A09339:4473
A Golden Chain
A golden chain: or The description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seen in the table annexed. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting afflicted consciences.A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1600Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1600
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Object. III. Man is the image of God, but it is lawful to paint a man, and therefore to make the image of God. Ans. A very cavil: for first a man cannot be painted, as he is the image of God, which stands in the spiritual gifts of righteousness and true holiness. Again, the image of a man may be painted for civill or historical use, but to paint any man for this end to represent God, or in the way of religion, that we may the better remember and worship God, it is unlawful. Other reasons which they use, are of small moment, and therefore I omit them.
Obiect. III. Man is the image of God, but it is lawfull to paint a man, and therefore to make the image of God. Ans. A very cauill: for first a man cannot be painted, as he is the image of God, which stands in the spirituall gifts of righteousnes and true holines. Againe, the image of a man may be painted for ciuill or historicall vse, but to paint any man for this end to represent God, or in the way of religion, that we may the better remember and worship God, it is vnlawfull. Other reasons which they vse, are of small moment, and therfore I omit them.
II. Differ. They teach and maintain, that images of God and of Saints may be worshipped with religious worship, specially the crucifix. Fora Thomas of Watering saith, Seeing the cross doth represent Christ, who died upon a cross, and is to be worshipped with divine honour: it followeth that the cross is to be worshipped so too. We on the contrary, hold they may not. Our principal ground is the second commandment, which containeth two parts: the first forbiddeth the making of images to resemble the true God: the second forbids the worshipping of them, or God in them: in these words, Thou shalt not bow down to them. Now, there can be no worship done to any thing less then the bending of the knee. Again the brazen serpent was a type or image of Christ crucified, Joh. 3.14. appointed by God himself: yet when the people burned incense to it,