THE WORSHIP OF IMAGES. 439
that only of Durand and some others, affirming that images are not worshipped properly but only improperly and abusively, as rash and savouring of heresy. The same doth Bellarmine also; and the truth is, that that opinion of Durand, Gerson, and some others, is plainly condemned l^y the Tridentine decree, as hath been already declared. The authors of the other four opinions, though they differ among themselves, and have several digladiations about some expressions and distinctions, framed merely in their own imaginations, agree well enough that " images are religiously to be worshipped." Worshipped religiously they ought to be; but whether "per se" and absolutely, directly and ultimately, — whether with the saTne kind of worship wherewith that is to be worshipped which they represent, — they are not so fully agreed as might be desired in a matter of this importance : for it is justly to be feared that, whilst your doctors are wrangling, your people are committing as gross idolatry as any of the heathen were guilty of. In the meantime, the most prevalent opinion of your doctors is that of Thomas and his followers, " That images are to be adored with the same kind of worship wherewith that which they represent is to be worshipped." And, therefore, whereas the Lord Christ is to be worshipped with " latria," — that which is pecu- liar, in your judgment, to God alone, — " it follows," saith he, " that his image is to be worshij)ped with the same worship also." And as some of your learned men do boast that this indeed is the only approved opinion in this matter in your church, so the truth is, if you will speak congruously, and at any consistency with yourselves, it must be so; for whereas you lay the foundation of all your worship of them, be it of what sort it will, in that figment, that the honour which is done to the image redounds unto him whose image it is, if the honour done to the image be of an inferior sort and kind unto that which is due unto the exampler of it, by referring that honour thereunto, you debase and dishonour, it by ascribing less unto it than is its due. If, then, you intend to answer just expectation in this matter, the next time you speak of figures, pray consider what your Thomas teacheth as the doctrine of your church, 3 p. q. 25, «. 3, which Azorius says is the constant judgment of divines, lib. ix. cap. 6 ; as also the exposition of the Tridentine decree by Suarez, torn. i. d. 54, sect. 4; Vasquez, Costerus, Bellarmine, and others. And, —
3. You may do well to consider the practice and usage of your Catholic people all the world over, especially in those places where you have preserved them from being disturbed in their devotion by the arguments and exceptions of Protestants; as also the direction that is given them for the exercise of their devotion in that prescrip- tion of rites and prayers which is afforded unto them. Is not your bowing, kneeling, creeping, kissing, offering, singing, praying to the
440 A VINDICATION OF THE ANIMADVERSIONS ON FIAT LUX.
cross and images, notorious? yea, your placing your trust and con- lid ence in them? yea, have you omitted any abominations of the heathen that you have not acted over again, to provoke the Lord to anger? And, —
4. Do you think to reheve them from the guilt of idolatry by a company of distinctions, which neither they nor you understand ? The next time you see one of your Catholics worshipping an image upon his knees, I pray go to him and tell him that he must worship the image with " dulia" or " superdulia,"' but not with " latiia;" or if with " latria," yet not by itself and simply, but after a sort ana- logically and reductively, — or that he is about a double worship, one terminated on the image, and the other passing by it unto the ex- emplar of it, — and you will find what thanks he will give you for your good instruction. And how small a portion are these of that mass of distinctions which you have coined, to free them from idolatry who worship images, who all the Avhile understand not one word of what you intend by them ! Nor can any rational man reduce tliein unto any thing intelligible.
Sir, in this matter of images you talk of coming up close to your business, and I was willing to take a little pains with you to direct you in your way, that, having a mind to your work, as you seem to pretend, you may not mistake and wander away from your duty, but address yourself unto that wliich you undertake, and which is exjiected from you. You are to prove, — 1. That there is a necessity of re- ceiving the use of images in the worship of the church, so that who- soever doth not admit them is to be cast out of the communion thereof; and, 2. That these images so received are to be ivor shipped and adored with religious veneration, — if not with the very same worship that is due to the persons represented by them, yet with that which redounds unto them, — and that not only by the outward ges- ture of the body, but the inward motions of the mind. And when you shall have proved that the doctrine and practice of your church, in this matter of making and worshipping images, is not contrary to the Scripture, or was ever received or approved by the j^rimitive church for six hundred years, I will promise you, setting aside all other considerations, immediately to become a Papist : for the present, I see no cause so to do, and shall therefore return to consider what you here say for the farther adorning of your pictures.