The orthodox faith and vvay to the Church explaned and iustified in answer to a popish treatise, entituled, White died blacke; wherein T.W. p. in his triple accusation of D. White for impostures, vntruths, and absurd illations, is proued a trifler: and the present controuersies betweene vs and the Romanists are more fully deliuered and cleared. By Francis White Bachelour in Diuinitie, and elder brother of Doctor Iohn White.

An obseruation, concerning adoration of Images.

There is nothing so wicked and absurd, but a Romist

can defend it: neither is any thing so true, but he can out∣face it: witnesse among other things, the adoration of Images. The same is an impietie so apparently condem∣ned in the Scripture, that neither blasphemy it selfe, witchcraft, adulterie, or any sinne, is more plainely dete∣cted and prohibited.

And the primitiue Church consenteth exactly with the holy Scripture; and for many ages did in generall proclaime the same to be Idolatry. Neuerthelesse, our Aduersaries calling darknesse light, and sowre sweete, Esa. 5.20. defend it, pretending that they propugne a Ca∣tholike veritie. The summe of their Tenet is this which followeth.

1. They maintaine the making, setting vp, and vsing of Images in religionn. And among the rest, the making of the Images of God himselfe, and the Trinitieo.

2. They teach a threefold vse of them: 1. Of ornament or beautifying their Temples and religion. 2. Of instru∣ctionp, wherein they affirme; that pictures many times instruct better then Scripture. 3. Of adoration, making them Instruments of worshipping God and the Saints. And concerning adoration, they maintaine, that Images are to be adored with the same adoration, with the sam∣plerq, appointing onely a respectiue difference; to wit, that the principall is worshipped simply and for it selfe:

but the Image in regard of the similitude and reference to the principall. And thus the Images of God and Christ, and the Crucifixe, are by their doctrine to be a∣dored, with diuine worship properly calledr: like as Christ his manhood being personally vnited to the Dei∣ty, partakes the same adoration with the Godheads. And other Images of the virgine Marie, and the Saints, are respectiuely to be adored with worship sutable to their samplers.

3. They make the adoration of Images, a meritorious worket; and condemne the deniers thereof as Hereticks, and hauing power, they cruelly torment and burne them to deathu.

4. The principall Arguments whereby they propugne this operation, are these which follow.

Argu. 1. The Tradition and custome of the Church, and the authoritie of the second Nicene Councell, &c.

Answ. 1. Peresius Aialax, a great learned Papist and Bishop, ci••ing many Doctors and Schoolemen, affir∣meth; That the doctrine of adoration of Images, hath nei∣ther Scripture, Tradition of the Church, common consent of the Fathers, nor yet effectuall reason to confirme it. 2. The second Nicene Councell was very latey, about the yeare 787. And it was controlled by another Councell in the Westz: neither did it maintaine adoration of Images, in such manner, as Suarez, Thyreus, Posseuin, and the Iesuits do, but onely veneration, or yeelding outward re∣uerence

in passing by them, or standing before thema, &c.

Argu. 2. The Iewes in the Old Testament, adored the Arke of the Couenant, whereunto were annexed the I∣mages of the Cherubinsb. Psal. 99 ver. 5. the Old Tran∣slation hath, Worship the footstoole of his feete (which was the Arke.)

Answ. If the place of the Psalme be rightly translated, it is, Worship at his footstoole, or before his footstoolec, that is, worship God, looking towards the place where the arke of the Couenant resteth, and in the Tabernacle or Tem∣ple where the Arke is placed, bow downe before itd. And the Cherubins were not appointed to be adored, as Tertulliane, & after him Lorinusf the Iesuite, affirme; and how could they which neuer saw the Cherubins, Heb. 9.7. worship them in the same manner the Papists do their Images?

Argu. 3. It was lawfull in the Old Testament to wor∣ship the brazen Serpentg and the Cherubins; therefore it is as lawfull to adore and worship the Images of Christ and the Saints.

Answ. Although veneration, which is a reuerent vsing of sacred things, be due to such signes as God himselfe hath appointed; yet that measure and such actions of re∣uerence as Papists exhibite to Images, are vnlawfull to be exhibited to the signes instituted by God himselfe, as appeareth by the example of the brazen Serpenth. 2. King. 18.4. and the water of Baptismei.

2. As it doth not follow, that because we are to honor the Kings Lieutenant, hauing receiued authoritie from the King; therfore we must exhibite the like honor to an∣other, whom the subiects haue exalted to that dignitie

of their own head: So although God had appointed the adoration of sacred signes ordained by himselfe; it fol∣loweth not, that Images which are erected besides his or∣dinance, are capable of venerationk.

Arg. 4. Because God hath wrought sundry miracles by Images, therefore they ought to be adoredl.

Answ. Both the antecedent and consequent are false. 1. The miracles which our Aduersaries affirme, to haue beene wrought by Images, recorded in their Legends, are of no credit by the testimony of their owne Doctors. Canusm denieth the authoritie of the Stories, in which they be reported. Gabriel Bieln affirmeth; That such mi∣racles were many times wrought by the power of the Di∣uell. Cardinall Lirao saith; That the people were shameful∣ly deceiued with feigned miracles, wrought by the Priests and their companions for lucre sake. Antoninep reporteth, that the Crucifixe spake to Fryer Peter, saying: O Peter, what wrong haue I done thee? And at another time; O Peter, I haue prayed for thee that thy faith shall not faile. And Tho∣mas of Aquine, praying deuoutly before the Crucifix, was lif∣ted vp a cubit aboue the ground, and a voyce proceeded from the Crucifixe, saying: O Thomas, thou hast written worthily concerning meq. And William Malmsburier reporteth, how the Crucifixe at Winchester vttered a speech in fauour of Saint Dunstane, which confounded the Priests: But Polydore speaking of the credit of this miracle, saiths; It was thought by many, that this was rather an oracle of Apollo then of God,

and proceeded from the fraud of mē, and not frō diuine power. And as Sathan wrought miracles among the Heathent by Images; So he was effectuall among the Papists by lying wonders. 2. Thess. 2.9.

2. The consequent of the Argument is false; as the Synod of Frankfordu, in the solution of the Arguments of the second Nicene Councell, answereth: for although God wrought a miracle by the waters of Iordan, in hea∣ling Naaman. 2. King. 5.14. and by the bones of Elizeus; and by the clay and spittle, Ioh. 9. yet the said creatures were not thereby made capable of adoration: euen so admit it were true, that God had wrought miracles by Images, yet from thence it followeth not, that the same ought to be adored.

Sect. 2. Wherein are deliuered some of the Protestants arguments, against worship of Images.

Arg. 1. The Lord hath expresly forbidden the adora∣tion of Images, in the Lawa and the Prophetsb, and in the New Testamentc.

Obiect. The Papists except against this argument; that God in the places alledged, condemneth the Idols of the Heathen, which were Images of false Godsd: but he condemneth not the Images of the true God, in such ap∣paritions a he made in the Scripture, nor the Images of Christ and the Saints.

Answ. The Lord condemneth in generall all Images

and Idols deuised by man, for worship and adoration, Exod. 20.5. Leu. 26.18. And the Israelites erecting Ima∣ges, in resemblance of the true Gode are condemned, Exod. 32.5. 1. King. 12.28. with c. 16.32. and 2. King. 17.28. Also the adoration of the brazen Serpentf, an image of Christ, Ioh. 3.14. and framed by diuine precept. Num. 21.9. yet because it was adored, is destroyed. 2. King. 18.4. And the Lord forbidding adoration of Images, ma∣keth such a description of them, as agrees not onely to the Idols of the Heathen, but to the Images of Christi∣ans; to wit, That they be the workmanship of a mans owne handsg, haue eyes and see not, eares and heare not, &c. Esa. 44.13. Psal. 115.4. Psal. 135.15. 1. Cor. 12.2. Also the continuall practise of the Iewes, doth shew what was the meaning of Gods law, for by vertue of the former precepts they refused all Imagesh, and admitted no Sta∣tues or Images, either of God himselfe or the Angels, or of Abraham, Moses, Elias, &c.

Arg. 2. The primitiue Church for many ages, con∣demned adoration of Images, yea, all religious vse of them. Some of them sayi; There can be no religion where Images are in vse. Augustinek condemneth worshipping or praying, looking vpon an Imagel. Ambrose saith; God wil not be worshipped by stonesm: And Augustinen; Art thou not ashamed to worship that which a Carpenter hath made. Clement of Alexandriao: Christians are forbidden to ex∣ercise the deceitfull art (of painting or caruing Images:) for the Prophet hath said, Thou shalt make vnto thy selfe no like∣nesse.

And Hieromp; The worshippers of God may not adore Images. And Augustineq; They iustly erre which seeke Christ and his Apostles, not in sacred bookes, but on painted walls. And he condemneth the worshippers of picturesr. And Irenaeuss, Epiphaniust, and Augustineu, con∣demne the Heretickes which worshipped the Images of Iesus and Paul. And some of our Aduersaries heretofore, and some Iesuitesx at this day confesse, that the primitiue Fathers abandoned Images.

Bellarminey and Suarezz pretend, that Hereticks were cōdēned by the Fathers, not simply for hauing and vsing Images, but because they did the same in an vnlawfull manner, and after the fashion of the Gentiles.

Answ. All imagerie in diuine worship, is heathenish, 1. Cor. 12.2. Neither can our Aduersaries out of the ho∣ly Scripture or Fathers, shew vs any rule for the lawfull worshipping of Images, more then for lawfull adulterie, or lawfull cutting of a mans throat in priuate malice.

Arg. 3. Many famous Papists in all ages, haue con∣demned the worshipping of Images, which proueth, that this custome is not Catholike.

Holcot saitha; No adoration is due to any Image, neither is it lawfull for any man to worship an Image. And Durandb; For as much as neither men nor Angels ought to be adored, let them consider what they doe, who vnder pretext of religi∣on and pietie, do adore diuers Images: for it is not lawfull to worship any thing made with hands.

In a prouinciall Synod holden at Mentzec, it was thus

decreed; Images are not set vp that men should adore and worship them, but that they may be put in remembrance by them of things profitable. And the same is the iudgement of many famous Papistsd; yea, our greatest Iesuitese are diuided concerning the manner of the adoration of I∣mages.

Argu. 4. No Image made by a Carpenter or founder, doth so truly resemble God or the Trinitie, as man doth which is indued with grace, Ephe. 4.24. Gen. 1.26. But religious adoration is not due to such, no not to the A∣postles, Act. 10.26. nor to Angels, Apoc. 19.10. If there∣fore we may not worship those Images of God with reli∣gious adoration which the Lord himselfe hath framed, is it not absurd to worship them which a Caruer makes? And verily an Asse deserueth more iustly to be worship∣ped then an Image, because an Image is a dead blocke or earthf, the other a liuing creature: And accordingly Clements Alexandrinus, saithg: Images are more vile then any liuing creature: and all images being earth, I haue learned to tread vpon them, and not to adore them.

Notes

• n

  Concil. Trid. sess. 25.
• o

  Tho. Aqu. 3. q. 25. ar. 3. ad. 1. Suar. 3. Tho. to. 1. d 54. §. 2. Durant. de ritib. eccl. cath. l. 1. c. 5. Thyreus de ap∣par. spir. append. 1. c. 1. Posseuin. bibl. l. 18. c 16.
• p

  Bellarm. de imag. l. 2. c. 10.
• q

  Naclant. com. Rom. cap. 1. digress. de imag. pag. 42. Non solum fatendum est, fideles adorare coram imagine, vt nonnulli ad cautelam forte loquuntur, sed & adorare imaginem sine quo volueris scrupulo: Quin & eo illam venerantur cultu, quo & prototypon eius. Propter quod, si illud habet adorari latria, & illa, latria: si illud dulia & hyperdulia, & illa pariter eiusmodi cultu adoranda est. Llamas sum. eccl par. 3. c 3. pag. 265. Tenemur ex hoc praecepto, viuificae crucis vexillum adorare, &c. At non solum crucis verae lignum ipsum, sed & imaginem crucis cuiusque materiae, vel picturae ado∣rare debemus, &c. Tho. Aqu. 3. q. 25. ar. 3. ad. 2. & 3. sent. d. 9. q. 2. Bonauent. 3. d. 9. ar. 1. q. 2. Ri∣chard. 3 d 9. ar. 2 q. 2. Albert. 3. d. 9. ar. 4. Paludan. 3. d. 9. q. 1. Almain. 3. d. 9. q. 1. concl. 5. Marsil. 3. q. 8. ar. 2. d. 2. c. 3. Maior. 3. d. 9. q. 1. Capreol. 3. d. 9. q. 1. ar. 1. c. 2. 3. Caietan. 3. q. 25. ar. 3.
• r

  Suar. 3. Tho. to. 1 d. 54. §. 3. Dicendum est hanc imaginum adorationem non esse abso∣lutam sed respe∣ctiuā, quanquā per eam non abusiue tantum, sed proprie ima∣gines adoren∣tur.
• s

  Suar. ibid. §. 4. & d. 56. §. 2. Sicut humanitas Chri∣sti coadoratur Verbo. Thyr. de appar. spir. append. 1. c. 2. n. 10. Azor. p. 1. instit. mor. l. 9. c. 6. Iac. Graph. de∣cis. aur. p. 1. l. 2. c. 2. n. 15.
• t

  Andrad. orth. expl. l. 9. pag. 284.
• u

  Sixt. Senens. bibl. l. 5. an. 247. Balthasar Hic∣marus qui Vi∣ennae exustus. Suar. tom. 1. d. 56. §. 2. Aegidius Hispanus negauit crucem esse adorandam, qui propter hunc & alios errores Hispali damnatus est.
• x

  Peres. de Trad. p. 3. de imag. Neque Scripturam neque traditionem ecclesiae, neque communem sensum Sanctorum, neque concilij generalis determi∣nationem aliquam, nec etiam rationem, qua haec efficaciter suaderi possit, adducunt.
• y

  Bellar. de scriptor. in chronol.
• z

  Genebrard. chronol. ann. 794. who citeth Ado and Regino. Aimon. de gest. Franc. l. 4. 85. Hincmar. Rhem. cont. Hincmar. Landan. c. 20. Abbas Vsperg. chron. an. 793.
• a

  Reade B. Bil∣son of subiect. part. 4. pag. 550.
• b

  Bellarm. de imag. l. 2. c. 12. Imagines Che∣rubin super ar∣cam existentes, necessario ado∣rabantur ab ijs qui arcam ado∣rabant. Suar. to. 1. d. 54. §. 3.
• c

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• d

  Gen••br. com. Psal. 98. v. 5. Iansen. ib. Ioh Campen. ib.
• e

  Tertul. contra Marciō l. 2. c. 32.
• f

  Lorin. com. Act. 17. v. 25. Constat adora∣tionem ab He∣breis non esse ipsis exhibitam.
• g

  Bellarm. de imag. l. 2. c. 12.
• Suar. 1. d. 54. §. 4. Fieri recte posse vt proto∣typum in ima∣gine, & imago cum prototypo vno actu adore∣tur: atque hoc modo posse ima¦ginem Christi adorari latria.
• h

  Tertul. de idol. c. 5.
• i

  Peres. de trad. p. 3. de im. p. 162
• k

  Altisiod sum. l. 1. c. 15. Non in quolibet signo adorandus est Deus sed in pro∣prio, sicut Moy∣ses adorauit D••••i in rubo in quo loquebatur ei, &c. & Abraham in Angelo: vnde non est adoran∣dus in lapide, eslet enim ido∣lolatria, de non proprio signo Dei facere pro∣prium.
• l

  Bellar. de i∣mag. l. 2. c 12. Suat. p. 1. d. 54. §. 3 Deus ••arijs miraculis per imagines sactis, hunc cultum, sibi placitum esse testarus est.
• m

  Carus loc. l. 11. c 4. & 6. Vt iam pudendum sortastis sit, hi∣stori••••s quosdā gentium ••uisse v••raciores quā nostros
• n

  Gabr. Biel. can. Miss. lect. 49 Al quando miracula fiunt &c. non virtute imaginum, sed opera∣tione daemonum.
• o

  Lira super Daniel. c. 14.
• p

  Antonin. sum. hist. p. 3. tit. 23. c 6. §. 3. Dou∣rolt. Ie uit flores exemplar. cap. 7. tit. 29. §. 6. Vbi coram imagine crucifixi, tert••ò genua fl••••••t, vi∣sus est à quodam sancto viro ad singulas genu flexiones, nobilis illius, Crocifixus caput••n••m hu∣militer inclinare.
• q

  Antonin ib. 7 §. 11.
• r

  M••lmesb de gest. Reg. Angl. l 2. c. ••. Alia li••••••ae docent, Dominicam imaginem expresse loquutam clericos, eorumq́ue fautores consudisse.
• s

  Polydor. hist. Angl. l. 6. pag. 121.
• t

  Bellar de imag l. 2. c. 13. Diaboli opera interdum idola moueban∣tur.
• u

  Synod. Frank∣ford. Resp ad arg. 44. Niceni Concilij.
• a

  Exod. 20.5. Deut. 5.8. Leuit. 26.1. Exod 32. Num 23 11. & 25.3 Deut. 4.15.
• b

  Psal. 1.5.4 & 135 15. Esa. 40.17 & 44.8. & 44 13 & 16.5. Hab. 2.18.
• c

  Act. 15.20. & 17.29. Rom. 1.23.25. 1. Cor. 10 14. 2 Cor 6.16. Gal. 4.8. & 5.20. 1. Thess. 1.••. Act 14.13. Apoc. 9.20. & 19.26. 1. Ioh. 5.21.
• d

  Bellar. de imag. l. 2. c. 13. ••uares. Greg. Val & alij. Ioh. Arbor. Theosoph. lib. 1. cap. 37. Vetat fieri imagines, & adorari propter se, & summe, & more gentilium, &c.
• e

  Abulens. in Exod 32. q. 7.
• f

  Lo••in. com. Act. 17.25. Ser∣pentem aeneum conflari iussit Deus, &c. non ita vt adorati vellet, quod cum deinceps popu∣lus faceret, ali∣quo modo in∣censum adolen∣do, Deus con∣fregit. Tertul. de idol. c. 5.
• g

  Chrys. in Gen. hom. 57. Qui vo¦cem habetis & aures, & rationis estis participes, ad ea quae nul∣lum habent sen∣sum tanquam bruta abduci∣mini. Aug. in Psal. 113 c. 2. Plus valent ad curu••ndam infelicem ani∣mam, quia os habent, oculos habent, aures h••bent, nares habent manus habent, pedes habent, &c.
• h

  Tertul. contra Marc. l. 4. c. 22. & apol. c. 16 Orig con. Cels. l. 5. Ioseph. con. Appion. Tacitus annal l. 5. Vasq 2. de ador. d. 4.
• i

  Lactant. instit. l 2. c. 19.
• k

  Aug. in Psal. 13. Quis adorat vel orat in••u••ns simulach••ū?
• l

  Arnob. con. gent l. 6. offic. Rom. ex de cr. Concil. Trid Fest. inuent. sanct cru•••• O crux splendi∣dior cunctis astris, mundo celebris, &c. salua praesentem cateruam.
• m

  Ambros. l. 5. ep. 31.
• n

  Aug. in Psal. 149.
• o

  Clem. Al. orat. cont. gentes, & Strom. l. 5.
• p

  Hieron in 3. c. Daniel.
• q

  Aug de cons. euang. l. 1 c. 10.
• r

  Aug. de mor. eccles. cath. c. 34. & in Psal. 113. conc. 2.
• s

  Iren. l 1. c 24.
• t

  Epiphan. haer. 27. & haer 80. in anacheph.
• u

  Aug. haeres. 7.
• x

  Bellarm. de imag. l 2. c. 24. Qui colebant imaginē Christi diuinis honori∣bus, ••••ter haere∣ticos nume∣rantur ab Ire∣naeo, &c. atque isti fine dubio, imaginem eius propter ipsu•• co••••bant B Ren in. annot. Tertul. conc. Va∣lentin. in fine. Imaginē Christi iconicam vene∣rabantur Calland in cons. Nich Clemang. lib. de ••ouis se∣stis.
• y

  Bellarm de imag l. •• c 16.
• z

  Suar p. 1. l. 54. §. 3.
• ••u••eb hist l 7 c. 17. Nec mirum videri debet, eos, qui ex gentibus olim à seruatore no∣st••o cu••ti ••u••, ••sta fecis••e, quando & apostolorum illius imagines, Pauli & Petri & Christi, in ta∣bul••s c••l••••b•• depict is astetuari vidimus, quod veteres ex gentili consuetudine, eos quos serua∣tores putabant ad hunc mod••m adorare soliti fuerunt.
• a

  Holcot. com. in Sapient. lect. 154.
• b

  Duran. Ration 4•• ar. Can. Rubr. 9.
• c

  Synod. prouinc. Mogunt. sub Archiep. Sebastian. c. 41.
• d

  Enchirid. Co∣lon. expos. de cal. Gers. p. 2. comp. theol. de 10. prae∣cept expo•• 1. ad adorandum & co••endum pro∣hibentur.
• e

  Bellar. de ima. l. 2. c 10. Suar. to. ••. d. 54. §. 3 & 4.
• f

  Aug. n Psal. 1 13. c ••. S•• pu∣d••at adorare be∣stiam quam De{us} fecit v••dentem, audientem, &c. quam pudendū est adorare mu∣tum & carens vita, sen uq́ue simulachram?
• g

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. p, 17.