A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Thirdly, In every Session they instance in some particulars wherein the Adoration of Images which they professed did consist; as in particular in religious saluting of them, kissing of them, bowing before ⟨p. 486⟩them, and so adoring of them. To this purpose their words are very express. Now all these were ever esteemed tokens, pledges and expressions of Religious or Divine Worship, and were the very ways whereby the Heathen of old expressed their veneration of their Images and Idols. Job intimating the way whereby they worshipped the Sun, Moon, and host of Heaven, which crimes he denies himself to be guilty of, tells us, that when he considered the Sun and the Moon, his heart did not seduce him that he should put his hand to his mouth, that is to salute them; for this, saith he, had been to deny God above, Job 31. 26, 27. As Catullus, Constiteram Solem exorientem sorte salutans, Cum subito à laeva Roscius exoritur. He stood saluting, or worshipping the rising Sun. And that also was their meaning in kissing of them, or kissing their hands in saluting of them, Hos. 13. 2. Let them kiss the Calves, that is worship them; express their religious adoration of them by that outward sign. As Cicero in Ver. 4. Herculis simulacrum non solum venerari, sed etiam osculari soliti fuerunt. So Minutius Felix tells us, that his companion Caecilius coming where the Image of Serapis was set up, admovit manum ori & osculum labris pressit, put his hand to his mouth and kissed it, as worshipping of it. And for creeping, kneeling, or bowing, it is so certain an evidence of Divine Worship, that all Worship both false and Idolatrous or true, is oftentimes expressed thereby. So the worshipping of Baal, is called bowing the knee to Baal. They that bowed the knee unto him or his Image, in their so doing worshipped him, 1 Kings 19. 18. Rom. 11. 4. And where God promiseth to bring all Nations to ⟨p. 487⟩the worship of himself he says, they shall bow the knee to him,