The Institution of Christian Religion

As in the first commandment he pronounced that he is the one God beside whom there are no others gods to be devised or had▪ so now he more openly declareth what manner of God he is, & with what kind of worship he is to be honoured: that we may not presume to forge any carnal thing for him. The end therefore of this commandment is, that he will not have the lawful worship of him, to be profaned with superstitious usages. Wherefore in sum, he calleth and draweth us away from the carnal observations, which our foolish mind is wont to invent, when it conceiveth God according to her own grossness. And therefore he frameth us to the lawful worship of him, that is the spiritual worship, and which is appointed by him. He speaketh of the grossest fault that is in this offence, namely outward idolatry. And there be two parts of this commandment, The first restraineth our liberty, that we do not presume to make subject to our senses or by any form to represent God, which is incomprehensible. The second part forbiddeth us to honour any images for religious sake. Moreover he shortly reciteth all the forms wherewith he was wont to be expressed in shape by the profane and superstitious nations. By those things that are in heaven, he meaneth the Sun, the Moon, and other Stars, and peradventure also birds, as expressing his meaning ⟨image 131⟩in the fourth of Deuteronomy he meaneth as well birds as stars.¹ Which note I would not have spoken of but that I saw some unskilfully to apply it to Angeles. Therefore I omit the other parts, because they are sufficiently known of themselves. And we have already in the first book taught plainly enough, that what so ever visible forms of God man doth invent, they are directly contrary to his nature, and that therefore so soon as images come forth, true religion is corrupted and defiled.

As in the first cōmaundement he pronoūced that he is the one God byside whom there are no others gods to be deuised or had▪ so now he more openly declareth what maner of God he is, & with what kinde of worship he is to be honored: that we maye not presume to forge any carnal thing for him. The ende therefore of this commaundement is, yt he will not haue the lawefull worship of him, to be prophaned with superstitious vsages. Wherfore in summe, he calleth and draweth vs away from the carnal obseruations, which our foolish minde is wont to inuent, when it conceiueth God accordyng to her owne grosnesse. And therefore he frameth vs to the lawful worship of him, that is the spirituall worship, and which is apointed by him. He speaketh of the grossest faulte that is in this offense, namely outward idolatrie. And there be two partes of this commaūdement, The first restrayneth our libertie, that we doe not presume to make subiect to our senses or by any forme to represent God, which is incomprehensible. The seconde part forbiddeth vs to honor any images for religious sake. Morouer he shortly reciteth al ye formes wherwith he was wont to be expressed in shape by the prophane and superstitious nations. By those thinges that are in heauen, he meaneth the Sunne, the Moone, and other Starres, and paraduenture also birdes, as expressyng his meanyng