A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

4. Do you think to relieve them from the guilt of Idolatry by a company of distinctions, which neither they nor you understand? The next time you see one of your Catholics worshipping an image upon his knees, I pray go to him and tell him that he must worship the Image with dulia, or superdulia, but not with latria, or if with latria, yet not by its self and simply but after a sort, analogically and reductively, or that he is about a double worship; ⟨p. 499⟩one terminated in the image, and the other passing by it unto the exemplar of it, and you will find what thanks he will give you for your good instruction. And how small a portion are these of that Mass of distinctions which you have coined to free them from Idolatry who worship Images, who all the while understand not one word of what you intend by them, nor can any rational man reduce them unto any thing intelligible!

4. Do you think to relieve them from the guilt of Idolatry by a company of distinctions, which neither they nor you understand? The next time you see one of your Catholicks worshipping an image upon his knees, I pray go to him and tell him that he must worship the Image with dulia, or superdulia, but not with latria, or if with latria, yet not by its self and simply but after a sort, analogically and reductively, or that he is about a double worship; ⟨p. 499⟩one terminated in the image, and the other passing by it unto the examplar of it, and you will find what thanks he will give you for your good instruction. And how small a portion are these of that Mass of distinctions which you have coyned to free them from Idolatry who worship Images, who all the while understand not one word of what you intend by them, nor can any rational man reduce them unto any thing intelligible!

Sir, In this matter of images you talk of coming up close to your business, and I was willing to take a little pains with you to direct you in your way, that having a mind to your work as you seem to pretend, you may not mistake and wander away from your duty, but address your self unto that which you undertake and which is expected from you. You are to prove that there is a necessity of receiving the use of images in the worship of the Church, so that whosoever doth not admit them, is to be cast out of the Communion thereof; and 2. That these Images so received are to be worshipped and adored with religious veneration, if not with the very same worship that is due to the Persons represented by them, yet with that which redounds unto them; and that not only by the outward gesture of the body but the inward motions of the mind. And when you shall have proved that the Doctrine and practice of your Church in this matter of making and worshipping Images is not contrary to the Scripture, or was ever received or approved by the primitive Church for six hundred years, I will promise you setting aside all other Considerations, immediately to become a Papist: for the present I see no cause so to do, and shall therefore return to consider what you here say for the further adorning of your pictures.