A37046:317
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
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.
Fourthly: If by this Command Heathenish Idolatry, or the Serving God by Images be condemned? then the serving of God by Images also amongst Christians is here condemned; But the Heathens serving God by Images, is here condemned, Ergo, &c.
If it be answered that Heathens did represent by their Images that which wa• not God, and that this was their fault? I Answer. 1. It is not like that all did so▪ nor that any at first did so; but some had a notion of the invisible God-head, […] Rom. 1▪ 28. though they changed it into an Image, like to a corruptible Creature▪ 2. Yet here the Argument holdeth; If Heathens, who worshipped, suppose, Jupiter, Vulcan, &c. and their Images of Gold, Silver, &c. were holden for Idolaters, not only as worshipping Jupiter and Vulcan, and these Idols which were so represented, but also as worshipping Gold and Silver, and such Images and thing• as they made use of to represent them; then also Christians must be said not only to worship what is represented, by those Images, but the Images themselves, and so to be guilty of Idolatry on that account: the Reason will hold alike in both▪ and if their Exception, that they worshipped not the Images, but what they represented did not exempt them from being found guilty of worshipping such Images in particular, neither will Christians upon that Plea be found exeemed from th•• guilt▪ for, • quatenus ad omne valet consequentia.
If it be answered that Heathens did represent by their Images that which wa• not God, and that this was their fault? I Answer. 1. It is not like that all did so nor that any at first did so; but some had a notion of the invisible God-head,