Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 2.

Q. VVHat doe you terme Idolatry?

A. Idolatry is when any Divine worship, either in∣ternall,* 1.1 or externall, is given to any Image, or Idol, set to re∣present God; of what kind or fashion soever it be.

Obj. There is a difference betwixt an Image and an Idol, for an Idol is a representation of a thing that is not, neither hath any being in the world, as if one should make the Image of a mans bo∣dy, with the head of a dogge, or a body with two faces, being such a shape as the eye hath not seen, but the minde imagined; but an Image is of such a thing as may be seen in the world.

Ans. The difference betwixt a graven Image, and a similitude* 1.2 is this, the graven Image is a picture proportioned and fashioned out of wood, stone, or metall, and so carved, or graven; and a

similitude is an Image, painted in plain Tables, therefore that distinction is vain.

Obj. Man is the Image of God, but it is lawfull to make the Image of the Image of God, ergo the Image of God.

Ans. Man is made the Image of God in his Soul, and not in his Body, which Image (the Apostle saith) consisteth in righte∣ousnesse and true holinesse, Eph. 4. 24. and therefore that in man, wherein he is like unto God, is spirituall, and invisible, and therefore cannot by a visible Image be deciphered.

Obj. They doe not worship the Image, but the thing represented by the Image.

Ans. That was the Gentiles pretence in maintaining their Idolatry, as also the Israelites, in making their golden Calfe,* 1.3 had relation unto God; for they proclaimed an holy day, Exod. 32. 5. yet their pretext excused them not; God there∣fore forbiddeth Idolatry under any pretence whatsoever, and if they doe not worship the Idol it selfe, why doe they give divers kinds of worship unto Images, as to the Image of Christ more▪ and to the Image of Saints lesse.

Obj. The honour of the signe, redoundeth to the thing signified.

Ans. If the signe be pleasing to him that is signified, but if it be such as he forbiddeth, and condemneth, it is rather a disho∣nour then an honour, and so the adoring of Images, is a dishonour to God.

Obj. The contumely and dishonour offered to the Image of God, is a dishonour to God himself; therefore the honour thereof redoun∣eth unto God.

Ans. If any man with a spightfull intention against Christ, doe deface his Image, or Picture, it is contumelious against Christ, because of the evill intention of the heart, but if any doe it out of a zealous minde against Idolatry and Superstition, it is no disho∣nour unto Christ, in which zeal (against Idolatry and Supersti∣tion) Epiphanius is said to have rent a certain cloth in a Church, which had on it the picture of Christ; in which sence also Con∣stantius, and Theodotius destroyed Images in every place, and therefore that Argument holdeth no better then the other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What Idolatry ••••.
• * 1.2

  The difference betwixt an Image and a Similitude.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 81. 11. 12 Rom. 1. 23, 24 1 Sam. 7. 3, 4, 5