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1 THey are to be abolished because of the commaun∣dement of god, who will haue Idoles to be aboli∣shed, and all the corruptions of the true worshippe of god, & of true doctrine, as his wrath & anger against Idolatrie dooth testifie. And hereof is it, that for the taking away & abolishing of Idols, Iehu, Ezechias, and Iosias are praised in Scripture. Jn respect of our confession, of the syncere worship
of god, and of our hatred against Idolatrie. This confession whereby we professe our selues not to be Idolaters, consi∣steth not only in words, but also in actions, and in outward shew and signes.
3 They are to be abolished, for auoiding of offence & su∣perstition, least by retaining of ancient Images, or by substi∣tuting & adding new, the same dāger come to the church, & to the ignorāt people therby, which in times past we see to haue issued hence; and so the enimies of the Church be by this spectacle, hauing so great a shew of Idolatry, the more alienated from the Church, so that they despite and reproch therefore the trueth of god. So the Iewes, because they see Images in the Churches of those which professe Christianity, are greatly offended. And wee see that I∣mages neuer brought any good to them, which had them; but euen gods own people was seduced thereby, as we may see often in the sacred storie, especially in the booke of Iudges, & the Kings, & in the Prophets. So prone and rea∣die is our nature vnto this euill, which hath after ensuing it most grieuous punishments, as are those which the Lord reciteth by Moses, besides many others: I wil destroy, saith he, your high places, and cut awaie your Jmages, and cast your carkas∣ses vpon the bodies of your Idoles, and my soule shal abhor you. In like manner also the Angel of the Lord vpbraiding the Is∣raelites that they had made a league with the Idolatrous Cananites, saith; Wherefore I will not cast them out before you, but they shall bee as thornes vnto your sides, and their gods shall be your destruction. It is no ceremony therefore to abolish I∣mages; seeing they are the instruments, signes, causes, and occasions of Idolatry. Neither are the causes of this com∣mandement any way chaunged or diminished, as namelie that the glory of god be maintained against Idolaters and the enemies of the church, and that god bee not tempted through offering an occasion of superstition, and of con∣ceiuing false and corrupt opinions of gods worship, vnto men, which are of their owne accord inclining and prone vnto idolatry. Wherefore this commaundement of taking away and abolishing images made for the representing of god, or for diuine worshippe, is Moral, and dureth per∣petuallie.
Exod 23.24. & 34.13. Numb. 33 25. Deut 7.5. 1. Reg. 15.13. 2. Reg 10.30. 2. Reg. 18.4. Deut. 17 23. &c. 1. Cor. 10.20.
1. Iohn. 5.21.