A19564:56
Catechismus, that is to say, a short instruction into Christian religion for the singular…Catechismus, that is to say, a shorte instruction into Christian religion for the synguler…
Catechismus, that is to say, a short instruction into Christian religion for the singular commodity and profit of children[n] and young people. Set forth by the most reverend father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and MetropolitanCatechismus, that is to say, a shorte instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profyte of childre[n] and yong people. Set forth by the mooste reuerende father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, primate of all England and Metropolitane
printed for Gwalter Lynne, 1548
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And if it were made, it ought to be destroyed, because god hath forbid any image to be made of him.
And if it wer made, it ought to be destroied, because god hathe forbyd anye ymage to be made of hym.
For as it is forbid to have any strange gods, so it is also forbid to have any image of the true living God. And if any will say, that it is forbid to make an image of God, to the intent to worship it, but I do not worship it, nor have it for that intent, but ⟨image 32⟩only that it may stir me to the remembrance & knowledge of God. To this I answer, that God did forbid the making of his image. least this peril should follow, that thou shouldest worship it. Therefore thou doest offend, although thou doest not worship it, and that not only, because thou doest against God's word and commandment, but also because thou puttest thy self wilfully in very great peril and danger, specially seeing that of our corrupt nature we be most highly inclined to Idolatry & superstition, as experience from time to time hath taught us, even from the beginning of the world. And here appeareth the abuse of our time, which following rather the fantasy of carvers or painters, than the word of God have set up in churches the ⟨image 32⟩image (as they call it) of the Trinity, where they portrayed God the father like an old man with a long hoar beard. And what can simple people learn hereby, but error, and ignorance? Have not many thought that God the father is a bodily substance, & that he hath a face, and beard, hands, and feet, because they see him so painted? And for this consideration saith saint Austen, it is a detestable thing for Christen men to have any such image of God in the church, whereby it appeareth that in saint Austens times, there were no such images in christen churches, but that it is an invention of the papists brought in of later years, which bringeth us not unto the true knowledge of god, but leadeth us into errors and ignorance of God.