A Golden Chain

Whence it follows necessarily, that they worship nothing beside the image, or, the devise of their own brain, in which they feign to themselves such a god as will be worshipped, and receive our prayers at images. It will be said, that the Papists do no otherwise tie the worship and invocation of God to images, then God tied himself to the sanctuary and the temple of Solomon. And I say again, it was the will of God that he would show his presence, and be worshipped at the Sanctuary, and the Jews had the warrant of Gods word for it: but we have no like warrant, either by promise or commandment to tie Gods presence to an image or crucifix. Again, reason yet further may discover their idolatry. They, which worship they know not what, worship an idol: but the Papists worship they know not what: I prove it thus. To the consecration of the host, there is required the intention of the Priest, at the least virtually, as they say, and if this be true, it follows that none of them can come to the Mass, or pray in faith, but he must always doubt of that which is lifted up by the hands of the priest in the mass: whether it be bread or the body and blood of Christ. For none can have any certainty of the intention of the priest in consecrating this bread and this wine: but rather may have a just occasion of doubting by reason of the common ignorance and looseness of life in such persons.

Whence it followes necessarily, that they worship nothing beside the image, or, the deuise of their owne braine, in which they faine to themselues such a god as will be worshipped, and receiue our praiers at images. It will be saide, that the Papists doe no otherwise tie the worship and inuocation of God to images, then God tied himselfe to the sanctuarie and the temple of Salomon. And I say againe, it was the will of God that he would shew his presence, and be worshipped at the Sanctuarie, and the Iewes had the warrant of Gods word for it: but we haue no like warrant, either by promise or commandement to tie Gods presence to an image or crucifix. Againe, reason yet further may discouer their idolatrie. They, which worship they know not what, worship an idol: but the Papists worship they know not what: I prooue it thus. To the consecration of the host, there is required the intention of the Priest, at the least vertually, as they say, and if this be true, it followes that none of them can come to the Masse, or pray in faith, but he must alwaies doubt of that which is lifted vp by the hands of the priest in the masse: whether it be bread or the bodie and blood of Christ. For none can haue any certentie of the intention of the priest in consecrating this bread and this wine: but rather may haue a iust occasion of doubting by reason of the common ignorance and loosenesse of life in such persons.