Vers. 18. To whom then will ye liken God? Or what similitude will ye set vp vn∣to him?
THe Iewes were in great danger of falling from God in regard of another tempta∣tion: for it is certaine that the Assyrians and Caldeans obteined not so many victories without ye assistance of other nations: thence the Iewes might conclude; What auailes it vs to haue a seruice of God apart from other nations, seeing our enemies in fighting haue victorie from heauen; and our God in the meane while succors not vs at all? Neither is it to be doubted but the infidels also mocked these poore captiues, as it appeares by other places.
That this calamitie then might not cause the Iewes to forget the true religion; God riseth vp and saith, that a greater wrong can not be done vnto him, then if the faithfull being wrung by afflictions, should there∣fore conforme themselues to the idolatries and superstitions of the Gentiles. Thus then he confirmes them in the truth of his promi∣ses, lest they should faint vnder the burthens which they were to susteine.
But the Prophet speakes not to the men of his time only, as we haue said, but to all their [ 1] successors who were to vndergoe sharp as∣saults against the Idols of prophane nations, [ 2] vnder whom they were held captiues. And in the second place they had enough to doe to shunne the euill examples and customes of those nations: for it was exceeding difficult for them to continue constant being ming∣led among Idolaters, and dayly beholding their corrupt maners. To the end therefore that they might not be tainted with any vain conceit, to wit, that the affaires of the Idola∣ters prospered well, in regard of the honour which they did to their Idols and false gods: the Prophet, I say, preuents such an offence, and saith, that they vvere in no vvise to compare the gods of the Gentiles vvith the God vvhom they and their fathers vvorshipped: for those gods were made with mens hands; the matter of them being but gold, siluer, wood, stone, or such like: but their God was the Creator of heauen and earth. Great must the outrage be therefore against his Maiestie, when the same shall be compared with things of nothing: yea, it is a dishonor in the highest degree if he be not exalted farre aboue the Angels, or whatsoeuer is called God.
When S. Paul vseth this testimonie against Idolaters,* 1.1 he peruerts not the true sense of the Prophets words; but from thence hee rightlie gathers, that it is a wicked thing to represent God by any similitude at all. And our Prophet not only disswades the Iewes here from distrust, but also therewithall con∣demnes the superstitions of the Gentiles; shewing it to be a thing quite repugnant to the nature of God to be represented by any grauen Image. And thus we see the Apostles doctrine sutes well with this place: for the Prophet hauing prooued that Gods power is infinite, seeing he is able to comprehend all things in his fill, vers. 12. at last he concludes, To vvhom vvill ye liken me? Make what Image you will, it shall be nothing like me. This is a very profitable doctrine, and well worthie our obseruation: for were there but this one text, it were enough to refute all the inuen∣tions wherewith the Papists are misled, who permit it as lawfull to represent God by out∣ward shapes and figures. The Prophet holds it as a resolued truth, that it is vnpossible to make an Image of corruptible matter, that should any way be able to match with the glorie of God: he vtterlie reiects the Idols themselues: so farre is he off then from spea∣king of adoring them, that he counts it euen an execrable and horrible sacrilege so much as to frame or carue them, and to set them vp before God.
But the holy Scripture is full of such sen∣tences. Moses aduertiseth the people who were inclined to this vice, You saw no simili∣tude nor shape (saith he) in the mountaine, only you heard a voice, take heed therefore lest being corrupted, you should make you any grauen Image, Deut. 4.12.15. Wil we haue a right knowledge of God then?* 1.2 Let vs not frame him after our fantasies, but seeke him out in his word, where we shall find his Image represented vnto vs in most liuely colours. Let vs content our selues with this know∣ledge, and neuer enterprise any thing of our owne heads, for other meanes, as Idols,* 1.3 and Images, will neuer teach vs the truth, but va∣nitie & lies, as Ieremiah very well saith, Chap. 10.8. The stock is but a doctrine of vanitie: And Abacuck, Chap. 2.18. The grauen Image is a thing teaching lies. Now whereas the Lord sometimes compares himselfe to a Lyon, to a Beare, a man, or the like, this is nothing to prooue the lawfull vse of Images as the Pa∣pists dreame:* 1.4 but such similitudes serue to set forth the goodnes, lenitie, anger, or seue∣ritie of God, with other affections attributed vnto him; which can not be manifested vnto vs but vnder similitudes of things familiarly knowne. To conclude, if it were lawfull to represent God by an Image, we should then put no differēce between him and the dung∣hill gods of the Gentiles, and so the Prophets doctrine could not stand firme.