ANSVVER.
The summe of this part of your disputation is, That in the text of Exodus, To fall downe and worship images, is no more forbidden than to make: but making of images is not simply and absolutely vnlawfull; and consequently their worship is not simply and absolutely vnlawfull.
The first ground and proposition of this argument is false: [ C] for worshipping of images is forbidden, as the principall obiect of that negatiue precept, and as a thing morally euill in his ve∣ry kind: but making them is forbidden (onely) when it is a meanes subseruient to worship: and because it may be separa∣ted, both in his owne nature, and in mans intention, from that end and vse, therefore the one is simply forbidden, and the other is onely prohibited, when it becommeth a meanes or in∣strument to the other. And this distinction and disparitie be∣tweene making and worshipping, hath beene confirmed by the example of the brasen Serpent: for when the same was onely [ D] made, and looked vpon, it was a medicine; when it was wor∣shipped, it became a poyson. 2 Kings 18.4. Wherefore, consi∣dering that the holy Scripture approoueth the difference which Protestants assigne, betweene making and worshipping of images, I see no reason why Papists should not rest vpon the sentence of holy Scripture, alwayes condemning, but ne∣uer maintaining Image worship; rather than to persist in a pal∣pable superstition, to the offence of God, and scandall of his people. [ E]