Principles of Faith and Good Conscience, Chapter 30
CAP. XXX.
Of the ſecond Commandement. Thou ſhalt not make unto thee any graven Image.
Q. WHat is the purpoſe of God in this Commandement?
A. To preſerve his outward worſhip pure and undefiled, from all ſuperſtition & Idolatry, from all inventions of man, and to keep us to that entire manner of worſhip which himſelf hath appointed: ſo is this Commandement expounded in Scripture▪ Num. 15.39. Deut. 12.30, 32. Pſal. 106.38, 39. Eſay 8.20. Ʋſe. Hence we learne, that whatſoever is made uſe of, for the tendring up our Homage unto God, or for the conveying of any ſpirituall efficacy from God into the hearts of his ſervants; it muſt have an inſtitution from God, elſe we ſin againſt God, who alone hath power to give any grace, and to appoint the means of obtaining it. The firſt Commandment requires, that we worſhip the only true God, and that we doe not give his properties and honour to another: the ſecond Commandment preſcribes the true manner of worſhipping that true God.
Q. Well then; here we are forbidden to worſhip God after our own wits and wils What is particularly forbiden in this kind?
1. Images for religious uſe.A. 1. The making of any Image, either of God, or of any Creature, for religious uſe, that is, to help us in our worſhipping of God. [The likeneſſe and repreſentation of any thing whatſoever, is a falſe help und meane of worſhip.] Exod. 32.1, 4. Pſ. 106.20. Jer. 10.8, 14, 15. Ezek. 8.10. Jer. 50.38. Jer. 51.17, 18, 19.
Q. Is it unlawfull to make an Image of the Trinity, or of any Perſon in the Godhead?
Pictures of God unlawfull.A. It is utterly unlawfull, and a great diſhonour, to figure the incorruptible God, by the ſhape of a baſe and corruptible man, or bird, or other creature. Deut. 4.15, 16, 17, 18. Rom. 1.23. Act. 17.24, 29, Eſa. 40.15, 18, 19. Hab. 2.8. [It abuſeth our underſtandings: the party thinks there is ſome good in an Image, elſe he would not make it; and that's a lie: He lieth that ſhews me a Toad, and ſaies it is the picture of an Angel; ſo, &c. All the pictures of Chriſt in the fleſh, as that on Chriſt on the Croſſe, and reſurrection, are lies, falſe in their repreſentations, and falſe in the conceit of any good by them.]
Q. Is it unlowfull to make the image of a man, or Angell, or other creature, to help us in the worſhip of the Creator?
A. It is utterly unlawfull to make, or to have the likeneſſe of any creature for religious uſe, to ſerve God thereby, in, at, or before it. [To think that by doing any part of worſhip before an Image, one ſhall pleaſe God the better, or that it will be a mean of good unto us; this is to rob God of his due: What promiſe of Gods preſence, audience or acceptance before an Image, do you find in the whole Scripture? &c. Eſay 42.8. 2 Kings 18.4. 1 Ioh. 5.21. Rev. 9.20. Ezek. 8.10, 11. Act. 7.43. 1 Chron. 14.12. Deut. 27.15, the congregation are bound to curſe this man. v. 26.
Thou ſhalt not bow downe to them, nor ſerve them.
2. All outward reſpect done to Images. vid. Catechiſ. Rom. part. 3. c. 2.Q. What is forbidden in thoſe words?
A. 2. We are forbidden to give any honour, or outward reverence, to any Image; as, to come before it, to make our prayers, to bow the knee, to put off the cap, or to ſhew any token or reverence unto it. [It is a curſed thing to doe any honour to an Image in word, by ſpeaking favourable of it; or in deed, as to put off the hat to bow the knee, to give money and offerings for the maintenance of it, or to be at the feaſts held in honour of the creatures, &c.] 1 King. 19.18. Hoſ. 13.2. 1 Cor. 9.7, 10. with 1 Cor. 10 14, 20, 21. Dan. 3.5, 11, 18. Exod: 32.5, 6. Ezek. 18.6. Judg. 6.31. Eſay 66.3. 2 Chr. 25.14. we muſt not kiſſe the Calves, nor bleſſe an Idoll.
Q. What, thirdly, is here forbidden?
3. All helping forward of Idolatry.A. All outward ſervice, tending to the honour, worſhip, and ſervice of Saints, Angels, Images, or any other creature whatſoever. [As the building of Temples, dedicating of Daies, Altars, Garments, Prieſts, Feaſts to them, and raiſing of money for the maintenance thereof.] Hoſ. 8.14: Hoſ. 10.1, 2. 1 King: 12.32, 33. Eſay 46.6. Exod. 32.2.
Q. Under this groſſe ſinne of making and worſhiping of Images, are condemned all other ſuperſtitious corruptings of Gods worſhip without an Image. Now, How is Gods worſhip corrupted without an Image?
A. By will-worſhip; that is, all ſuch means and manner of divine worſhip,4. Will-worſhip, & humane traditions. as is not preſcribed by God, but brought in by man: [It is will-worſhip to obſerve what God hath not commanded, and to forbeare what God hath not forbidden, for conſcience ſake.] as going to God by Saints, worſhiping of Angels; vowes of continency, placing of holineſſe in meats, daies, garments, and places. Laſtly, the inventing or uſing of New Sacraments (as the Popiſh Maſſe, and the five new Sacraments) Adoration of the Altar; and of the conſecrated Elements of Bread and Wine; together with all religious Ceremonies and Rites in and about the worſhip of God, wherein is placed any holineſſe, vertue, neceſſity, or efficacy: All ſuch manners and formes of worſhip be obhorred of the Lord. Col. 2.18, 21. 23. 2 Chron. 28.3.4. 1 King. 12.33. Ier. 19.5.
Q. Why are ſuch things unlawfull?
A. Becauſe they be impoſed or taken up for Conſcience ſake, & made the matter of Gods worſhip, according to the Traditions and Commandements of men, without any Authority of God. Mat. 15.9, 20. Eſay 29.13. Mar. 7.4, 7. Act. 17.25. To place holineſſe, or ſin, or duty, in any invention, and ordinances of Men, is a ſuperſtition of deluded and ſeduced ſoules.
Q. What is the thing commanded in this precept?
A. That we worſhip God with a pure worſhip, that is, by thoſe meanes, and in that manner, as God himſelfe hath preſcribed. (as hath been ſhewed in the firſt queſtion) Tell me next:
Q. What be the chiefe Parts of Gods outward worſhip under the New Teſtament?
A. They be foure. 1. The a Preaching and hearing of the Word. 2ly, The exerciſe b of Prayer, publique and private. 3ly, The c adminiſtration of the Sacraments. 4ly, And ſinging of d Pſalmes. a Act. 2.42. Luk. 4.16. Act: 13.15. b 1 Tim. 2.1, 8. Act. 16.13, 16. 1 Cor. 1, 2. c 1 Cor. 11.23. d For ſinging of Pſalmes read. 1 Chron. 16.7, 9. Act: 16.25. 1 Cor. 14.26. with 1 Chron. 25.3. Col. 3.16.
Q. In what manner muſt this worſhip of God be performed?
A. Firſt, for the inward man;Care of the inward man in Gods worſhip. each part of Gods worſhip muſt pe performed, 1. In a faith, with feeling affection, b 2. And with a cleane heart. 3. Not c reſting in the work done, but deſiring to pleaſe God, and expecting a bleſſing by them. a Rom. 14.23 2 Chron. 17.6. Pſal. 63.1, 2. Pſa. 84.2, 6. b Ezek. 33.31, 32. Mat. 15.8. Ezek: 14.3. Pſal. 50.16. Eſay 1.11. Job 16.17. c Ier. 7.4, 10, 11. Hoſ. 7.14. Zach. 7.5. Mal. 1.7, 8, 13, 14. Mal: 3.14. 1 Pet: 2.2. [Exerciſes of Religion muſt be performed, not only as a duty, but as a means of grace.]
Q. How muſt Gods worſhip and ſervice be performed by the outward man?
A. With ſuch humility and reverence,And of the outward man. as becomes people that have to doe with an holy Lord God. Heb. 12.28, 29. 1 Cor. 11.22, 28, 29. Act. 20.9. [It is a ſin either to diſuſe or to neglect the outward worſhip of God, or to performe the ſame careleſly. Reverend Geſtures of the Body, as Kneeling, Bowing, lifting up of Hands and Eyes, putting off the Hat, &c. are forbidden to be given to an Image; therefore they are commanded to be given unto God.] 1 Cor. 15 13. 2 Sam. 6.3, 7, 8.
Q. What duty is here required, as an helpe, to further the outward worſhip of God.
A. We muſt provide all ſuch means, by which the worſhip of God may be erected, defended and maintained. Mal. 1.10. 1 Cor. 9.13, 14. [We muſt pleade for Religion, and be at coſt for it: take away Arts, Tongues, Schooles, Colledges, and Maintenance, you will ſoon have no preaching, nor any worſhip of God.] Helping ſervice is forbidden to Images, bur required for Gods Worſhip.
Q. Why ſhould we be ſo carefull to avoid Images and Will-worſhip?
A. Becauſe ſuch perſons be indeed haters of God; however they ſay, they doe it with good intentions, and in greater honour and reverence to God. [As the unchaſt Wife doth not love her huſband, what ere ſhe profeſſe.] Prov. 6.34, 35. Hoſ. 2.2, 13. 2 Chron. 19 3. Eſay 30.1. God will viſit this iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children to the third and fourth generation of them that Hate him.