The Text. Thus spake the strong and iealous God , out of the fire vnto the people of Israel : EXOD. 20. 4 , 5 , 6. Thou shalt not make vnto thee any grauen Image , or any likenesse of any thing that is in Heauen aboue , or that is in the Earth beneath , or that is in the water vnder the Earth . Thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe to them , nor serue them : For I the LORD thy God am a iealous God , visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate mee : And shewing mercy vnto thousands of them that loue mee , and keepe my Commandements .

The Exposition .

ANd if Moses and Aaron stood here together , yet could they not sufficiently vtter , with what a fiery zeale the Lord God hath forbidden , to make & worship Images . For when the Lord gaue the ten Commandements , he threatned not in any Commandement so hard and grieuous a punishment vnto the transgressors ; and promised not in any Commandement vnto the obedient performers , so large a blessing , as in the Commandement of Images . For hee will punish those who transgresse this Commandement , euen vnto the fourth generation ; but will richly and ouer-abundantly reward those with grace and mercy , who obediently obserue and keepe this Commandement .

And the Lord God hath not repeated any Commandement so often , as hee hath done euen this Commandement of Images . For in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus , when hee first gaue the ten Commandements , he doth not therupon presently repeat any other Commandement , then this , and saith : Ye haue seene that I haue talked with you Exod. 22. 22 , 23. from Heauen . Therefore yee shall not make with me ( any thing ) Gods of Siluer , neither shall ye make vnto you Gods of Gold . And when Moses was ready to dye , & admonisheth the people of their dutie , he presseth not any Inhibition so deeply into their hearts , as euen that Inhibition of Images . For in the fourth Chapter of Deuteronomie , he thus speaketh vnto the people : Take ye therefore Deut. 4. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. good heed vnto your selues . ( For ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake vnto you in Horeb , out of the fire . ) Lest ye corrupt your selues , and cording to his Essence and being : But yet he may bee grauen and pictured according to that forme , wherein he appeared vnto diuers of the faithfull in the old Testament .

To which I answere : God may at his pleasure , Ans. appeare in what forme or shape he will ; but yet it becommeth vs to follow his Commandement : Thou shalt not make vnto thee any Image . Againe , Make not vnto you any Image , the likenesse of any figure . Besides , the formes and shapes wherein the Lord God did at any time appeare vnto any of the Saints , were not in any wise Gods Image and Picture . For God onely tooke such formes & shapes vpon him but for a time , and did soone after , lay them aside againe . And thus did he also shew and reueale himselfe , sometimes now presently after this forme , then anon againe , after another forme ; in so much that a man must needs stand in doubt , which forme and shape was Gods true likenesse and similitude . Therefore the Prophet Esay , notwithstanding he had seene the Lord sit on the Circle Esay 40. 22 , 25. of the Earth , euen aboue on high , as vpon an eleuated seat , whose clothing filled the Temple ; yet doth he reprooue all them who will make any Image , likenesse , or similitude of God , and asketh as was heard , saying : To whom then will ye liken me ?

3. So also God should not , nor ought to bee 3. God should not , nor ought to be pictured . grauen or pictured . For such Imagery is both hurt full vnto men , and dishonourable vnto God . It is hurtfull vnto men ; for a man may soone thereby corrupt and vndoe himselfe , yea , and prouoke the Lord God vnto anger against him , as it is written in the fore-alleaged fourth of Deuteronomy . It is dishonorable , and a disparagement vnto the Lord God , as whose Glory and Maiesty cannot by any meanes be grauen or pictured , with any manner of visible Image or Picture . Whence it is , that the holy Apostle Paul writes in the first Chapter to the Romanes , That the Heathen became Fooles , Ro. 1. 22 , 23. when they changed the glory of the vncorruptible God , into an Image made like to corruptible man , & birds , and to foure footed beasts , & creeping things .

This doctrine of ours concerning the forbidden Images and Pictures of God , is so cleere and euident , that it is also acknowledged of sundry principal Popish Diuines , to be sound , good , and agreeable to the will of God . For one of them called Gabriel Vasquetz , acknowledgeth plainly , speaking Lib. 2. de adorat . disp. 4. cap. 2. of adoration ; that all manner of picturing of God , is directly forbidden in the second Commandement . And the chiefe Sorbon Doctors at Paris , Claudius Espencaeus , Salignacus , Picherellus , as as also with them Bishop Monlucius haue long since shewed ( as is to bee seene in the History of the Reformed Churches in France the fourth Booke ) that they therefore wished , that all Images and Pictures of the holy Trinitie , were cleane remoued and wholly put out of Churches and Houses , seeing the same are plainly forbidden by the Holy Scripture , by Councels , and by many godly , learned , and much praysed worthy men .

But yet here , mee thinkes , I heare some man obiect Obiect . againe and demand : Seeing that the Sonne of God is become man , whether he may not be pictured according to his humanity ?

To which I answere : Christ came not therefore Ans. into the World , that men might take his Picture ; but that men should beleeue in him , and conuert themselues vnto him . And therefore is it , that we haue not any Commandement at all , to make any such Image or Picture , nor yet haue any example thereof in all the whole new Testament . As also he cannot possibly at this day be truly pictured , no not according to his humanitie , seeing there liues not now any man on the Earth that hath seene him . And heere hence it is , that one doth paint him with a yellowish , another with a flaxen , a third with a black , the fourth with a brown beard . And so then a man must take that for Christ his Picture , which the Painter holds in his opinion to be the best . Not to say any thing , that seeing Christ being true God and man , is in one person , they who boast to haue his Image and Picture , haue thereof notwithstanding but a false Christ .

Now as concerning the Images and Pictures of Of the Images of Saints . the Virgin Mary , of Elizabeth , and of other holy Saints : If a man knew of what forme and fashion they properly were indeed , their Pictures might well be had in priuate houses . But they are not by any meanes to be there set vp in those places , where men performe Gods publique seruice and worship , neither to bee prayed vnto , no nor yet for ornament sake . Not to bee prayed vnto , that being a chiefe part of Gods worship . For it is written : Thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe vnto Exod. 20. 5. them , nor serue them . And againe , Thou shalt worship Mat. 4. 10. the Lord thy God , and him onely shalt thou serue , which is taken from the Law in Deuteronomie , Deut. 6. 3. & 10. 20. where the word ( onely ) is wanting , and supplyed by Christ as being Gods true meaning . Not for ornament sake ; for it is written : Abstaine 1. Thes. 5. 22 from all appearance of euill . Now the Images set vpin holy places , haue the appearance of being prayed vnto and worshipped : For there are many people who thinke and are perswaded , they are set vp there for that very end & purpose . And if they had not that appearance , yet there is great danger therein , that they may be prayed vnto , and worshipped of superstitious people : as we haue hitherunto seene , that it hath beene but too much practised in this place . And we ought , as much as in vs lyeth , indeuour to auoyd and preuent such danger . For it is written : Thou shalt not put a stumbling Leuit. 19. 14 block before the blind , but thou shalt feare thy God , saith the Lord in Leuiticus . And againe , Christ Mat. 4. 7. saith , ( out of Deut. 6. 16. ) Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God . Wherefore the consequent followeth not , nor is of any value : It is lawfull to haue the Pictures of the Apostles , and of other holy Saints of God in priuate houses : Therefore it is also lawfull to haue and set them vp publikely in Churches . For in a priuate house , ( where the Inhabitants bee not superstitious ) there is no appearance of praying vnto them , and worshipping of them , nor yet of any danger that they might bee prayed vnto , and worshipped of other superstitious people , and therefore are not there vnlawfull . And so much shall suffice to haue spoken of the first maine point ; namely , that God should not nor ought not , that God cannot bee grauen or pictured .

Of the second .

But yet there are people here found , who giue 2. God will not be called vpon or honoured by Images . out , that it is true indeed , men should not pray , nor giue reuerence or worship vnto the Images & Pictures ; yea , and that they themselues also doe it not . But yet say , that men may honour and worship God by and through the Pictures , according as these wordes following , stood written here on the beame vnder the great Crucifix :

Effigiem Christi , cùm transis semper honora : Non tamen effigiem , sed quem designat adora .

That is :

When ere thou do'st before Christs Image stand , Or passe it by ; giue honour out of hand : Yet not to th' Image , which thine eyes doe see ; But to the Lord it represents to thee .

Whereunto we giue this answere : That it were much to be desired , that Images were not indeed prayed vnto , and worshipped at all . But the practice and experience teacheth far otherwise : whilst it is daily seene , how the people doe come , and bow themselues before the Altars , Images and Crucifixes ; how they put off their Hats vnto them ; how they kindle Lamps and Tapers vnto them . And should many of them see , that a Crucisix should bee hewed in pieces , or burned into ashes , oh ! how would euen their very heart then bleed for giefe ? This is indeed truly to doe reuerence and honour vnto Images , and make Idols of them . But goe too : Say , they pray not vnto the Images ; say , they giue no reuerence , nor doe honour and worship vnto them . Yet will not God haue , nor can endure , that we pray vnto him , that we worship him , and that we giue him honour in , by , or through Images . For hee saith at once roundly and expresly out : They shall not bee bowed downe vnto , nor serued . In which words he forbids all manner of seruice , honour , or worship , that may any way whatsoeuer be giuen vnto Images . As also it is written , Iohn 14. 6. that No man can come to the Father but by the Sonne : not by Images & sencelesse dumbe Idols . Besides , it excuseth not their Idolatry at all , that they pretend & say ; that through and by the Image , they pray vnto and call vpon the Sauiour . For the Israelites would not be taken or thought to pray vnto , and worship the golden Calfe : as they themselues also say , To morrow is a Feast ( not vnto the Calf , but ) Exod. 32. 5 , 8 , 10. vnto the Lord . And yet neuerthelesse the Lord saith vnto Moses , They haue worshipped the Calfe , and haue sacrificed thereunto , and therefore his wrath was waxen hot against the people to haue consumed them . Yea , it faileth so farre that God will be worshipped by Imagēs , as that he will not at all be so much as serued BEFORE IMAGES . For thus sound forth aloud his owne words . Yee Leuit. 26. 1. shall make you no Idols nor grauen Image , neither reare you vp a standing Image , ( or Pillar ) neither shall yee set vp any Image of stone in your Land , to bow down vnto it , or before it . And therfore before Images we ought not to pray , not to baptize , not to administer the Lords Super. For whether a man hood-winke himselfe , or no ; whether a man see the Images , or see them not ; yet it is all one , and directly against the will of God , that any should pray before Images .

If now it be not lawfull at all for vs to honour and worship the Lord Christ through and by Images ; then is it much lesse lawfull for vs to honour and worship the Saints deceassed , as the Virgin Mary , Peter , Wenceslaus , Rochus , Sebastian & others , by and before the Images . For , besides that the Saints departed are not to be worshipped or prayed vnto , neither in regard of themselues ; for it is written : Thou shalt worship the Lord thy Mat. 4. 10. God , and him onely shalt thou serue : nor yet in regard of their being Mediators and Intercessors : For it is written : For there is one God , and one Mediator betweene God and Men , euen the Man Christ 1. Tim. 2. 5. Iesus . Wherefore ; If any man sinne , wee haue an 1. Iohn 2. 1. Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous : And hee maketh intercession for the Saints according Rom. 8. 27. to the will of God . For hee is entered into Heb. 9. 24. Heauen it selfe , now to appeare in the presence of God for vs . And therefore they haue great need to looke well about them and consider , how they will one day answere for it before God , who now so much loue Images , as that they honour them with the putting off of the Hat , with kneeling , and with other like Ceremonies . For they belong vnto the number of those , of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh in his second Chapter , saying : Their Isai. 2. 8 , 9. Land is full of Idols , they worship the worke of their owne hands , that which their owne fingers haue made . There the meane men bow downe , & the great men humble themselues : This thou wilt not forgiue them .

Of the third .

Here hence now it is easie to conclude , what 3. That Christian Magistrates ought to remoue all Images from the Churches , they meane to worship God in . then a Christian Magistrate is to doe , when for his seruing of God he taketh in a Church , which is replenished with Idol-Images ? The Lord himselfe determines the matter , Exod. 34. 13. Thou shalt destroy their Altars , breake downe their Images , and cut downe their groues . And Deut. 7. 5. Thus shall ye deale with them ; Ye shall destroy their Altars , and breake downe their groues , and burne their grauen Images with fire . Againe , Deut. 12. 3. You shall ouerthrow their Altars , and breake their Pillars , and burne their groues with fire , and you shall hewe downe the grauen Images of their gods , and destroy the names of them out of that place . And 1. Sam. 7. 3. Samuel spake vnto all the house of Israel , saying : If ye doe returne vnto the Lord with all your hearts , then put away the strange gods , and Ashtaroth from among

The first supposed ground is ,

That God speaketh in the ten Commandements , Obiect . 1 of the Idol-Images of the Heathen and vnbeleeuing people : Therefore the Commandement of Images , concerneth not at all the Images of Christians vnder the new Testament .

The Answere is : It is false , that God in the old Ans. Testament , spake onely of the Idols of the Heathen . For the tenne Commandements are Gods euerlasting vnchangeable will , and extend vnto all people , and euery one in the whole World ; as also vnto all and euery age and time , both of the olde and new Testament . Now as a Thiefe or an Adulterer in the new Testament , sinnes as well against the ten Commandements , as did a Thiefe and an Adulterer in the old Testament : euen so , whosoeuer honoureth and worshippeth Images in the new Testament , he sinneth as wel against the ten Commandements , as hee who did honour and worship Idols in the old Testament .

The second supposed ground .

Yet God himselfe had in Salomons Temple all Obiect . 2 manner of Images .

I answere : It is very true indeed : But there Ans. were not there any Images at all of any of the Saints departed , as of Abraham , of Isaack , and of Iacob ; there were not any Historicall commemoratiue Images , of which it is here spoken .

The third supposed ground .

But yet the common lay people may by Images bee Obiect . 3 put in mind of many good things : especially by the Crucifix , of the Death and Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ .

I answere : It stands not in mans will and pleasure , Ans. that hee institute and ordayne vnto himselfe , a publike remembrance and commemoration of the benefits of God ; but that belongs vnto the Lord God alone to doe , as it is written , Psal. 111. 4 He hath made his wonderfull workes to be had in remembrance : the Lord is gracious and full of compassion . And euen for this purpose hath the Lord God ordayned the preaching of his Gospell , that by the same the benefits of our Lord Christ might bee as it were together painted before mens eyes : According as the Apostle Saint Paul witnesseth of himselfe , Gal. 3. 1. 2. 5 , 6. &c. That he had euidently set forth Iesus Christ before their eyes ; not by a Crucifix , but as himselfe further acknowledgeth , through and by the preaching and hearing of faith . And euen to this end did our Lord Iesus institute his holy Supper , that we should celebrate it in remembrance Luke 22. 19. of him . For the bread that we breake , 1. Cor. 11. 24 25 , 26. is it not a notable remembrance ( I beseech you ) that Iesus Christ endured and suffered for vs many bitter sorrowes , and such as neuer man suffered ( Consider , and behold , if euer there were sorrow like Lam. 1. 12. my sorrow ) and at length death it selfe , when body and soule were pulled asunder the one from the other vpon the Crosse ? The Cup of Blessing or Thanksgiuing , is it not an excellent remembrance , that the bloud of Christ Iesus ranne gently out of his body , and was shed for our sinnes ? These Remembrancers hath our Lord Christ instituted , and Saint Paul hath repeated them . But the Idoll and Imagery Remembrancers hath Antichrist , euen the Pope instituted . Before whose being , there was not any Image-remembrancer knowne of in the Church of God . But this was well knowne , that euery Image was falshood , Ier. 10. 14. And that they be teachers of lyes , Habac. 2. 18.

The fourth supposed ground is an Obiection made by Protestants :

For the abuse of a thing , a man must not therefore Obiect . 4 cast away the thing it selfe : As a man will not cast away good Wine , because that some abuse it to drunkennesse . Euen so we may still retayne Images in Protestant Churches , if we doe but forbeare to worship them and pray vnto them .

I answere : This rule ( A thing is not therefore presently to be cast away , because it hath beene abused ) Ans. hath not any place or being , in those things which are not of themselues necessary , and yet are withall dangerous . Now all Protestants doe acknowledge and confesse that Images are not of themselues at all necessary . And that they are dangerous , wee haue here seene and beheld with our eyes in this very Church . Therefore Images may not by the foresaid Rule , bee at all defended or excused . Besides , who knoweth not that the brazen Serpent commanded by God to bee set vp 2. Kin. 18. 4. and looked vpon , was againe broken downe , when it came to be worshipped by the people ?

The fift supposed ground .

Why ( may some say ) thou standest now thy selfe Obiect . 5 in that Pulpit , from whence much Idolatrous matter hath bin preached . Thou doest celebrate the Lords Supper in that Church , wherein the Papists haue held their Masse . Wherefore then is not both Pulpit and Church broken downe together ?

I answere : We teach not that all that should be Ans. broken downe , which men haue abused , or might abuse vnto Idolatry . For so should Heauen , and all created things bee destroyed . But wee teach thus , That all those things which a man may well spare , and which are dangerous , and may lightly giue vnto this or that body an occasion to Idolatry , bee in time remoued and cast away , agreeably vnto the cleere and plaine Word of God , 1. Tim. 5. 22. Be not partaker of other mens sins : keepe thy selfe pure . Againe Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy God . According to this Rule did the godly Priests ( in the time of magnanimous , heroicall Champion Iudas Maccabeus ) reforme all , when as the holy Place had bin grieuously prophaned by that wicked Antiochus . They brake not down the Temple , in which there had beene shamefull Idolatry commited : but they clensed , and bare the defiled stones into an vncleane place , as it is written , 1. Mac. 4. 42. 43. According to this Rule , our Lord , Mat. 21. 12 , 13. made reformation at Hierusalem . For he neither brake downe the Temple , nor yet the Pharisies Pulpit , from whence they taught meerely mens traditions and inuentions . But he cast out all them that bought and sold in the Temple , and ouerthrew the tables of the money changers , and the seats of them that sold Doues ; wherby they had made his House of Prayer , a Den of theeues . The

What ? Will ye be wiser then the Ancients ? Our Obiect . 8 fore-fathers had for many hundred yeares agoe , the Images in worth and honour in this place .

I answere : Whether in this respect wee will bee Ans. wiser then the Ancients , I therunto let King Dauid answere in his 119. Psalme , 100. v. where he saith : I vnderstand more then the Ancients , because I keep thy Precepts . But if a man will enquire of the age of Images amongst Christians , then it will appeare , that afore twelue hundred yeares , afore thirteene hundred yeares , afore fourteene hundred yeares , afore fifteene hundred yeares , afore sixteene hundred yeares , there was not any Image of God the Father , any Image of God the Sonne , any Image of God the Holy Ghost , any Image of any Saint departed , found at all in any of the Christians Churches and Houses of Prayer . Yea , looke how many Images , how many Altars , how many Challices , how many Massing Vestments are yet found amongst vs ; so many present witnesses are there , that wee are stept aside from the ancient simplicitie : when as they knew not of any Image , of any Altar , of any Challice , of any Massing Vestments . As the same is as cleere as the Sun-shine , to be shewed out of Iustin Martyrs second Apologie , out of Irenaeus , Tertullian , Origen , Cyprian , and other much esteemed worthy ancient Fathers .

The ninth supposed ground .

And if we will haue the Images put downe , then Obiect . 9 ought they first to be put out of mens hearts , and afterwards from before their eyes .

I answere : Thus say men here on Earth ; and it Ans. is all earthly humane reason . But God that is in Heauen , saith farre otherwise : Breake them downe , destroy them , burne them ; that is , put them away from before your eyes , and out of your sight . And that not without great reason . For euen like as a man will not see a Thiefe that hee steale , and will not see an Adulterer that hee breake Wedlocke , with an opinion that Theft and Adultery must be first shewed vnto him out of Gods Word to bee vnlawfull : Euen so should not , nor can a Christian Magistrate see and behold that men rob the Lord of his honour , and vse alliance with Images ; seeing the Commandement : Thou shalt not make vnto thy selfe any Image , thou shalt not bow downe vnto it nor worship it ; is euen as cleere and euident , as the Commandements : Thou shalt not steale : Thou shalt not commit Adultery .

The tenth supposed ground .

The people are offended at the taking downe , remouing and putting away of Images . 10. Obiect .

I answere : They tooke offence also at our Lord Christs preching , Ioh. 6. Should not Christ therfore haue preached ? Whosoeuer doth the will of God , he hath not any need to feare any offence at all to be by him occasioned and giuen . But whosoeuer is offended at the full doing of the will of God , hee sinneth both against God , & against his Neighbor .

Out of all which , euery one may well perceiue and vnderstand , what a number of weighty and perswasiue reasons did together inforce his Royall Maiestie is not at all any way purposed , to compell or grieue any mans conscience : as also hee hath neuer yet done in his own hereditary Countries . For in this respect , he holds with the Emperor Maximilian the second , who was wont to say : That Kings commanded and bare Rule ouer their Subiects bodies , but not ouer their Consciences . But yet for all this , his Royall Maiestie will not ( as it were not sitting he should ) haue his owne Conscience insnared ; and therefore desireth to serue the Lord God , according to that cleere knowledge wherewith God hath enlightned him , and according to that his will , which he hath reuealed vnto him . And what that reuealed will of God is , yee haue now alreadie sufficiently vnderstood : Namely , that

He will not be pictured , as also hee ought not , nor yet can be pictured .

He wil not be honored , by , through , or before Images

He will , that men breake downe all Images , and wholy depend on him alone with all the heart .

Whosoeuer therefore now ( in the feare of God ) truly thinkes on all these things , hee will not at all be offended at the remouing , and casting away of all Images herehence : But hee will much rather , greatly thanke the Lord God , that the publique abhomination and great offence , is in time remooued and taken away .

And if yet there should perhaps be any , who hath notwithstanding still some doubt and scruple in his minde , let him but please confidently to come vnto vs : and he shall with all loue , mildnes , and well befitting good resolution bee answered , and haue more full information and satisfaction giuen vnto him by vs out of Gods Word . For it is our very intent and purpose , wholly so to labour and indeauour to bring much people vnto sauing knowledge , as that therby they may rightly come to know , and gladly acknowledge the true Will of God , and according to such knowledge , zealously and faithfully to serue him . Whereunto , the Lord vouchsafe both vnto vs & to you the holy Spirit , who hath promised and bound himselfe to giue it vs , if we call faithfully vpon him for it : euen Iesus Christ the righteous , blessed and praysed , with the Father and the Holy Ghost , now & for euer , Amen .

The Prayer after the Sermon .

ALmighty , most mercifull , most gracious , louing God and Father , we giue thee most humble prayse and thankes for all thy mercies and benefits , which wee vncessantly haue receiued , and stil do of thy rich goodnesse ; that thou hast so graciously gouerned vs all the whole time of our life long , protected and preserued vs , and euen hitherunto hast kept vs . But especially and aboue all wee thanke thee deare Father , that thou hast suffered vs to liue to see the good day , wherin this Church is clensed and purged from all Idolatry & Images .

Wee beseech thee O eternall Lord God , graciously to enlighten their eyes , who yet sit in the dark●