by the Lords appointment. Numb. 21.8. and was a type of Christs passion. Joh. 3.14. Origen in his 7. book against Celsus. We permit not any to adore Jesus upon the altars in images, or upon Church walls: because it is written, Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
⟨p. 45⟩Epiphanius• in that epistle which he wrote to John Bishop of Jerusalem, saith, It is against the custom of the Church, to see any image hanging in the church, whether it be of Christ, or any other saint, and therefore even with his own hands rent he asunder the veil, wherein such an image was painted.
Some object the figure or sign, which appeared to Constantine, wherein he should overcome: but it was not the sign of the cross (as the Papists do triflingly imagine) but of Christs name: for the thing was made of these two greek letters [Greek or Hebrew] conjoined together, Euseb. in the life of Constant. book 1. chap. 22,25.
Neither serve the Cherubims, which Solomon placed in the temple, for the defence of images: for they were only in the holy of holiest, where the people could not see them. And they were types of the glory of the Messiah, unto whom the very Angels were subject: the which we have now verified in Christ.
If any man reply, that they worship not the image, but God in the image:
Many things are here forbidden:
I. The representation of God, by an image. For it is a lie. Habak. 2. 18. What profiteth the image? for the maker thereof hath made it an image and a teacher of lies. Zach. 10.2. The idols haue spoken vanitie. Ierem. 10. 8. The stocke is a doctrine of vanitie. The Eliber Councel in the 39. canon hath this edict. We thought it not meete to haue images in Churches, least that which is worshipped and adored, should be painted vpon wals. Clement. booke 5. ad Iacob. Dom. That serpent by others is wont to speake these words: We in honour of the inuisible God, are accustomed to adore visible images, the which out of all controuersie, is very false. August. in his treatise vpon the 113. Psalme.
The image also of the crosse and Christ crucified, out to be abolished out of Churches, as the brasen serpent was, 2. King. 18.4. Hezekiah is commended for breaking in pieces the brasen serpent to which the children of Israel did then burne incense. This did Hezekiah, albeit at the first this serpent was made by the Lords appointment. Numb. 21.8. and was a type of Christs passion. Ioh. 3.14. Origen in his 7. booke against Celsus. We permit not any to adore Iesus vpon the altars in images, or vpon Church walls: because it is written, Thou shalt haue none other gods but me.
⟨p. 45⟩Epiphanius• in that epistle which he wrote to Iohn Bishop of Ierusalem, saith, It is against the custome of the Church, to see any image hanging in the church, whether it be of Christ, or any other saint, and therefore euen with his owne hands rent he asunder the vaile, wherein such an image was painted.
Some obiect the figure or signe, which appeared to Constantine, wherein he should ouercome: but it was not the signe of the crosse (as the Papists doe triflinly imagine) but of Christs name: for the thing was made of these two greeke letters 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 conioyned together, Euseb. in the life of Constant. booke 1. chap. 22,25.
Neither serue the Cherubims, which Salomon placed in the temple, for the defence of images: for they were onely in the holy of holiest, where the people could not see them. And they were types of the glorie of the Messiah, vnto whome the very Angels were subiect: the which we haue now verified in Christ.
If any man replie, that they worship not the image, but God in the image:
