A14239:47
A sermon preached before the Commons-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at…A sermon preached before the Commos-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at…
A sermon preached before the Commons-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at Westminster, the 18. of February. 1620. By James Usher. Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin, in IrelandA sermon preached before the Commos-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at Westminster, the 18. of February. 1620. By Iames Vssher. Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Dublin, in Ireland
London: printed by I.Dawson for John Bartlett, 1624London: printed by I.Dawson for Iohn Bartlett, 1624
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Secondly, that when he uttered the words of the second Commandment in mount Sinai, and forbade the making of the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or in the Earth beneath, or in the Waters under the Earth; he did at that time forbear to show himself in any visible shape, either of man or woman, either of beast in the earth, foul in the air, or fish in the waters beneath the earth: to the end it might be the better made known, that it was his pleasure not to be adored at all in any such forms; & that the worshipping ⟨p. 35⟩of Images, not only as they have reference to the creatures whom they do immediately represent, or to false gods, but also as they have relation to himself (the true God, who was then speaking unto them in the Mount) did come within the compass of the Idolatry which was condemned in that Commandment.
Secondly, that when he vttered the words of the second Commandement in mount Sinai, and forbad the making of the likenes of any thing that is in Heauen aboue, or in the Earth beneath, or in the Waters vnder the Earth; hee did at that time forbeare to shew himselfe in any visible shape, either of man or woman, either of beast in the earth, foule in the aire, or fish in the waters beneath the earth: to the end it might be the better made knowne, that it was his pleasure not to be adored at all in any such formes; & that the worshipping ⟨p. 35⟩of Images, not onely as they haue reference to the creatures whom they doe immediately represent, or to false gods, but also as they haue relation to himselfe (the true God, who was then speaking vnto them in the Mount) did come within the compasse of the Idolatry which was condemned in that Commandement.
In vain therefore do the Romanists go about to persuade us, that their Images be no Idols: and as vainly also do they spend time in curiously distinguishing the several degrees of worship; the highest point whereof, which they call Latreia, and acknowledge to be due only unto God, they would be loth we should think that they did communicate to any of their Images. But here we are to understand, first of all, that Idolatry may be committed by giving not the highest only, but also the lowest degree of religious adoration unto Images: and therefore in the words of the Commandment, the very bowing down unto them, which is one of the meanest degrees of worship, is expressly forbidden. Secondly, that it is