The use of candles is necessary1 in the churches in the night times, by reason of the darkness, as in the morning before day &c. And after this sort ⟨image 84⟩did the apostles use candles in the church or congregation. Acts. 20. But to set up light in stead of a sacrifice, to the worshipping of saints, or for the salvation of souls, this is clean contrary to the holy scripture, and therefore condemned by Lactantius a most ancient wryte•.2 Our hearts must be kindled unto God in the New testament, and we must give light by our good works, and that3 shall be an acceptable sacrifice unto God. And because the Lord commandeth us to take and eat the sacrament, it is not4 lawful for us to keep it and shut it up, but we must eat it: and therefore there is no need to set lights before it. But let them rather which are partakers of that sacrament, provide that the bright and shining light of true faith may be in their hearts: for this setting up of lights before the Sacrament is a new devise found out of late, and utterly unknown to the Primitive Church. And as touching Images, this is our judgement. First, God hath forbidden to make Images to worship them, as appeareth in the second Commandment. Again ⟨p. 74⟩in the writings of the law, the5 Prophets and Apostles, he hath altogether, and that very earnestly forbidden Images, yea, most grievously threatening all those which either make them, or worship them. Wherefore, that which God abhorreth, calleth evil, and curseth, we can not call the same good. Wherefore, if any man desire to see any testimonies hereof, let him read the twentieth of Exodus, Deuteronomy the fifth, fourth and seventh, and twenty seven. Psalm an hundred and thirti•ne. Isaiah forty, and forty four. Jeremiah tenth. Rom. first, first Corrin. tenth, first Peter fourth, and first John the fifth. &c. And where as some of them say, they worship not the Image, but him whom it signifieth, that is but a single souled reason: for neither God nor his Saints will be so worshipped.6 Again, Images are not like unto God nor to the Saints. For God is a spirit that can not be measured, without beginning and without ending, of most •reate power and Majesty, and can •herefore be expressed by no Image, ⟨image 85⟩as the holy scripture doth evidently teach us. Acts. 17. and in divers other places.
THe vse of candels is necessary1 in the churches in the nighte times, by reason of the darknesse, as in ye morning before day &c. And after this sorte ⟨image 84⟩did the apostles vse candels in ye church or congregation. Actes. 20. But to set vp light in stead of a sacrifice, to the woorshipping of sainctes, or for the saluation of soules, this is cleane contrary to the holy scripture, and therfore condemned by Lactantius a most auncient wryte•.2 Our hartes must be kindled vnto God in the Newe testament, and we muste giue light by our good woorkes, and that3 shalbe an acceptable sacrifice vnto God. And bicause the Lord commaundeth vs to take and eate the sacrament, it is not4 lawful for vs to kéepe it and shut it vp, but we must eate it: and therfore there is no neede to set lightes before it. But let them rather which are partakers of that sacrament, prouide that the bright and shining light of true fayth may bée in their hartes: for this setting vppe of lightes before the Sacrament is a new deuise found out of late, and vtterly vnknowne to the Primitiue Church. And as touching Images, this is our iudgement. First, God hath forbiddē to make Images to worship them, as appeareth in the seconde Commaundemente. Againe ⟨p. 74⟩in the wrytings of the lawe, the5 Prophetes and Apostles, he hathe altogither, and that very earnestly forbidden Images, yea, moste greeuously threatning all those which either make them, or woorshippe them. Wherefore, that which God abhorreth, calleth euil, and cursseth, we can not call the same good. Wherfore, if any man desire to sée any testimonies héereof, let him reade the twentieth of Exodus, Deuteronomie the fifth, fourthe and seuenth, and twentie seuen. Psalme an hundred and thirti•ne. Esay fortie, and fortie foure. Jeremie tenth. Rom. first, first Corrin. tenth, first Peter fourth, and first John the fifth. &c. And where as some of them say, they woorshippe not the Image, but him whome it signifieth, that is but a single souled reason: for neither God nor his Sainctes wil be so worshipped.
- 1The use of candles in the churches.The vse of candels in the churches.
- 2Lactan. inst. li. 6. cap. 1.
- 3Math. 5. Rom. 22.
- 4Lights before the sacrament.Lightes before the sacrament.
- 5Of Images.
- 6God nor his saints can by Images be represented.God nor hys sainctes can by Images be represented.
