The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The second conclusion.

Simplie and absolutely to make images for ciuill vse, is not prohibited by the word of God. This conclusion is to be proo∣ued, three speciall waies: By the authoritie of holy writ, by the testimonie of learned writers, and by the generall practise of christian kinges. Touching the first, God himselfe indued Be∣zaleel with the spirite of wisedome,* 1.1 vnderstanding, and know∣ledge, that he might worke curiously in gold, siluer, & brasse, in grauing stones, and in caruing woode, and in all maner of fine worke. In the temple of Salomon, were grauen Lillies, Pomegranates, Cherubins, Lions, and Palme trees. God commaunded Moses to make two Cherubines aboue the mer∣cie seate.* 1.2 He also commanded to make a fierie or brasen Ser∣pent, and to set it vp for a signe.

Touching the second, S. Basill is so farre from condem∣ning the ciuill vse of images, that he hath commended the ma∣king, and the vtilitie thereof. These are his expresse wordes; Nam magnifica in bellis gesta,* 1.3 & oratores saepenumero, & pi∣ctores pulcherrime demonstrant. Hi oratione, illi tabulis descri∣bentes atque ornantes, ambo{que} plures ad fortitudinem imitan∣dam inducentes. Quae enim sermo historiae per inductionem prae∣bet, eadem & pictura tacens per imitationem ostendit. For not onely Oratours oftentimes, but euen painters also doe finely pourtray, worthy martiall exploites: the one sort, by their fine oratiōs; the other, by their fitly pourtraied tables; both perswa∣ding many, to the imitation of fortitude. For whatsoeuer the historie doth performe by perswasion, the same doth the silent picture declare by imitation. In which wordes it is cleere, that S. Basill approoueth the ciuill and historicall vse of images. Eusebius Caesariensis maketh mention of the images of our Sauiour, of Peter, and Paul, which were not only in his time, but long before his daies. The historicall vse whereof, he nei∣ther reprooueth nor condemneth. S. Ambrose, Gregorius Mag∣nus,* 1.4 and many auncient fathers holde constantly the same opi∣nion.

Touching the third, Constantinus the first Christian Em∣perour

surnamed the Great, caused after his couersion,* 1.5 his owne image to be engrauen in his coyne: whose example therein, all christian kinges at all times in all ages, haue de fa∣cto, approoued to be good. For all kinges no one or other ex∣cepted, haue their inscriptions and images vpon their gold and money; neither were they at any time in any age, reprooued by anie learned writer for the same. Yea,* 1.6 our Sauiour Christ himselfe seemeth to approoue the same, when hee requiring to know whose inscription the money had; charged to giue to Ce∣sar, that which was his owne. In fine, the reformed churches in Germanie, this day allow thereof; and the church of Eng∣land approoueth the making of the signe of the crosse, in the forehead of baptized infantes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 35. ••. 30
• * 1.2

  ••. Reg. 7. Exod. 25. v. 22. Num. 21. ver. 8.
• * 1.3

  Basilius in qua∣drag. martyres. to. ••. p. 397.
• * 1.4

  Eusebius hist. ec∣cles. libr. 7. c. 1••.
• * 1.5

  Euseb. de vit. Const. lib. 4.
• * 1.6

  Math. 22. Mark. 12. Luke 20.