The Institution of Christian Religion

And we have found it to much in experience, that through the horrible madness which hath heretofore possessed the world, to the destruction in manner of all godliness, so soon as images be set up in churches, there is as it were a sign set up of idolatry, because the folly of men cannot refrain it self, but it must forthwith run on to superstitious worshippings. But if there were not so much danger hanging thereby: yet when I consider for what use temples are ordained, me thinks it is very ill beseming the holiness thereof to receive any other images than these lively & natural images. which the LORD by his word hath consecrate, I mean ⟨image 36⟩Baptism and the Lords supper, and other ceremonies wherewith our eyes ought both more earnestly to be occupied and more lively to be moved, than that they should need any other images framed by the wit of men. Lo this is the incomparable commodity of images, which can by no value be recompensed, if we believe the papists.

And we haue founde it to muche in experience, that throughe the horrible madnesse whiche hath heretofore possessed the worlde, to the destruccyon in manner of all godlynesse, so sone as images be set vp in churches, there is as it were a signe sette vp of idolatrie, because the folly of men cannot refraine it selfe, but it muste foorthwith runne on to supersticious worshippinges. But if there were not so muche daunger hanging thereby: yet when I consider for what vse temples are ordeined, me thinkes it is verie ill beseming the holinesse therof to receiue any other images than these liuely & natural images. whiche the LORDE by hys woorde hath consecrate, I meane ⟨image 36⟩Baptisme and the Lordes supper, and other ceremonies wherewyth our eies ought both more earnestly to be occupyed and more liuely to be moued, than that they should nede any other images framed by ye witt of men. Loe this is the incomparable commoditie of images, whiche can by no value be recompensed, if we beleue the papistes.