The Institution of Christian Religion

I think I had spoken enough of this thing already, but that the Nicene Synod doeth as it were lay hand on me to enforce me to speak more▪ I mean not that most famous Synod which Constantine the Great assembled, but that which was holden eight hundred years ago, by the commandment and authority of Irene the Empress. For that Synod decreed, that images should not only be had in churches, but also worshipped. For whatsoever I should say, the authority of the Synod would make a great prejudice on the other side. Although to say trueth, that doeth not so much move me, as make it appear to the readers how far their rage extended, that were more desirous of images than became Christians. But first let us dispatch this. They that at this day maintain the use of images, allege the decree of the Nicene Synod for their defence. But there is extant a book of confutation bearing the name of Charles the Great, which by the phrase we may gather to have been written at the same time. Therein are recited the sentences of the Bishops that were present at that council, and the arguments wherewith they contē dead. John the Legate of the east parts said: God created man after his own image: and thereupon gathered that we ought to have images. The same man thought that images were commended unto us in this sentence: show me thy face, because it is beautiful. An other to prove that images ought to be set upon altars, cited this testimony: no man lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel. An other, to show that the beholding of them is profitable for us, brought forth a verse out of the Psalm: the light of thy countenance is sealed upon us. An other took this similitude: As the Patriarchs used the Sacrifices of the gentiles, so must Christian men have the images of Saints in stead of the images of the gentiles. To the same purpose have they wrested this saying: Lord, I have loved the beauty of thy house. But specially witty is the exposition of this place, As we have heard so have we seen, that God is not known by only hearing of his word, but also by looking upon images. Like is the sharp deuyse of Bishop Theodore. Marvellous (sayeth he) is God in his Saints. And in an other place: In the Saints that are in the earth: therefore this ought to be referred to images.

I thinke I had spoken enough of this thing alreadye, but that the Nicene Synode doeth as it were laye hande on me to enforce me to speake more▪ I meane not that most famous Synode which Cōstātine the Great assembled, but that which was holden eyght hundred yeares ago, by the commaundemente and authoritie of Irene the Empresse. For that Synode decreed, that images shoulde not onely be hadde in churches, but also worshipped. For whatsoeuer I shoulde saye, the authoritie of the Synode woulde make a greate preindyce on the other syde. Although to saye trueth, that dooeth not so much moue me, as make it appeare to the readers howe farre theyr rage extended, that were more desirous of images than became Chrystians. But first let vs dispatche this. They that at this day maynteine the vse of images, allege the decree of ye Nicene Synode for theyr defense. But there is extante a boke of confutaciō bearyng the name of Charles the Great, whiche by the phrase we maye gather to haue been wrytten at the same tyme. Therein are recited the sentences of the Byshoppes that were presente at that counsell, and the argumentes wherewith they contē ded. Iohn the Legate of the east partes saied: God created manne after his owne image: and thereuppon gathered that we oughte to haue images. The same man thought that images were commended vnto vs in this sentence: shewe me thy face, because it is beautifull. An other to proue that images oughte to be sette vppon altares, cyted thys testimonie: no manne lighteth a candell and putteth it vnder a bushell. An other, to shewe that the beholdyng of them is profitable for vs, brought forth a verse oute of the Psalme: the lyghte of thy countenaunce is sealed vppon vs. An other tooke thys similitude: As the Patryarches vsed the Sacrifices of the gentiles, so must Chrystian menne haue the images of Saintes in steade of the images of the gentyles. To the same purpose haue they wryshed thys saying: Lorde, I haue loued the beautie of thy house. But specially witty is the exposition of thys place, As we haue heard so haue we seen, that God is not knowen by onely hearyng of hys worde, but also by lokyng vpon images. Like is the sharpe deuyse of Byshop Theodore. Maruellous (sayeth he) is God in his Saintes. And in an other place: In the Saintes that are in the earth: therefore thys oughte to be referred to images.