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…

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.

For as it is forbydde to haue any straunge goddes, so it is also forbide to haue any ymage of ye true lyuing God. And yf any wil say, that it is forbyde to make an ymage of God, to thintent to wourshippe it, but I doo not worshippe it, nor haue it for that intent, but ⟨image 32⟩onely that it may stere me to the remembraunce & knowlege of God. To this I aunswer, that God did forbide the making of his ymage. least this parrell shoulde followe, that thou shouldest worshippe it. Therefore thou doest offende, although thou doest not worshippe it, and that not only, because thou doest againste goddes worde and commaundement, but also because thou putteste thy selfe wilfully in very great peril and daūger, specially seyng that of our corrupte nature wee be moost highly enclyned to Idolatry & superstition, as experience from tyme to tyme hathe taught vs, euen from the begynnyng of the worlde. And here appeareth ye abuse of our tyme, which folowing rather the phantasye of caruers or paynters, than ye worde of God haue set vp in churches the