A replie to Iesuit Fishers answere to certain questions propou[n]ded by his most gratious Matie: King Iames By Francis White D: of Div· deane of Carlile, chaplaine to his Matie. Hereunto is annexed, a conference of the right: R:B: of St Dauids wth the same Iesuit*

ANSVVER.

Is the painted image a true representation of Christ incar∣nate, because Romists say so? and were it a true representati∣on, is it therefore impietie to refuse to worship it? Many Do∣ctours, both of the Romane, and of other Churches, haue al∣lowed and maintained the Historicall vse of images, which condemned adoration a. And if it be outwardly to be adored for Christs sake, why is it not inwardly also to be adored? And if inwardly, then either with the same worship, wherewith [ C] Christ himselfe is adored, or with inferiour; not with the same, for then a creature which is not personally vnited to the Crea∣tour, may be honoured as God. If with inferiour, then either with inferiour honour belonging to the person represented, but there is none such, or with the honour of some other person: but this cannot be, because the image of Christ hath reference to no other person but Christ. And if the painted images of Christ, and the woodden Crosse whereupon he was crucified, were to be adored with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honour, absolute or respectiue, [ D] much more were the liuely images of Christ, to wit, the blessed Saints, so to be adored, and the blessed Virgin, aboue all other, because she was more neerely conioyned to him than the woodden Crosse.

Notes

• a

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Annal. p. 1. Caro∣lusrex Francorum misit Synodalem librum ad Britan∣niam, sibi a Con∣stantinopoli dire∣ctum: in quo proh dolor multa incon∣uenientia & verae fidel contraria re∣periebantur. Maxi∣mè quod penè om∣nium orientalium Doctotum, non minus quam tre∣centorum, vel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 amplius, episcopo∣rum vnanimi as∣sertione confirma∣matum fuerit, jma∣gines adorari de∣bere, quod omninó Ecclesia Dei ex∣ecratur. Agobard d. pict. & imag Habuerunt antiqui sanctorum imagines vel pictas vel sculptas, sed 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉, non ad colendum. Nullus Catholicorum antiquorum vnquam eas colendas vel ado∣randas forté existimauit. Durand. Rational. Div. li. 4. c. 39. attendant quid agant, qui sub praetextu, cuius∣dam Religionis seu pietatis diuersas adorant imagines, non enim 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aliquid manu factum adorare. Andr. Masius. Com. Iosh. 22. v. 28. Sacrosancta Ecclesia nobis antè oculos ponit Crucis Christi figuram, &c. non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eam adoremus, sed vt dum aspicimus in memoriam redeamus verae 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 arae, in qua sacerdos sec. ord. Melchizedech, Deique silius seipsum gratissimam patri pro nobis victinam obtulit. [ E]