The Institution of Christian Religion

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 ⟨p. 26⟩are not taken for gods. Neither were the Jews themselves so unadvised to Forget that it was God by whole hand they had been brought out of Egypt before they made they calf. Yea when Aaron said, that those were the Gods by whom they were delivered out of the land of Egypt, they boldly assented, showing a plain token of their meaning, that they would still keep that God that was their deliverer, so that they might see him go before them in the calf.

After such inuencion forged, by and by foloweth worshipping. For when men thought that they beheld God in images, they did also worship him in them. At lēgth being both with mindes and eies altogether fastened theron, they beganne to waxe more and more brutishe, and to wonder at them and haue them in admiracion, as if there wer some nature of godhed in them. So appeareth that men brake not out into the worshipping of images, till they were perswaded in some grosse opinion: not to thinke the images to be gods, but to imagine that there dyd a certaine force of Godhead abide in them. Therefore whether thou represent to thy selfe either God or a creature in the image, when thou fallest down to worship, thou art already bewitched wich some superstition. For this reason the Lord hath forbidden not onely images to bee erected that ar made to expresse a likenesse of him, but also any titles or stones to be dedicated, that should stande to be worshipped. And for the same reason also in the commaundemente of the lawe, this other point is added concerning worshipping. For so sone as thei haue forged a visible forme for God, they also tye the power of God vnto it. So beastlie folish are men, that there they fasten God where they counterfaite him, and therfore must they nedes worship it. Neither is there any differēce whether they simply worship the idole, or God in the idole. This is alway idolatry when honoures due to God are geuen to an idole, vnder what color soeuer it be. And because God wil not be worshipped superstitiously, therefore what soeuer is geuen to idols is taken from hym. Lette them take hede hereunto that seke for pretenses to defende the abhominable idolatrie, wherwith, these many ages past, true religion hath been drowned and ouerthrowen. But (saye they) the images