A17219:217
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
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.
The Answer.
The Answere.
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 thirtine. 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.