Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Whereas they should seek God in heaven by faith: they will needs go about the bush. Very well say they, we will have some image of God. And that is all one as if they should say. Behold, here is a God that shall not trouble us: for we will deal well enough with him at all times, he shall not speak a word, he shall but only make a mow. See how the world making countenance to seek God, doeth drag back from him as much as is possible, shrouding them selves under this pretence, that it is enough to have a representation of God, & that his power shall nevertheless be infinite still. But now we have to mark, that God is not contented with such reasons, forasmuch as he hath told us that it is not lawful for us to have any image of him to represent him withal. And shall we reply against him when we have the word of his mouth? What shall we win by it? When we have pleaded our fill, suppose we that we have any devises in our brain, that can make God believe that he considered not all things well? No: and therefore (to be short) as many as covet to have any image of God, bewray themselves to be rank rebels against him, they bewray a devilish malapertness, in that they presume to forge and set up Gods after their own fancy: yea and they bewray their own beastliness also, in that they do against nature. For they would allow God such a representation, as agreeth as fitly to him, as if they should liken him to a stick, or I wrote not what else. Men therefore do in all respects sufficiently show themselves to be unexecusable, when they turn so away after their images.

Whereas they should seeke God in heauen by faith: they will needes goe about the bush. Verie well say they, wee will haue some image of God. And that is all one as if they shoulde say. Behold, here is a God that shall not trouble vs: for wee will deale well ynough with him at all times, he shall not speake a worde, he shall but onely make a mowe. See how the world making countenaunce to seeke God, doeth drag backe from him as much as is possible, shrouding them selues vnder this pretence, that it is ynough to haue a representation of God, & that his power shall neuerthelesse be infinite still. But nowe we haue to marke, that God is not contented with such reasons, forasmuch as he hath tolde vs that it is not lawfull for vs to haue any image of him to represent him withall. And shall wee reply against him when wee haue the woorde of his mouth? What shall we win by it? When wee haue pleaded our fill, suppose wee that wee haue any deuises in our braine, that can make God beleeue that he considered not all thinges well? No: and therefore (to be short) as many as couet to haue any image of God, bewray themselues to bee ranke rebels against him, they bewray a diuelish malapertnesse, in that they presume to forge and set vp Gods after their owne fansie: yea and they bewray their owne beastlinesse also, in that they doe against nature. For they would allow God such a representation, as agreeth as fitly to him, as if they shoulde liken him to a sticke, or I wrote not what else. Men therefore doe in all respectes sufficiently shewe themselues to be vnexecusable, when they turne so away after their images.