HOMILY AGAINST PERIL OF IDOLATRY
from Short-Title Catalogue 13675. Renaissance Electronic Texts 1.1.
Short-Title Catalogue 13675. Renaissance Electronic Texts 1.1.
copyright 1994 Ian Lanca****re (ed.) University of Toronto
AN HOMILIE AGAINST
perill of Idolatrie, and superfluous decking
of Churches.
The first part. IN what points the true ornaments of the Church or
Temple of GOD do consist and stand, hath beene declared in the two
last Homilies, entreating of the right vse of the Temple or house of
GOD, and of the due reuerence that all true Christian people are bound
to giue vnto the same. The summe whereof is, that the Church or house
of GOD, is a place appointed by the holy Scriptures, where the liuely
word of GOD ought to bee read, taught, and heard, the Lords holy name
called vpon by publike prayer, hearty thankes giuen to his Maiestie
for his infinite and vnspeakable benefits bestowed vpon vs, his holy
Sacraments duely and reuerently ministred, and that therefore all that
be godly indeed, ought both with diligence at times appointed, to
repayre together to the sayd Church, and there with all reuerence to
vse and behaue themselues before the Lord. And that the sayd Church
thus godly vsed by the seruants of the Lord, in the Lords true
seruice, for the effectuall presence of GODS grace, wherewith he doeth
by his holy word and promises, endue his people there present and
assembled, to the attainement, aswell of commodities worldly,
necessary for vs, as also of all heauenly gifts, and life euerlasting,
is called by the word of GOD (as it is indeed) the Temple of the Lord,
and the house of GOD, and that therefore the due reuerence thereof, is
stirred vp in the hearts of the godly, by the consideration of these
true ornaments of the sayd house of GOD, and not by any outward
ceremonies or costly and glorious decking of the sayd house or Temple
of the Lord, contrary to the which most manifest doctrine of the
Scriptures, and contrary to the vsage of the Primitiue Church, which
was most pure and vncorrupt, and contrary to the sentences and
iudgements of the most ancient, learned and godly Doctours of the
Church (as heereafter shall appeare) the corruption of these latter
dayes, hath brought into the Church infinite multitudes of images, and
the same, with other parts of the Temple also, haue decked with gold
and siluer, painted with colours, set them with stone and pearle,
clothed them with silkes and precious vestures, fancying vntruely that
to be the chiefe decking and adorning of the Temple or house of GOD,
and that all people should bee the more mooued to the due reuerence of
the same, if all corners thereof were glorious, and glistering with
gold and precious stones. Whereas indeed they by the sayd images, and
such glorious decking of the Temple, haue nothing at all profited such
as were wise and of vnderstanding: but haue thereby greatly hurt the
simple and vnwise, occasioning them thereby to commit most horrible
idolatrie. And the couetous persons, by the same occasion, seeming to
wor****p, and peraduenture wor****pping indeed, not onely the images,
but also the matter of them, gold and siluer, as that vice is of all
others in the Scriptures peculiarly called idolatrie or wor****pping of
images (Ephesians 5.5, Colossians 3.5). Against the which foule abuses
and great enormities shall be alleadged vnto you: First, the authority
of GODS holy word, aswell out of the old Testament, as of the new. And
secondly, the testimonies of the holy and ancient learned Fathers and
Doctours, out of their owne workes and ancient histories
Ecclesiasticall, both that you may at once know their iudgements, and
withall vnderstand what maner of ornaments were in the Temples in the
Primitiue Church in those times, which were most pure and syncere.
Thirdly, the reasons and arguments made for the defence of images or
idols, and the outragious decking of Temples and Churches, with gold,
siluer, pearle, and precious stone, shall be confuted, and so this
whole matter concluded. But lest any should take occasion by the way,
of doubting by wordes or names, it is thought good heere to note first
of all, that although in common speech we vse to call the likenesse or
similitudes of men or other things images, and not idols: yet the
Scriptures vse the sayd two words (idols and images) indifferently for
one thing alway. They be words of diuers tongues and sounds, but one
in sense and signification in the Scriptures. The one is taken of the
Greeke word (ed. note: probably eikwn), an Idol, and the other of the
Latine word Imago, an Image, and so both vsed as English termes in the
translating of Scriptures indifferently, according as the Septuaginta
haue in their translation in Greeke, (ed. note: probably eidwlon), and
S. Ierome in his translation of the same places in Latin hath
Simulachra, in English, Images. And in the new Testament, that which
S. Iohn calleth eidwlon, S. Ierome likewise translateth Simulachrum,
as in all other like places of Scripture vsually hee doeth so
translate (1 John 5.21). And S. Ierome, a most ancient Doctor, and
well learned in both the tongues, Greeke and Latine, interpreting this
place of S. Iohn, Beware of Idols, that is to say (sayth S. Ierome) of
the images themselues: the Latin words which he vseth, be Effigies and
Imago, to say, an Image (S. Ierome, Liber de Corona Militis). And
therefore it skilleth not, whether in this processe wee vse the one
terme or the other, or both together, seeing they both (though not in
common English speech, yet in Scripture) signifie one thing. And
though some to blinde mens eyes, haue heretofore craftily gone about
to make them to be taken for words of diuers signification in matters
of Religion, and haue therefore vsually named the likenesse or
similitude of a thing set vp amongst the Heathen in their Temples or
other places to bee wor****pped, an Idoll. But the like similitude with
vs, set vp in the Church, the place of wor****pping, they call an
Image, as though these two words (Idoll and Image) in Scripture, did
differ in proprietie and sense, which as is aforesaid) differ onely in
sound and language, and in meaning bee in deed all one, specially in
the Scriptures and matters of Religion. And our Images also haue
beene, and bee, and if they bee publikely suffered in Churches and
Temples, euer will bee also wor****pped, and so Idolatrie committed to
them, as in the last part of this Homilie shall at large bee declared
and prooued. Wherefore our Images in Temples and Churches, bee in deed
none other but Idoles, as vnto the which Idolatrie hath beene, is, and
euer will be committed.
And first of all, the Scriptures of the olde Testament, condemning and
abhorring aswell all Idolatrie or wor****pping of Images, as also the
very Idoles or Images themselues, specially in Temples, are so many
and plentifull; that it weere almost an infinite worke, and to bee
conteined in no small volume, to record all the places concerning the
same. For when GOD had chosen to himselfe a peculiar and speciall
people from amongst all other Nations that knew not GOD, but
wor****pped Idols and false gods, he gaue vnto them certaine ordinances
and Lawes to bee kept and obserued of his said people. But concerning
none other matter did hee giue either moe, or more earnest and
expresse Lawes to his said people, then those that concerned the true
wor****pping of him, and the auoyding and fleeing of Idols and Images,
and Idolatrie: for that, both the said Idolatrie is most repugnant to
the right wor****pping of him and his true glorie, aboue all other
vices, and that hee knew the pronenesse and inclination of mans
corrupt kinde and nature, to that most odious and abominable vice. Of
the which ordinances and Lawes, so giuen by the Lord to his people
concerning that matter, I will rehearse and alleadge some that bee
most speciall for this purpose, that you by them may iudge of the
rest.
In the fourth Chapter of the Booke named, is a notable place, and most
worthy with all diligence to be marked, which beginneth thus: And now
Israel heare the Commandements and Iudgements which I teach thee
(saith the Lord) that thou doing them, maist liue, and enter and
possesse the land which the Lord GOD of your Fathers will giue you.
Yee shall put nothing to the word which I speake to you, neither shall
ye take any thing from it. Keepe yee the Commandements of the Lord
your GOD, which I commaund you (Deuteronomy 4.1-2, Numbers 22.18, 35,
38). And by and by after hee repeateth the same sentence three or
foure times, before hee come to the matter that hee would speacially
warne them of, as it were for a Preface, to make them to take the
better heed vnto it. Take heed to thy selfe (saith he) and to thy
soule, with all carefulnesse, lest thou forgettest the things which
thine eyes haue seene, and that they goe not out of thine heart all
the dayes of thy life, thou shalt teach them to thy children and
nephewes, or posteritie. And shortly after, The Lord spake vnto you
out of the middle of fire, but you heard the voyce or sound of his
words, but you did see no forme or shape at all. And by and by
followeth, Take heed therefore diligently vnto your soules, you saw no
manner of Image in the day in the which the Lord spake vnto you in
Horeb, out of the middest of the fire, lest peraduenture, you being
deceiued, should make to your selues any grauen Image, or likenesse of
man or woman, or the likenesse of any beast which is vpon the earth,
or of the birds that flee vnder heauen, or of any creeping thing that
is mooued on the earth, or of the fishes that doe continue in the
waters: least peraduenture thou lifting vp thine eyes to heauen, doe
see the Sunne and the Moone, and the Starres of heauen, and so thou,
being deceiued by errour, shouldest honour, and wor****p them which the
Lord thy GOD hath created to serue all Nations that be vnder heauen.
And againe: Beware that thou forget not the couenant of the Lord thy
GOD, which hee made with thee, and so make to thy selfe any carued
Image of them which the Lord hath forbidden to bee made: for the Lord
thy GOD is a consuming fire, and a iealous GOD. If thou haue children
and nephewes, and doe tarry in the land, and being deceiued doe make
to your selues and similitude, doing euill before the Lord your GOD,
and prouoke him to anger: I doe this day call vpon heauen and earth to
witnesse, that ye shall quickly perish out of hte land which you shall
possesse, you shall not dwell in it any long time, but the Lord will
destroy you, and will scatter you amongst all Nations, and ye shall
remaine but a very few amongst the Nations, whither the Lord will
leade you away, and then shall you serue gods which are made with mans
hands, of wood and stone, which see not, and heare not, neither eat
nor smell, and so foorth. This is a notable chapter, and entreateth
almost altogether of this matter. But because it is too long to write
out the whole, I haue noted you certaine principall points out of it.
First, how earnestly and oft he calleth vpon them to marke and to take
heed, and that vpon the perill of their soules, to the charge which he
giueth them. Then how he forbiddeth by a solemne and long rehearsall
of all things in heauen, in earth, and in the water, any Image or
likenesse of any thing at all to be made. Thirdly, what penaltie and
horrible destruction, he solemnely, with inuocation of heauen and
earth, for record, denounceth and threatneth to them, their children
and posteritie, if they contrary to this Commandement, do make or
wor****p any Images or similitude, which he so straightly hath
forbidden. And when they, this notwithstanding, partly by inclination
of mans corrupt nature most prone to Idolatry, and partly occasioned
by the Gentiles and heathen people dwelling about them, who were
Idolaters, did fall to the making and wor****pping of Images: GOD
according to his word, brought vpon them all those plagues which hee
threatned them with, as appeareth in the bookes of the Kings and the
Chronicles, in sundry places at large. And agreeable hereunto are many
other notable places in the old Testament, (Deuteronomy 27) "Cursed be
he that maketh a carued Image, or a cast or molten Image, which is
abomination before the Lord, the worke of the artificers hand, and
setteth it vp in a secret corner, and all the people shall say, Amen."
Read the thirteene and fourteene Chapters of the booke of Wisedome,
concerning Idoles or Images, how they be made, set vp, called vpon,
and offered vnto, and how he praiseth the tree whereof the gibbet is
made, as happy, in comparison to the tree that an Image or Idoll is
made of, euen by these very words, Happy is the tree wherethrough
righteousnesse commeth, (meaning the gibbet) but cursed is the Idoll
that is made with hands, yea, both it, and hee that made it, and so
foorth (Apocrypha. Wisdom 14.7-8). And by and by hee sheweth how that
the things which were the good creatures of GOD before (as Trees or
Stones) when they be once altered and fa****oned into Images to bee
wor****pped, become abomination, a temptation vnto the soules of men,
and a snare for the feet of the vnwise. And why? the seeking out of
Images, is the beginning of whoredome (sayth hee) and the bringing vp
of them, is the destruction of life: for they were not from the
beginning, neither shall they continue for euer. The wealthy idlenes
of men hath found them out vpon earth, therefore shall they come
shortly to an end: and so foorth to the end of the Chapter, conteining
these points, Now Idoles or Images were first inuented, and offered
vnto, how by an vngracious custome they were established, how tyrants
compell men to wor****p them, how the ignorant and the common people
are deceiued by the cunning of the workeman, and the beautie of the
Image, to doe honour vnto it, and so to erre from the knowledge of
GOD, and of other great and many mischiefes that come by Images. And
for a conclusion hee saith, that the honouring of abominable Images,
is the cause, the beginning, and end of all euill, and that the
wor****ppers of them be either mad, or most wicked. See and view the
whole Chapter with diligence, for it is worthy to be well considered,
specially that is written of the deceauing of the simple and vnwise
common people by Idols and Images, and repeated twise or thrise lest
it should be forgotten. And in the Chapter following be these words:
The painting of the picture and carued Image with diuers colours,
entiseth the ignorant so, that he honoureth and loueth the picture of
a dead image that hath no soule (Apocrypha. Wisdom 15.4-5).
Neuerthelesse, they that loue such euill things, they that trust in
them, they that make them, they that fauour them, and they that honour
them, are all worthy of death, and so foorth.
In the booke of Psalmes, the Prophet curseth the Image honourers, in
diuers places. Confounded be all they that wor****p carued Images, and
that delight or glory in them (Psalms 97.7, 96.5, 115.8). Like bee
they vnto the Images that make them, and all they that put their trust
in them (Psalms 135.15, 18). And in the Prophet Esai, sayth the Lord:
Euen I am the Lord, and this is my Name, and my glory will I giue to
none other, neither my honour to grauen Images (Isaiah 42.8). And by
and by: Let them bee confounded with shame that trust in Idoles or
Images, or say to them, you are our GODS, And in the xl. Chapter after
he hath set foorth the incomprehensible Maiestie of GOD, he asketh, To
whom then will yee make GOD like? Or what similitude will yee set vp
vnto him (Isaiah 40.18)? Shall the caruer make him a carued Image? and
shall the Goldsmith couer him with gold, and cast him into a forme of
siluer plates? And for the poore man, shall the Image maker frame an
Image of timber, that hee may haue somewhat to set vp also? And after
this he cryeth out: O wretches, heard ye neuer of this? Hath it not
beene preached vnto you since the beginning, and so foorth, how by the
Creation of the world, and the greatnesse of the worke, they might
vnderstand the Maiestie of GOD, the the Creatour and maker of all, to
be greater then that it should be expressed, or set forth in any Image
or bodily similitude? And besides this preaching, euen in the law of
GOD written with his owne finger (as the Scripture speaketh) and that
in the first Table, and the beginning thereof, is this doctrine
aforesaid against Images (not briefly touched) but at large set foorth
and preached, and that with denunciation of destruction to the
contemners and breakers of this Law, and their posteritie after them
(Exodus 20.4). And lest it should yet not be marked or not remembred,
the same is written and re****ted not in one, but in sundry places of
the Word of GOD, that by oft reading and hearing of it, wee might once
learne and remember it, as you also heare daily read in the Church,
GOD spake these words, and said, I am the Lord thy GOD. Thou shalt
haue none other GODS but me. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any
grauen Image, nor the likenesse of any thing that is in Heauen aboue,
nor in the Earth beneath, nor in the water vnder the Earth, Thou shalt
not bowe downe to them, nor wor****p them: For I the Lord thy GOD am a
iealous GOD, and visit the sinne of the fathers vpon the children,
vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate mee, and shew
mercie vnto thousands in them that loue mee, and keepe my
Commandements (Exodus 20.1-6, Leviticus 26.13, Deuteronomy 5.6-10).
All this notwithstanding, neither could the notablenesse of the place,
being the very beginning of the very louing Lords Law, make vs to
marke it, nor the plaine declaration by recounting of all kind of
similitudes, cause vs to vnderstand it, nor the oft repeating and
re****ting of it in diuers and sundry places, the oft reading and
hearing of it, could cause vs to remember it, nor the dread of the
horrible penaltie to our selues, our children, and posterity after vs,
feare vs from transgressing of it, nor the greatnesse of the rewarde
to vs and our children after vs, mooue vs any thing to obedience, and
the obseruing of this the Lords great Law: But as though it had beene
written in some corner, and not at large expressed, but briefely and
obscurely touched, as though no penalty to the transgressours, nor
reward to the obedient, had beene adioyned vnto it, like blind men
without all knowledge and vnderstanding, like vnreasonable beastes,
without dread of punishment or respect of reward, haue diminished and
dishonoured the high Maiestie of the liuing GOD, by the basenesse and
vilenesse of sundry and diuers images of dead stockes, stones, and
metals.
Places of the Scripture against idoles or images. And as the Maiestie
of GOD, whom we haue left, forsaken, and dishonoured, and therefore
the greatnesse of our sinne and offence against his Maiestie, cannot
bee expressed: So is the weakenesse, vilenesse, and foolishnesse, in
deuice of the images (whereby wee haue dishonoured him) expressed at
large in the Scriptures, namely the Psalmes, the booke of Wisedome,
the Prophet Esaias, Ezekiel, and Baruch, specially in these places and
Chapters of them: Psalms 115.8, 135.15, Apocrypha: Wisdom 13, 14, 15,
Isaiah 40.18, 44.9, and Ezekiel 6.13. The which places, as I exhort
you often and diligently to reade, so are they too long at this
present to be rehearsed in an Homilie. Notwithstanding, I will make
you certaine briefe or short notes out of them, what they say of these
idoles or images. First, that they bee made but of small pieces of
wood, stone, or mettall, and therefore they cannot be any similitudes
of the great Maiestie of GOD, whose seate is heauen, and the earth his
footestoole. Secondarily, that they bee dead, haue eyes and see not,
hands and feele not, feete and cannot goe, & c. and therefore they
cannot be fit similitudes of the liuing GOD. Thirdly, that they haue
no power to doe good nor harme to others, though some of them haue an
axe, some a sword, some a speare in their hands, yet doe theeues come
into their Temples and robbe them, and they cannot once sturre to
defend themselues from the thieues: nay, if the Temple or Church bee
set afire, that their Priests can run away and saue themselues, but
they cannot once mooue, but tary still like blockes as they are, and
be burned, and therefore they can bee no meete figures of the puissant
and mighty GOD, who alone is able both to saue his seruants, and to
destroy his enemies euerlastingly. They bee trimly deckt in Golde,
Siluer, and Stone, aswell the images of men, as of women, like wanton
wenches (sayth the Prophet Baruch) that loue paramours, and therefore
can they not teach vs, nor our wiues and daughters any sobernesse,
modestie, and chastitie (Ezekiel 6.9-11). And therefore although it is
now commonly sayd that they be the lay mens bookes, yet wee see they
teach no good lesson, neither of GOD, nor godlinesse, but all errour
and wickednesse. Therefore GOD by his word, as he forbiddeth any
idoles or images to bee made or set vp: so doeth hee commaund such as
wee finde made and set vp to bee pulled downe, broken, and destroyed.
And it is written in the booke of Numbers, the xxiii. Chapter, that
there was no idole in Iacob, nor there was no image seene in Israel,
and that the Lord GOD was with the people (Numbers 23.21, ed. note:
the Hebrew word 'aven means both trouble/sorrow and idolatry). Where
note, that the true Israelites, that is, the people of GOD, haue no
images among them, but that GOD was with them, and that therefore
their enemies cannot hurt them, as appeareth in the processe of that
Chapter. And as concerning Images already set vp, thus saith the Lord
in Deuteronomie. Ouerturne their altars, and breake them to pieces,
cut downe their groues, burne their images: for thou art an holy
people vnto the Lord (Deuteronomy 7.5, 12.2-3). And the same is
repeated more vehemently againe in the twelfth Chapter of the same
booke. Here not, what the people of GOD ought to doe to images, where
they finde them. But lest any priuate persons, vpon colour of
destroying images, should make any stirre or disturbance in the common
wealth, it must alwayes be remembred, that the redresse of such
publique enormities perteineth to the Magistrates, and such as be in
authoritie onely, and not to priuate persons, and therefore the good
Kings of Iuda, Asa, Ezechias, Iosaphat, and Iosias, are highly
commended for the breaking downe and destroying of the altars, idoles,
and images. And the Scriptures declare that they, specially in that
point, did that which was right before the Lord. And contrariwise,
Hieroboam, Achab, Ioas, and other Princes, which either set vp, or
suffered such altars or images vndestroyed, are by the word of GOD
re****ted to haue done euill before the Lord (1 Kings 14.9, 2 Kings
13.11, 2 Chro.14, 15.31, 1 Kings 16.32). And if any, contrary to the
commaundement of the Lord, will needes set vp such altars or images,
or suffer them vndestroyed amongst them, the Lord himselfe threatneth
in the first Chapter of the booke of Numbers, and by his holy
Prophets, Ezechiel, Micheas, and Abacuc, that he will come himselfe
and pull them downe. And how hee will handle, punish, and destroy the
people that so set vp, or suffer such altars, images, or idoles
vndestroyed, he denounceth by his Prophet Ezechiel on this manner:
I my selfe (sayth the Lord) will bring a sward ouer you, to destroy
your high places, I will cast downe your altars, and breake downe your
images, your slaine men will I lay before your gods, and the dead
carkases of the children of Israel will I cast before their idoles,
your bones will I straw round about your altars and dwelling places,
your Cities shall bee desolate, the hill Chappels layd waste, your
altars destroyed and broken, your gods cast downe and taken away, your
Temples layd euen with the ground, your owne workes cleane rooted out,
your slayne men shall lye amongst you, that yee may learne to know how
that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 6.3-7).
and so foorth to the Chapters ende, worthy with diligence to be read:
that they that be neare, shall perish with the sword, they that bee
farre off, with the pestilence, they that flee into holds or
wildernesse, with hunger: and if any be yet left, that they shalbe
caryed away prisoners to seruitude and bondage. So that if either the
multitude, or plainnesse of the places might make vs to vnderstand, or
the earnest charge that GOD giueth in the sayd places mooue vs to
regard, or the horrible plagues, punishments, and dreadfull
destruction, threatned to such wor****ppers of images or idoles,
setters vp, or maintainers of them, might ingender any feare in our
hearts, wee would once leaue and forsake this wickednesse, being in
the Lords sight so great an offence and abomination. Infinite places
almost might bee brought out of the Scriptures of the olde Testament
concerning this matter, but these few at this time shall serue for
all.
You will say peraduenture these things pertaine to the Iewes, what
haue wee to doe with them? Indeed they pertaine no lesse to vs
Christians, then to them. For if we be the people of GOD, how can the
Word and Law of GOD not appertaine to vs? Saint Paul alleadging one
text out of the old Testament, concludeth generally for other
Scriptures of the old Testament as well as that, saying, Whatsoeuer is
written before (meaning in the old Testament) is written for our
instruction (Romans 15.4): which sentence is most specially true of
such writings of the old Testament, as containe the immutable law and
ordinances of GOD, in no age or time to be altered, nor of any persons
of any nations or age to bee disobeyed, such as the aboue rehearsed
places be. Notwithstanding, for your further satisfying herein,
according to my promise, I will out of the Scriptures of the new
Testament or Gospel of our Sauiour Christ, likewise make a
confirmation of the said doctrine against Idoles or Images, and of our
duetie concerning the same. First the Scriptures of the new Testament
doe in sundry places make mention with reioycing, as for a most
excellent benefit and gift of GOD, that they which receiued the Faith
of Christ, were turned from their dumbe and dead Images, vnto the true
and liuing GOD, who is to be blessed for euer: namely in these places,
the xiiii. and xvii. of the Acts of the Apostles, the eleuenth to the
Romanes, the first Epistle to the Corinthians, the twelfth Chapter, to
the Galathians, the fourth, and the first to the Thessalonians the
first Chapter.
And in likewise the said is Idoles, Images, and wor****pping of them,
are in the Scriptures of the new Testament by the spirit of GOD much
abhorred and detested, and earnestly forbidden, as appeareth both in
the forenamed places, and also many other besides, as in the seuen,
and fifteenth of the Actes of the Apostles, the first to the Romanes,
where is set foorth the horrible plague of Idolaters, giuen ouer by
GOD into a reprobate sense to worke all wickednes and abominations not
to be spoken, as vsually spirituall and carnall Fornication goe
together.
In the first Epistle to the Corinthians the fifth Chapter, we are
forbidden once to keepe company, or to eate and drinke with such as
bee called brethren or Christians that doe wor****p Images. In
Galatians 5.20, the wor****pping of Images is numbred amongst the
workes of the flesh. and in 1 Corinthians 10.19-20, it is called the
seruice of deuils, and that such as vse it, shall be destroyed. And in
1 Corinthians 6.9, and Galatians 5.20-21, is denounced, that such
Image wor****ppers shall neuer come into the inheritance of the
Kingdome of heauen. And in sundry other places is threatned, that the
wrath of GOD shall come vpon all such. And therefore Saint Iohn in 1
John 5.21 exhorteth vs as his deare children to beware of Images. And
Saint Paul warneth vs to flee from the wor****pping of them, if we be
wise, that is to say, if wee care for health, and feare destruction,
if we regard the Kingdome of GOD and life euerlasting, and dread the
wrath of GOD, and euerlasting damnation (1 Corinthians 10.14). For it
is not possible that wee should be wor****ppers of Images, and the true
seruants of GOD also, as S. Paul teacheth, in 2 Corinthians 6.16,
affirming expressely that there can bee no more consent or agreement
betweene the Temple of GOD (which all true Christians be) and Images,
then betweene righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse, betweene light and
darkenesse, betweene the faithfull and the vnfaithfull, or betweene
Christ and the deuill. Which place enforceth both that wee should not
wor****p Images, and that we should not haue Images in the Temple, for
feare and occasion of wor****pping them, though they be of themselues
things indifferent: for the Christian is the holy Temple and liuely
Image of GOD, as the place well declareth, to such as will reade and
weigh it. And whereas all godly men did euer abhorre that any kneeling
and wor****pping or offering should bee vsed to themselues when they
were aliue (for that it was the honour due to GOD only) as appeareth
in the Acts of the Apostles by S. Peter forbidding it to Cornelius
(Acts 10.25-26), and by S. Paul and Barnabas forbidding the same to
the Citizens in Lystra (Acts 14.14-15): Yet wee like madde men fall
downe before the dead idols or images of Peter and Paul, and giue that
honour to stockes and stones, which they thought abominable to be
giuen to themselues being aliue. And the good Angel of GOD, as
appeareth in the booke of S. Iohns Reuelation, refused to bee kneeled
vnto, when that honour was offered him of Iohn: Beware (sayth the
Angel) that thou doe it not, for I am thy fellow seruant. But the
euill angel Satan, desireth nothing so much as to bee kneeled vnto,
and thereby at once both to robbe GOD of his due honour, and to worke
the damnation of such as make him so low curtesie, as in the story of
the Gospel appeareth in sundry places. Yea, and hee offered our
Sauiour Christ all earthly goods, on the condition that he would
kneele down & wor****p him (Matthew 4.9, Luke 4.7). But our Sauiour
repelleth Satan by the Scriptures, saying, It is written, thou shalt
wor****p thy Lord GOD, and him alone shalt thou serue. But we by not
wor****pping and seruing GOD alone (as the Scriptures teach vs) and by
wor****pping of images, contrary to the Scriptures, plucke Satan to vs,
and are ready without reward to follow his desire: yea, rather then
fayle, wee will offer him gifts and oblations to receiue our seruice.
But let vs brethren, rather follow the counsell of the good Angel of
GOD, then the suggestion of subtill Satan, that wicked angel and old
Serpent: Who according to the pride whereby hee first fell, attempteth
alway by such sacriledge to depriue GOD (whom he enuieth) of his due
honour: and (because his owne face is horrible and vgly) to conuey it
to himselfe by the mediation of gilt stockes and stones, and withall
to make vs the enemies of GOD, and his own suppliants and slaues, and
in the end to procure vs for a reward, euerlasting destruction and
damnation. Therefore aboue all things, if wee take our selues to be
Christians indeed (as we be named) let vs credit the word, obey the
law, and follow the doctrine and example of our Sauiour and master
Christ, repelling Satans suggestion to idolatrie, and wor****pping of
Images, according to the trueth alleadged and taught out of the
Testament and Gospel of our sayd heauenly Doctour and Schoolemaster
Iesus Christ, who is GOD to be blessed for euer, AMEN.
http://www.anglicanlibrary.org/homilies/bk2hom02.htm
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