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 third conclusion.

To worship and adore images religiously, is superstitious and idolatricall. This conclusion is prooued, by the expresse commaundement of God. For in Exodus it is written thus:* 1.1 Thou shalt not make any grauē image, thou shalt not bow downe to them, nor worship them. And in Mathew; Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,* 1.2 and him onely thou shalt serue. For which cause, S. Iohn could not be permitted to a∣dore the Angel, but was bidden to worship God.* 1.3 For which cause Moses cast the Tables out of his hands, brake them in peeces beneath the mountaine, burned the calfe in the fire,* 1.4 and grounded it vnto pouder. For which cause the holy ghost com∣mendeth Ezechias, for breaking in peeces the brasen serpent.* 1.5 For which cause Marcellina was condemned as an hereticke, who worshipped (as S. Augustine recordeth) the Images of Iesus, of Paul, of Homere, of Pythagoras.* 1.6 For which cause S. Epiphanius seeing the image of a saint hanging in the Church, tare the same in sunder,* 1.7 and aduised the wardens to bury some poore body with the vaile, and that no more any such vailes should be hanged vp in the Church. Yea, the same Epi∣phanius will not haue the blessed virgine Mary to be adored; much lesse her image. And if her image must be excluded, what

image I pray you,* 1.8 can be approued? for which cause, the coun∣cill of Elibertine decreed grauely, that nothing should be pain∣ted on the church walles, which is adored of the people. For which cause Lactantius pronounced freely,* 1.9 that where images are, there is no religion. Neither will it help the papists to an∣swer after their woonted manner; that Lactantius speaketh of such images as are adored for gods. For Lactantius maketh the selfe same obiection, in the person of the Gentiles; and in∣ueyeth against it bitterly, as a vaine, friuolous, and ridiculous thing. And because I wil proceed sincerely in this point, as in all other matters; I thinke it conuenient heere to alleadge his expresse words,* 1.10 which are these; Non ipsa, inquiunt, timemus, sed eos ad quorum imaginem ficta, & quorum nominibus conse∣crata sunt; nempe ideo timetis, quod eos in caelo esse arbitramini, neque enim si dij sunt, aliter fieri potest: curigitur oculos in cae∣lum non tollitis? ••••ur ad parietes, & ligna, & lapides potissi∣mum, quam illò spectatis, vbi eos esse creditis. We feare not, say they, the pictures or pourtraies, but them after whose images they be made, & to whose names they are consecrated. Doubt∣lesse ye therefore feare them, because ye thinke they are in hea∣uen. For if they be gods, it cannot otherwise come to passe. Why therfore do ye not lift vp your eyes to heauen? why doe ye rather looke vpon the walles, vpon stockes and ston••s, then thither, where ye think they are? In which words I note first, [ 1] that the Gentiles did not adore the images, but the persons re∣presented by the same (for of fearing and adoring Lactan. spea∣keth indifferently, throughout the whole chapter) & yet are they sharply reproued for their fact. I note secondly, that we must [ 2] not adhere and fix our minds vpon stocks, stones, and the ima∣ges of saints, but lift vp our hearts to heauen, where the saints now are. Worthily therefore doe we condemne the Papists; who do not only make images, but also adore the same; and that with the selfe same worship, which is due and proper to God alone: for so much auoucheth their owne deare doctor and canonized saint Aquinas,* 1.11 of the image of our Sauiour Christ. For which respect Gregorie surnamed the Great (who himself was a bishop of Rome) sharply reproued the adoration & wor∣ship of images,* 1.12 albeit he admitted & wel liked y^e ciuil vse therof

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 20. v. 4▪
• * 1.2

  Math. 4. v 10
• * 1.3

  Apoc. 19. v. 10.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 32. v 20.
• * 1.5

  2. Kin. 18. ver. 4
• * 1.6

  Aug. de haeres. haer. 7.
• * 1.7

  Epiphan. in epist. ad Io. Hier. haer. 79.
• * 1.8

  Concill. Elibert. can. 36.
• * 1.9

  Lactant. libr. 2 cap. 19.
• * 1.10

  Lactant. lib. 2. de origine erroris cap. 2.
• * 1.11

  Aquin. pa. 3. q. 25. ar. 2. and 3.
• * 1.12

  Gregor. ad Seren. epist. libr. 9. cap. 9.