The Institution of Christian Religion

but they did not believe that he was nigh unto them, unless they did see with their eyes a corporal representation of his face, to be a witness unto them of the God that governed them. Their mind was therefore to know by the image going before them, that God was the guide of their journey. This thing daily experience teacheth, that the flesh is alway unquiet till it hath gotten some counterfeit devise like it self, wherein it may vainly delight as in an image of god. In a manner in all ages since the creation of the world, men to obey this blind desire have erected signs wherein they imagined God to be present before their carnal eyes.

but they did not beleue that he was nie vnto them, vnlesse they did see with their eies a corporall representaciō of his face, to be a witnesse vnto them of the God that gouerned them. Their minde was therfore to knowe by the image going before them, that God was the guide of their iourney. This thing daily experience teacheth, that the flesh is alway vnquiet till it hath gotten some counterfaite deuise like it self, wherin it may vainly delite as in an image of god. In a manner in al ages since the creation of the world, men to obey this blinde desire haue erected signes wherin they imagined God to be present before their carnall eies.

After such invention forged, by and by followeth worshipping. For when men thought that they beheld God in images, they did also worship him in them. At length being both with minds and eyes altogether fastened thereon, they began to wax more and more brutish, and to wonder at them and have them in admiration, as if there were some nature of godhead in them. So appeareth that men brake not out into the worshipping of images, till they were persuaded in some gross opinion: not to think the images to be gods, but to imagine that there did a certain force of Godhead abide in them. Therefore whether thou represent to thy self either God or a creature in the image, when thou fallest down to worship, thou art already bewitched with some superstition. For this reason the Lord hath forbidden not only images to be erected that are made to express a likeness of him, but also any titles or stones to be dedicated, that should stand to be worshipped. And for the same reason also in the commandment of the law, this other point is added concerning worshipping. For so soon as they have forged a visible form for God, they also tie the power of God unto it. So beastly foolish are men, that there they fasten God where they counterfeit him, and therefore must they needs worship it. Neither is there any difference whether they simply worship the idol, or God in the idol. This is alway idolatry when honours due to God are given to an idol, under what colour soever it be. And because God will not be worshipped superstitiously, therefore what soever is given to idols is taken from him. Let them take heed hereunto that seek for pretences to defend the abominable idolatry, wherewith, these many ages past, true religion hath been drowned and overthrown. But (say they) the images