graven image, the molten image, and a teacher of lies ?" Is an image a lay-man's book ? See then what lessons this book teacheth, it teacheth lies ; it represents God in a visible shape, who is invisible. For the papists to say they make use of an im- age to put them in mind of God, is as if a woman should say, she keeps company with another man, to put her in mind of her husband.
Obj. 3. But did not Moses make the im- age of a brazen serpent ? Why then may not images he set up ?
Ans. That was done by God's special command, Numb. xxi. 8., " Make thee a fiery serpent ;" and there was a special use of it, both literal and spiritual. But what ! doth the setting up of this image of the brazen serpent justify the setting up of im- ages in churches ? What ! because Moses did make an image by God's appointment, may we therefore set up an image of our own devising ? — because Moses made an image to heal them that were stung, is it lawful therefore to set up images in church- es, to sting them that are whole ? This doth not all follow. Nay, that A'ery brazen ser- pent which God liimself commanded to be set up, when Israel did look upon it with too much reverence, and began to burn incense to it, Hezekiah defaced that image, and cal- led it Nehushta?!, (mere brass) ; and God commended him for so doing, 2 Kings xviii.4.
Obj. 4. But is not God represented as having hands, and eyes, and ears ? Why then may we not make an image to represent him by, and help our devotion ?
Ans. Though God is pleased to stoop to our weak capacities, and set himself out in scripture by eyes, to signify his omnisciency, and iiands to signify his power, yet it is very absurd from metaphors and figurative expressions to bring an argument for imag- es and pictures ; for, by that rule, God may be pictured by the sun and the elen)cnt of fire, and by a rock ; for God is set forth by tliese metaphors in scripture : and sure the papists themselves would not like to have such images made of God.
Quest. 1. If it be not lauful to make the image of God the Father, yet may ice not make an image of Christ, who took upon him the nature of man?
Ans. No. Epiphaniu8 seeing an imago of Christ hanging in a church, brake it in pieces. It is Christ's Godhead, united to his manhood that makes him to be Christ ; therefore to picture his manhood, when wq cannot picture his Godhead, is a sin, be- cause we make him to be but half Clirist, — we separate what God hath joined, — we leave out that wliich is the chief thing, which makes him to be Christ.
Quest. 2. But how then shall we conceive of God aright, if we may make no image or resemblance of him ?
Ans. We must conceive of God spiritual- ly, viz. 1. In his attributes, — his holiness, justice, goodness, which are the beams by which his divine nature shines forth. 2. We must conceive of him as he is in Christ' Christ is the " image of the invisible God," Col. i. 15., as in tlie wax we see the print of the seal. Set the eyes of your faith on Christ-God-man, John xiv. 9., " He that hath seen me, hath seen tlie Father."
Use 2d. Take heed of idolatry, viz. im- age-worship. Our nature is prone to this sin, as dry wQod to take fire ; and indeed, what needs so many words in the com- mandment, " Thou shalt not make any gra- ven image, or the likeness of any thing" ia heaven, earth, water, sun, moon, stars, male, female, fish, — " thou shalt not bow down to them :" I say, what needed so many words, but to show liow suliiject we are to this sin of false worship ? It con- cerns us therefore to resist this sin. Where the tide is apt to run with greater force, there we had need to make the banks high- er and stronger ; the plague of idolatry is very infectious, Ps. cvi. 35, 36., " They were mingled among the heathen, and serv- ed their idols." It is my advice to you to avoid all occasions of this sin.
1. Come not into the company of idola- trous papists ; dare not to live under the same roof with tliem, else you run ijito the devil's mouth. John the divine would not be in the bath where Cerinthus the heretic
was.
2. Go not into their chapels to see their crucilixes, or hear mass; as the looking on an harlot draws to adultery, so the looking on tlie popish gilded picture may draw to idolatry. Some care not though they go
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and see their idol-worship : indeed, a va- grant that hath nothing to lose, cares not though he goes among thieves ; such as have no goodness in them, care not into what idolatrous places they come, or what temp- tations they cast themselves upon ; but you who have a treasure about you, good prin- ciples, take heed the popish priests do not rob you of your principles, and defile you with their images.