The law unsealed

For further clearing of this purpose, we shall speak to a question which here necessarily occurreth; namely, whether these things mentioned; being worshipped by any sort of religious service, whether directly or indirectly for themselves or for such things to which they relate, or which they signify, even when men pretend the worship is not given to them, but ultimately referred to the honour of the true God, whether I say worshipping them so, be not Idolatry and a breach of this Commandment?

For further clearing of this purpose, we shall speak to a question which here necessarily occurreth; namely, whether these things mentioned; being worshipped by any sort of religious service, whether directly or indirectly for themselves or for such things to which they relate, or which they signifie, even when men pretend the worship is not given to them, but ultimately referred to the honour of the true God, whether I say worshipping them so, be not Idolatry and a breach of this Commandment?

In answering this question. 1. We shall clear that there may be▪ and is Idolatry committed with Images▪ and means of Gods service, even in such worship wherein the Images which men worship are not accounted gods▪ but only representations of God, and although these means of worship, which they worship are made use of in serving the true God. 2. We shall clear, that all such service▪ as being Idolatry is forbidden by this command, however it be distinguished. If it be performed as religious service, though some such service be more gross, and other some more subtle and refined.

First then, That there is such a kind of Idolatry in worshipping of Images, when men rest not on the Images, but direct their worship to the God represented by them, we may clear it divers ways.