The Institution of Christian Religion

And yet am I not so superstitious that I think no images may be suffered at all. But forasmuch as carving and painting are the gifts of God, I require that they both be purely and lawfully used. Least these things which god hath given us for his glory & for our own benefit, be not only defiled by disordered abuse but also turned to our own destruction. We think it unlawful to have God fashioned out in visible form, because himself hath forbidden it, & because it cannot be done without some defacement of his glory. And least they think that it is only we that are in this opinion, they that have ben travailed in their works shall find that all sound writers did alway reprove the same thing. If then it be not lawful to make any bodily image of God, much less shall it be lawful to worship it for God, or God in it. It remaineth therefore lawful that only those things be painted and graven whereof our eyes are capable: but that the majesty of God which is far above the sense of our eyes, be not abused with uncomely devised shapes. Of this sort are partly histories and things done, partly images and ⟨p. 27⟩fashions of bodies, without expressing of any things done by them. The first of these have some use in teaching or admonishing a man: but what profit the second can bring save only delectation, I see not. And yet it is evident, that even such were almost all the images that heretofore have stand up in churches. Whereby we may judge that they were there set up not by discrete judgement or choice, but by foolish and unadvised desire. I speak not how much amiss and uncomely they were for the most part fashion, nor how licentiously painters and carvers have in this point showed their wantonness, which thing I have already touched. Only I speak to this end, that though there were no fault in them, yet do they nothing avail to teach.

And yet am I not so superstitious that I thinke no images maye be suffred at al. But forasmuch as caruing and painting are the giftes of God, I require that they both be purely and lawfully vsed. Least these things which god hath geuē vs for his glory & for our own benefite, be not only defiled by disordred abuse but also turned to our owne destructiō. We thinke it vnlawful to haue God fashioned oute in visible forme, because himselfe hath forbiddē it, & because it cannot be done wythoute some defacemente of hys glory. And least they thynke that it is onelye we that are in this opiniō, they that haue ben trauailed in their works shall finde that all sounde writers did alway reproue the same thynge. If then it be not lawfull to make any bodily image of God, muche lesse shall it be lawfull to worshippe it for God, or God in it. It remayneth therefore lawfull that onelye those thynges bee painted and grauen whereof our eies are capable: but that the maiestie of God which is far aboue the sense of our eies, be not abused with vncomly deuised shapes. Of this sorte are partly histories and thinges done, partly images and