An harmony of the confessions of the faith of the Christian and Reformed Churches which purelie professe the holy doctrine of the Gospell in all the chiefe kingdomes, nations, and prouinces of Europe: the catologue and order whereof the pages following will declare. There are added in the ende verie shorte notes: in which both the obscure thinges are made plaine, & those thinges which maie in shew seeme to be contrarie each to other, are plainelie and verie modestlie reconciled, and if anie points doe as yet hang in doubt, they are sincerelie pointed at. All which things, in the name of the Churches of Fraunce and Belgia, are submitted to the free and discrete iudgement of all other Churches. Newlie translated out of Latine into English. Also in the end is added the confession of the Church of Scotland. Alowed by publique authoritie.

CHAP. 22. Of Images.

AS touching Images, our preachers reprooued this e∣speciallie out of the holie scriptures, that adoring and inuocating of them is so openlie graunted to the simple peo¦ple against the expresse commaundement of God. Second∣ly that so great coste is bestowed for their worship & orna∣ment: by which rather the hungry, thirsty, naked, fatherles, sicke, and those that are in bonds for Christ, ought to haue beene relieued. Lastlie because the moste part are so perswa∣ded, that with such worship and cost bestowed vpon Images, (both which things God abhorreth) they deserue much at gods hand, & that they obteine special help by this meanes. Contrariewise the same men doe teach, that the auncient writers (so long as christian faith remained somewhat pure) vnderstood the scriptures, which forbid worshiping & pray∣ing to Images, in this sense, that they thought it an abhomi∣nable thing to admit any Images, either grauen or painted, in the Church, although they were not otherwise ignorant, what our libertie is, as in all externall things, so likewise in Images. For they nothing douted but that it was flat contra∣rie both to the commaundements of scripture, & also to the holie religion. Which may especiallie be prooued euen by those things which blessed Epiphanius in times past Bishop of Salaminium in Cyprus, writeth of himself in an epistle to Iohn Bishop of Ierusalem, which also S. Ierome turned out of Greeke into Latine, because he thought it both Christi∣an,

& profitable to be read, & these are Epiph. his own words.

When we went together to the holy place which is called Beth••▪ that there I might make a collectiō with thee, after the custome of the Church, and was come to the village which is called Anablotha, and passing by sawe there a lampe burning, and had asked what place i•• was, and had learned that it was a Church, and was gone in to praie, I found there a vaile hanging at the ent y of the same Church, stained and painted and hauing the image as it might be of Christ or some saint (for I doe not well remember whose picture it was) when there∣fore I had seene this in Christs Church contrary to the commaunde∣ment of the scriptures, that there hong a mans picture, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 ou••r I counseled the keepers of that place that they sho•••••• ••in•••• and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some poore bodie in it. And a l••le after, when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had brought an excuse for his delaie in sending another vaile that he had promised, he addeth, And now I have sent that I could finde, and I praie thee bed the Elders of the same place tak•• the vaile, that we haue sent, of the bearer, and bid that henceforth such vailes as be contrarie to our religion be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hanged vp in th•• Church of Christ. Loe this godlie Bishope wri∣teth, that it is against th•• holy scriptures, & Christian religi∣on to haue euen Christs owne picture in the Church: and ••h••t in so plaine words, that it may appeare to them, that as well the bishop of Ierusalem himselfe▪ & Ierome, as al other m••n of that age thought the s••me, & that th••t faith & cu∣stome of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 images hath beene alwaies of olde in the Church of Christ, & brought in by the Apostles themselues.

Whereas some say further, that Images be profitable for the instruction of the Lay people, it appeareth first of all▪ that almost all Images were set vp for pompe and superstition rather then for any other vse. Secondlie neither is that reason ve∣ry sound. For although the Lord would instruct and bring to the knowledge of his goodnes the Iewes (farre more dull then becommeth Christians to be) by diuerse outward ce∣remonies & p••dagogies, yet he was so farre from thinking that the vse of Images, was fitte and conuenient for that purpose, that he did euen by name forbid it vnto them. For whoesouer is not instructed & stirred vp to the worship of God by the word of God▪ and by so excellent works of his (which he la••eth before vs both in heauen and earth, and which are continuallie before our eies and at hand, and

which to conclude we so plentifullie enioy) surely the forme of Gods creatures altered by mans cunning, and so shapen, that stones, trees, mettalls, and other like matter doe no longer retaine their owne shape such as they receiued it of God, but carie the countenance either of men or of beastes, or of other thinges, will doe him no good. Yea it is certaine, that by the workemanship of such Images men are more withdrawne from the view of Gods workes to their owne workes, or to mens inuentions: so that they doe not euerie where thinke alike of God, but keepe in religious cogitati∣ons vntill such time as they light vpon some Image. But surelie if a man marke it well, the heauen and the earth, and whatsoeuer is conteined in them, are excellent and wor∣thie Images of God.

The heathens also vsed a pretence of instruction & teaching, to mainteine their Idolls, but the holie fathers rested not in such excuses (Of which matter Lactantius treateth at large in his second booke of Institut.) nei∣ther could the heathens better abide to be vpbraided for that they worshipped stones, and stockes, then can the men of our age, as they which oftentimes confidentlie affirmed, that they tooke the Images to be nothing els but Images: and that they sought nothing els, but to be instructed and admonished by them.

And these thinges doth Athanasius controll in these words: Go to, let them tell me how God is knowne by Images, that is whether it be for the matter whereof they consist, or for the forme im∣printed in that matter. If the matter serue the turne, what neede is there I praie you of the forme? For God himselfe shineth forth euen in the matter, before that anie thing be framed thereof by mans handes for all things shew forth gods glorie. But if the forme is selfe, which is fitted to the matter, giueth occasion to knowe God, what neede such Images? might not God be knowne farre more excel∣lentlie by the things themselues, whereof Images be made? surelie the glorie of God might much more visiblie be seene, by the liuing creatures themselues, either reasonable, or vnreasonable, set before our eies, then by dead Images which can not m••oue. And if anie man shall saie, these things might well be brought against Images, by which men thinke they maie come to the know∣ledge of God, but we are to thinke otherwise of the Images

of our Lord Iesus Christ, and other Saints. Let him in like sort thinke that God did manie externall workes in Israell, of which he commaundeth them to be mindeful for euer: & that he raised vp vnto them not a few famous & holie men, whose faith he woulde neuer haue them to forget. Yet he neuer established the memorial of them by such Images: that he might giue no occasion of backsliding or Apostasie, which is wont to follow the worshipping of Images. Wher∣fore in the purer primitiue church it was abhomination to haue euen the Image of Christ, as hath bene afore shewed. To be short our Preachers confes that Images of themselues are indifferent, so that no worship or adoration be done vn∣to them. But it is not inough for a christian man to haue a thing free, but he ought alwaies to haue a diligent respect hereunto, whether the same be profitable for edification▪ 1. Cor. 10. for nothing is to be suffred or assayed in the Church, which hath not in it some certaine vse of edifying. Seing then it plainelie appeareth what greeuous offences Images in times past brought forth, and doe as yet bring forth▪ and seing it cannot be shewed, wh•••• profite can be hoped for thereof (vnles peraduenture we will be counted quicker sighted then God himselfe, and the auncient chri∣stians that were truelie Godlie, who were so farre from ta∣king anie profite thereby, that they euen abhorred Images in Churches) all Images and Idolls are worthelie to be ab∣horred in the Church. Neither can the workemanship of the Cherubins vpon the a••ke of the couenant or other Or∣naments of the Temple, which the Patrones of Images are wont to obiect vnto vs, hinder this truth among Christians. For God had expresselie commaunded the Cherubins to be made, but he would not haue them seene of the people. And al the other things were ordeined rather for the beau∣tie of ••he Temple, then to learne anie knowledge of God thereby although from them (as from all the rest of Gods work••s) they which were spirituall, might take occasion to meditate vpon the goodnes of god. But it is requisite also to call this to minde, that we are much more bound to wor∣ship God in spirit and truth then they of olde time were: for that we are more plentifullie inriched with Christes spirit, if we trulie beleeue in him.