A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

So excellent is your Rule as to all the precepts of the first Table, which indeed holds only in the first Command. Things that naturally and necessarily belong to the dependence of the rational creature on God as the first Cause, last End, and Supreme Lord of all, are absolutely indispensable, which are in general all comprised as to their nature in the first precept, wherein we are commanded to receive him alone as our God, and consequently to yield him that obedience of faith, love, honour, which is due to him as God: but the outward modes and ways of expressing and testifying that subjection and obedience ⟨p. 516⟩which we owe unto him, depending on his arbitrary institution, are changeable, dispensable and liable to be varied at his pleasure, which they were at several seasons, before the last hand was put to the Revelation of his will by his Son. And then though God did absolutely forbid his people the making of images as to any use of them in his Worship and Service, he might by particular exception have made some himself; or appointed them to be made, and have designed them to what use he pleased: from whence it would not follow in the least, that they who were to regulate their obedience by his command, and not by that instance of his own particular exception unto his institution, might set up any other images for the same end and purpose, no more then they might set up other Altars for Sacrifice besides that appointed by him, when he had commanded that they should not do so. Supposing then that which is not true, and which you can give no colour of proof to, namely that the Cherubims were Images properly so called, and set up by Gods command to be adored, Yet they were no less still under the force of his prohibition against the making of Images, then if he had never appointed any to be made at all. It was no more free for them to do so, then it is for you now under the New Testament to make five Sacraments more of your own heads, because he hath appointed two. So unhappy are you in the Confirmation of your own supposition, which yet as I have showed you, is by no means to be granted. And this is the substance of your plea for this practice and usage of your Church, which whether it will justify you in your open transgression of so many express Commands that lye against you in this matter, the day that shall discover all things will manifest.

So excellent is your Rule as to all the precepts of the first Table, which indeed holds only in the first Command. Things that naturally and necessarily belong to the dependance of the rational creature on God as the first Cause, last End, and Supreme Lord of all, are absolutely indispensable, which are in general all comprized as to their nature in the first precept, wherein we are commanded to receive him alone as our God, and consequently to yield him that obedience of faith, love, honour, which is due to him as God: but the outward modes and wayes of expressing and testifying that subjection and obedience