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Conclusion I. Wee acknowledge the ciuill vse of images as freely and truly as the Church of Rome doth. By civill vse I vn∣derstand, that vse which is made of them in the common societies of men, out of the ap∣pointed places of the solemne worshippe of God. And this to be lawfull, it appeareth: be∣cause the arts of painting and grauing are the ordinance of God: and to be skilfull in them
is the gift of God, as the example of Bezaleel, and Aholiab declare, Exod. 35. 30. This vse of Images may be in sundrie things. I. In the a∣dorning and setting forth of buildings: thus Salomon beautified his throne with the i∣mage of lyons. And the Lord commanded his temple to be adorned with the images of palme trees, of pomegranats, of bulls, che∣rubes, and such like. II. It serues for the distinction of coynes: according to the pra∣ctise of Emperours and princes of all nations. When Christ was asked, Matth. 22. whe∣ther it was lawfull to giue tribute to Cesar or no? he called for a penie and said, vvhose image or super scription is this, they said, Ce∣sars: he then saide, giue to Cesar the things that are Cesars; not condemning but appro∣uing the stampe or image vpon his coyne. And though the Iewes were forbidden to make images in way of representation, or worship of the true god: yet the Sycle of the sanctuarie, which they vsed, specially after the time of Moses, was stamped with the i∣mage of the Almond tree, and the po••te of Manna. III. Images serue to keepe in me∣morie
friends deceased whome we reue∣rence. And it is like, that hence came one oc∣casion of the images that are now in vse in the Romane Church. For in the daies after the Apostles men vsed priuately to keep the pictures of their friends departed: and this practise after crept into the open congrega∣tion; and at last, superstition getting head, i∣mages began to be worshipped.
Conclus. II. We hold the historicall vse of images to be good and lawfull: and that is, to represent to the eye the actes of histories, whether they be humane, or diuine: & thus we thinke the histories of the Bible may be painted in priuate places.
Conclus. III. In one case it is lawfull to make an image to testifie the presence or the effects of the maiestie of God, namely when God himselfe giues any speciall commande∣ment so to doe. In this case Moses made and erected a brasen serpent, to be a type, signe, or image to represent Christ crucified. Ioh. 3. 14. And the Cherubs ouer the mercy seat ser∣ued to represent the maiestie of God, to whō the angels are subiect. And in the second
commaundement it is not simply saide, Thou shalt not make a grauen image: but with li∣mitation, Thou shalt not make to thy selfe, that is, on thine owne head vpon thine owne will and pleasure.
IV. The right images of the new testa∣ment, which we hold and acknowledge, are the doctrine and preaching of the gospell, & all things that by the word of God pertaines thereto. Gal. 3. Who hath be witched you that ye should not obey the truth to vvhome Iesus Christ was before DECSRIBED IN YOVR SIGHT AND AMONG YOV CRVCIFIED. Hence it fol∣lowes, that the preaching of the word, is as a most excellent picture in which Christ with his benefites are liuely represented vnto vs. And we dissent not from Origen. contra Cels. lib. 8. who saith, We haue no images fra∣med by any base vvorkemen, but such as are brought forth and framed by the word of God, namely patternes of vertue, and frames re∣sembling Christians. He meanes that Chri∣stians themselues are the images of Chri∣stians.