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. [ B]

This Aduocate of Imagerie, should first of all haue de∣clared, what hee vnderstandeth by Worship of Images: whe∣ther Veneration onely, largely taken; or Adoration, properly so called.

Veneration may signifie externall Regard and Reuerence of Pictures, such as is giuen to Churches and sacred Vessels, and to ornaments of sacred places; and according to this no∣tion, many haue approoued or tollerated worship a of Images, which denie Adoration. [ C]

Adoration properly taken (among Schoolemen b [ E] ) signi∣fieth a yeelding of honour to things Worshipped, by re∣cognition of their dignitie and excellencie, and by reli∣gious [ D] submission of Bodie and Soule, to wit, by inward motion of the Will, and externall deedes and gestures of Honour, as Kneeling, Kissing, Censing, holding vp the hands, &c.

The worshipping of Images in this manner, by Religious Adoration c, either primarie, or secondarie d, absolute or

respectiue, is neither grounded on the prime Principles of Na∣ture [ A] and Christianitie, neither was the same practised by the antient Catholicke Church: But on the contrarie, it is a su∣perstitious dotage, a palliate Idolatrie, a remainder of Pa∣ganisme a [ B] , condemned by sacred Scripture, censured by Pri∣matiue Fathers, and a Seminarie of direfull contention, and mischiefe in the Church of Christ.

First, The Scriptures of the Old Testament, are so appa∣rantly against Adoration of Images, Exod. 20.5. Leuit. 26.1. Deut. 5. 9. Psal. 106. 19. Esay 2. 8. Mich. 5. 13. that the best learned Papists themselues, affirme the same to haue beene prohibited vnto the Iewes. Aquinas b saith, The making of Images to bee worshipped, was prohibited in the Old Law. The same is affirmed by Alexander Hales c, Albertus d, Bonauenture e, Marsilius f, Rich. Mediauilla g, Gerson h, Abulensis i; and it is also the Tenet of many later Schoolemen k, to wit, Soto, Cor∣duba, Cabrera, Palacius, Tapia, Oleaster, &c. [ C]

Secondly, The brasen Serpent was a figure of Christ, Ioh. 3.14. The same was formed by Gods Commandement, Num. 21.9. And yet the worship thereof, being (as Vasques l saith) no o∣ther, than such as Romists vse towards their Images, was vn∣lawfull, [ D] 2. Kings 18.4. m

Thirdly, The Scriptures of the New Testament, neither expresly, nor by Consequent, maintaine the worship of I∣mages. Neither is there in all the Apostles Doctrine, any [ E] abrogation of the Negatiue Precept, deliuered to the Iewes, concerning the Worship of Images: And therefore the same Law is Morall, and obligeth Christians, as it did the Iewes.

Fourthly, the worship of Images was not practised, or held [ A] lawfull by the Primitiue Fathers a: And Gregorie the great b, six hundred yeares after Christ, condemned the same. The Councel of Frankford c, seuen hundred ninetie and foure yeres after Christ, opposed the definition of the second Nicen Sy∣nod, concerning worship of Images (as besides more antient Historians d, Cassander e, and some other Pontificians affirme f.) Agobardus g the BB. of Lyons, who liued (as Ado saith) about the yeare 815, in his Booke de Picturis & Imaginibus, saith, That none of the antient Catholickes thought that Images were to be wor∣shipped, or adored: and deliuering his owne iudgement, he saith, [ B] Nemo se fallat, &c. Let no man beguile himselfe, whosoeuer worship∣peth any Picture, or moulten or carued Statue, neither honoureth God himselfe, nor Angels or Saints, but Idols.

Fifthly, many latter Pontificians haue condemned the wor∣shipping of Images (according as the same was practised by [ E] the vulgar, and maintained by Aquinas and other principall Scholemen.) Holcoth saith h, No adoration is due to an Image, nei∣ther is it lawfull to worship any Image. Cassander writeth in this

manner a, The opinion of Thomas Aquinas, who holdeth, that Ima∣ges [ A] are to bee worshipped, as their Samplers, is disliked by sounder Scholemen; and they affirme, that the same is not very safe, vnlesse it be qualified with fauourable interpretation. Among these is Du∣rand, and Holcoth. Gabriell Biel reporteth the opinion of them which say, that an Image, neither as it is considered in it selfe ma∣terially, nor yet according to the nature of a Signe or Image, is to bee worshipped. Peresius Aiala saith b, All Scholemen (in a manner) hold, that the Image of Christ, and the Images of Saints are to be worship∣ped with the same adoration, that their Samplers, but they produce (so farre as I haue seene) no sound proofe of this Doctrine, to wit, neither [ B] Scripture, nor Tradition of the Church, nor common consent of Fa∣thers, nor the determination of a generall Councell, or any other effe-Cuall reason sufficient to persuade Beleeuers.

Sixthly, the varietie of opinions, and the palpable discord among Pontificians, concerning the manner of adoring Ima∣ges, their sandie and disjointed consequences, their forging and purging Authors, their knottie and labyrinthian distinctions, wherein they ambush themselues, and out face euident Truth; [ D] are sensible arguments of corrupt and vnsound Doctrine, in this Article of adoration of Images.

Notes

• a

  Nycen. Synod. 2. Act. 7. Epist. Tha∣ras. Glossa. d. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d. 3. c. Venera∣biles Adorare, id est, Reuerentiam exhibere. Peres. Aial. d. Trad. p. 3. d. ven. Sanct. Distinguendo vocabula Adora∣tionis & venerationis, vt isti Sancti distinguunt, nemo in Ecclesia dicit, qui 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sentiat, Sanctos debere adora∣ri, sed venerari. Junius. Animad. Bellarm. d. Imag. c. 11. n. 1. Bellarm. Non esse vllo modo colendas Imagines. Resp. Hoc 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nostrum dicit, non esse colendas, nec vllo modo: suo modo coli probamus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 imagines, at non religioso cultu, qui aut superstitiosus est, aut impius, nec cum aliorum scandalo, siue cultus separatus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coniunctus cum corum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 intelligatur, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sunt imagines.
• b

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 103. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. Gabr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. miss. lect. 49. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. to. 1. Disp. 51. sect. 1. Signif. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, quo vnus alteri 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, velillum ho∣norat, in recogni∣tionem excellentiae eius. Petigian. 3. d. 9. q. 1. ar. 2. Adoratio tres actus complectitur. 1. Actum intellectus, quo apprehendimus excellen∣tiam alicuius. 2. Actum voluntatis, quo nos illi interius inclinamus, & aliquid volumus facere actu interiore, & exteriore, quo potestamur eius excellentiam, & nostram subiectionem. 3. Actum exteriorem, quo caput inclina∣mus, velgenu flectimus, vel aliquid aliud signum subiectionis ostendimus, ex quibus actibus secundus, est maximè proprius & essentialis. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. in 3. q. 25. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. q. 5. dub. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cabrera in 3, q. 25. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. comment. Tapia. in 3. q. 27. ar. 3. Vasques d. Ador. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. disp. 1. c. 1. & l. 2. disp. 8. c. 8. n. 321. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d. Sacr. Ador. cult. disp. 3. Sect. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Quaest. Schol. 7. ar. 1. Palac. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. disp. 1.
• c

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. d. Sacr. Ador. cult. disp. 3. sect. 6. n. 7. Imagines 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, sunt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adoratione sacra & religiosa, 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉. pa. 260. Suares. in 3. to. 1. disp. 52. sect. 3. Hic cultus, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 religiosus 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pa. 588.
• d

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. d. Ador. li. 2. disp. 8. c. 8. n. 331.
• a

  Cornel. Agrippa. d. vanit. scient. d. Imag. Qui quidem corruptus Genti∣lium mos, & falsa religio, cum ipsi ad Christi fidem, conuerti caeperunt, nostram quoque religionem infecit, & in nostram Eccle∣siam simulachra & imagines, multasque Pomparum steriles ceremonias introduxit, quorum nihil omnino fuit, apud primos illos Christianos.
• b

  Aquin. 3. sent. dist. 9. q. 2. ad. 1. Pro∣hibitum est in ve∣teri lege, ne ima∣gines fierent, ad a∣dorandum.
• c

  Al. Hal. p. 3. q. 30. m. 3. ar. 3.
• d

  Albert. 3. d. 9. ar. 4.
• e

  Bonauent. 3. d. 9.
• f

  Marsil. 3. q. 8. ar. 2.
• g

  Rich. 3. d. 9. q. 2.
• h

  Gers. compend. tr. 2. d. 10. precept.
• i

  Abul. Exod. 20. q. 39.
• k

  Vasq. d. Ador. li. 2. disp. 4. c. 6. n. 98. Respondeo lege veteri non fuisse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 omnem similitudinem aut effigiem quomodocunque, sed omnem cultum & adorationem ipsius, atque adeo omnem quo∣que imaginem seu effigiem modo accommodato adorationi erectam, aut constitutam. Soto. d. Iust. & iure. l. 2. q. 4. ar. 2. Cordub. li. 1. q. 5. du. 5. Palacius. 3. d. 9. Oleaster. sup. Exod. 20. Cabrera. 3. q. 25. Disp. 1. §. 5. Tapia. in 3. q. 27. ar. 8.
• l

  Vasq. d. Ador. li. 2. disp. 4. c. 5. n. 91. Quando Eze∣chias ipsum con∣fregit, quod vide∣ret ei incensum adoleri, cum tamen in solam memoriam preteriti beneficij a Deo accepti, in populo illo, seruare∣tur: non ideo fecit, quia existimaret, a populo pro Deo iam coli, & adorari, sed quod aliquem cultum qualem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 imaginibus deferre nos consueuimus, qui omnino erat populo illi prohibitus, videret ei adhiberi. Adole∣bant enim illi incensum: nec aliam causam ob quam Ezechias ipsum confregit Scriptura nobis exposuit, at incensi Oblatio non est proprie Sacrificium soli Deo debitum, sed quae etiam rebus inanimis, aut imaginibus refertur.
• m

  Aug. d. Ciuit. Dei. l. 10. c. 8. Dist. 63. c. Quia Ezechias, &c. Fregit serpentem aeneum quem fecit Moses, &c.
• a

  Cassand. Con∣sult. d. Imag. & Si∣mulachris. Quantú veteres initio Ec∣clesiae, ab omni veneratione Imagi∣num abhorruerút, declarat vnus ori∣gines aduersus cel∣sum, &c. has ideò I∣magines nō hono∣ramus, &c. Aug. d. Consens. Euang. li. 1. ca. 10 Et d. Mor. Eccles. Cathol. cap. 34. Noui multos es∣se Sepulchrorum & Picturarum adora∣tores. Et epist. 119. Nulla Imago eius coli debet, nisi illa, quae est hoc quod ipse. Ambros. lib. 5. epist. 31. Non vult se Deus in lapidibus coli. Idem. d. Obitu Theodosij, He∣lena, Constantini mater, non adorauit lignum, quià hic Gentilis est error, & vanitas impiorum. Greg. Nissen. or. Funeb. placillae, pa. 290. Qui creaturam adorat, etiamsi in nomine Christi id facit, Simulachrorum cultor est. Clem. Rom. Recog. lib. 5. pag. 71. & 73.
• b

  Greg. lib. 7. epist. 109. Tua fraternitas, &c. ab 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adoratu, populum pre∣hibere debuit, & li. 9. epist. 9. Adorare Imagines omnibus modis deuita. Cassand. Consult. d. Imag. pa. 977.
• c

  Ro∣ger. Houeden. Annal. part. 1. pag. 232. Col. 2. Carolus rex Francorum misit Synodalem librum ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. in quo libro multa inconuenientia, & verae Fidei contraria, &c. maxime quod penè omnium orientalium Docto∣rum non minus quam 300, &c. Episcoporum vnanima assertione confirmatum fuerit, Imagines debere adorati, [ C] quod omnino Ecclesia Dei execratur.
• d

  Ado. Cron. aetat. 6. fol. 181. Sed & Pseudo Synodus, quam septi∣mam Graeci appellant, pro adorandis Imaginibus abdicata penitus. Regino. Cron. lib. 2. fo. 30. Hincmar. li. c. Ian∣dunens. Episc. c. 20. Septima autem apud 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vocata vniuersalis, Pseudo Synodus, de Imaginibus quas qui∣dam confringendas, quidam autem adorandas dicebant, neutra 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pars intellectu sano definiens, sine authori∣te Apostolicae Sedis non longè antè nostra tempora Niceae est à compluribus Episcopis habita, & Romam missa, quam etiàm Papa Romanus in Franciam direxit, vnde tempore Charoli magni Imperatoris, iussione Apostolicae Sedis, generalis Synodus in Francia conuocante praefato Imperatote celebrata, & secundum Scripturarum tra∣mitem, traditionemquè maiorum, ipsa Grae corum Pseudo Synodus destructa est, & penitus abdicata, de cuius de∣structione, non modicum volumen, quod in Palatio adolescentulus legi, ab eodem Imperatore, Romam est per quosdam Episcopos missum. Amoin. d. Gest. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 4. cap. 85. Abbas. Vesperg. Cron. Ann. 793. In these two lat∣ter Authors, Amoinus and Vspergensis, the name of Constantinople is inserted for Nice, but in the matter they agree. Read Vasques. d. Ador. lib. 2. disp. 7. cap. 2. n. 213. Vero similius esteos (Amonium & Vspergens.) errasse in vno verbo, ponendo Constantinopolitanam, pro Nicena.
• e

  Cassander. Consult. d. Imag. Cum in Synodo Nicena sub Constantino & Irene, de Imaginibus adorandis, aliquot decreta edita fuissent, atquè exemplar illius [ D] Graecanicae Synodi Francofurtum, &c. allatū, & iussu Caroli diligentèr lectum fuisset, cui Synodo, etiàm Legati Romani Pontificis interfuerunt, summo Patrum consensu Graeca illa Synodus, qua parte Imagines adorandas censebat, improbata & damnata fuit, vt quae non modo diuinis literis, & antiquae Patrum Traditioni, sed etiàm consuetudini Romanae Ecclesiae aduersaretur, quae damnatio etiàm actis & capitibus illius Francofordiensis Synodi inserta fuit.
• f

  Genebrard. Cronol. li. 3. an. 794. Addo patres qui Francofurtum conuenerant, non sa∣tis habuisse perspectam Nicenae sententiam, ac fuisse deceptos falsis rumoribus & scriptis.
• g

  Agobardus. Bibli∣oth. Patr. Edit. Colon. tom. 9. pag. 598. Nullus antiquorum Catholicorum, vnquam eas colendas vel adorandas for∣tè existimauit. Ibid. Nemo se fallat, nemo se seducat, nemo se circumueniat: quicunquè aliquam Picturam vel Fusilem, siue ductilem adorat statuam, non exhibet cultum Deo, non honorat Angelos vel homines sanctos, sed simulachra veneratur. Ibid. Habuerunt namquè & antiqui Sanctorum Imagines vel pictas vel sculptas, sed causa Historiae ad recordandum, non ad colendum.
• h

  Holcoth. in lib. Sap. cap. 13. pag. 524. Nulla adora∣tio debetur Imagini, nec licet aliquam Imaginem adorare.
• a

  Cassan. Consult. d. Pictur. & Imagi∣nibus pag. 977. Sa∣nioribus Scholasti∣cis, displicet senté∣tia 〈◊〉〈◊〉, qui cé∣seat Imaginem ea∣dé adoratione co∣lendam, qua res ip∣sa colitur, quae 〈◊〉〈◊〉 significatur, eamquè parum tu∣tam esse aiunt, nisi commoda interpre∣tatione subleuetur, in quibus est Du∣randus & Robertus Holcot, Gabriel, quoquè Biel, sanio∣tem sententiā red∣fert eorum qui dicunt, quod Imago nequè vt consideratur in se, secundum quod lignum est, lapis, aut Metallum, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vt consideratur secundum rationem Signi & Imaginis, est adoranda. Gerson. Compend. part. 2. d. decem∣praecept. Nos non adoramus Imagines, sed refertur honor & adoratio ad imaginatum. Guliel. Durand. Rational. Di∣uinor. lib. 1. cap. 3. Ferus. sup. Iudic. ca. 8.
• b

  Peres. d. Trad. pa. 3. d. Imag. Omnes ferè Scholastici in hoc sunt, quod imago Christi, & Sanctorum adorari debent, eadem adoratione qua & res quae & representantur. Ideò Imagini 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & signo crucis sanctissimo, in eo quod Christum representāt, latriae adorationem illis deberi 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cuius Doctrinae nullum (quod ego viderim) afferrunt validum fundamentum, quod posset fideles ad id quod do∣cent obligare, nam nequè Scripturam, nequè Traditionem Ecclesiae, nequè communem sensum Sanctorum, ne∣què [ C] Concilij generalis determinationem aliquam, nèc etiàm rationem, qua hoc efficaciter suaderi possit, addu∣cunt. Concil. Moguntin. cap. 41. & 42. Imaginum vsum velut pro erudienda plebe, & omnium animis excitandis vtilem, in Ecclesijs nostris retineri serio mandamus, dummodò Pastores nostri populum accuratè moneant, Ima∣gines non ad id proponi vt adoremus aut colamus eas: sed vt quid adorare aut colere, aut quarum rerum vtili∣tèr meminisse debeamus, per Imagines recordemur.