A65285:1953
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Resp. Though God is pleased to stoop to our weak Capacities, and set himself out in Scripture by Eyes, to signify his Omniscience, and Hands, to signify his Power, yet it is very absurd from Metaphors and Figurative Expressions, to bring an Argument for Images and Pictures; for by that Rule God may be pictured by the Sun and the Element of Fire, and by a Rock, for God is set forth by these Metaphors in Scripture; and sure the Papists themselves would not like to have such Images made of God.
Resp. Though God is pleas'd to stoop to our weak Capacities, and set himself out in Scripture by Eyes, to signifie his Omnisciency, and Hands, to signifie his Power, yet it is very absurd from Metaphors and Figurative Expressions, to bring an Argument for Images and Pictures; for by that Rule God may be pictured by the Sun and the Element of Fire, and by a Rock, for God is set forth by these Metaphors in Scripture; and sure the Papists themselves would not like to have such Images made of God.
Quest. 1. If it be not lawful to make the Image of God the Father, yet may we not make an Image of Christ, who took upon him the nature of Man?
Resp. No. Epiphanius seeing an Image of Christ hanging in a Church, brake it in Pieces; 'tis Christ's Godhead, united to his Manhood, that makes him to be Christ; therefore to Picture his Manhood, when we cannot Picture his Godhead, is a Sin, because we make him to be but half Christ; we separate what God hath joined, we leave out that which is the chief thing, which makes him to be Christ.
Resp. No. Epiphanius seeing an Image of Christ hanging in a Church, brake it in Pieces; 'tis Christ's Godhead, united to his Manhood, that makes him to be Christ; therefore to Picture his Manhood, when we cannot Picture his Godhead, is a Sin, because we make him to be but half Christ; we separate what God hath joyned, we leave out that which is the chief thing, which makes him to be Christ.