第85章

TheGentilesworshipped，forgods，Jupiterandothersthat，living，weremenperhapsthathaddonegreatandgloriousacts；and，forthechildrenofGod，diversemenandwomen，supposingthemgottenbetweenanimmortaldeityandamortalman。Thiswasidolatry，becausetheymadethemsotothemselves，havingnoauthorityfromGod，neitherinHiseternallawofreason，norinHispositiveandrevealedwill。ButthoughourSaviourwasaman，whomwealsobelievetobeGodimmortalandtheSonofGod，yetthisisnoidolatry，becausewebuildnotthatbeliefuponourownfancyorjudgement，butuponthewordofGodrevealedintheScriptures。AndfortheadorationoftheEucharist，ifthewordsofChrist，“Thisismybody，“signifythathehimself，andtheseemingbreadinhishand，andnotonlyso，butthatalltheseemingmorselsofbreadthathaveeversincebeen，andanytimehereaftershallbe，consecratedbypriests，besomanyChrist’sbodies，andyetallofthembutonebody，thenisthatnoidolatry，becauseitisauthorizedbyourSaviour：butifthattextdonotsignifythat(forthereisnootherthatcanbeallegedforit)，then，becauseitisaworshipofhumaninstitution，itisidolatry。Foritisnotenoughtosay，GodcantransubstantiatethebreadintoChrist’sbody，fortheGentilesalsoheldGodtobeomnipotent，andmightuponthatgroundnolessexcusetheiridolatry，bypretending，aswellasothers，atransubstantiationoftheirwoodandstoneintoGodAlmighty。

Whereastherebe，thatpretenddivineinspirationtobeasupernaturalenteringoftheHolyGhostintoaman，andnotanacquisitionofGod’sgracesbydoctrineandstudy，Ithinktheyareinaverydangerousdilemma。Foriftheyworshipnotthemenwhomtheybelievetobesoinspired，theyfallintoimpiety，asnotadoringGod’ssupernaturalpresence。Andagain，iftheyworshipthemtheycommitidolatry，fortheApostleswouldneverpermitthemselvestobesoworshipped。ThereforethesafestwayistobelievethatbythedescendingofthedoveupontheApostles，andbyChrist’sbreathingonthemwhenhegavethemtheHolyGhost，andbythegivingofitbyimpositionofhands，areunderstoodthesignswhichGodhathbeenpleasedtouse，orordaintobeused，ofhispromisetoassistthosepersonsintheirstudytopreachHiskingdom，andintheirconversation，thatitmightnotbescandalous，butedifyingtoothers。

Besidestheidolatrousworshipofimages，thereisalsoascandalousworshipofthem，whichisalsoasin，butnotidolatry。Foridolatryistoworshipbysignsofaninternalandrealhonour；butscandalousworshipisbutseemingworship，andmaysometimesbejoinedwithaninwardandheartydetestation，bothoftheimageandofthefantasticaldemonoridoltowhichitisdedicated；andproceedonlyfromthefearofdeathorothergrievouspunishment；andisneverthelessasininthemthatsoworship，incasetheybemenwhoseactionsarelookedatbyothersaslightstoguidethemby；

becausefollowingtheirways，theycannotbutstumbleandfallinthewayofreligion：whereastheexampleofthoseweregardnot，worksnotonusatall，butleavesustoourowndiligenceandcaution，andconsequentlyarenocausesofourfalling。

Ifthereforeapastorlawfullycalledtoteachanddirectothers，oranyother，ofwhoseknowledgethereisagreatopinion，doexternalhonourtoanidolforfear；unlesshemakehisfearandunwillingnesstoitasevidentastheworship，hescandalizethhisbrotherbyseemingtoapproveidolatry。Forhisbrotherarguingfromtheactionofhisteacher，orofhimwhoseknowledgeheesteemethgreat，concludesittobelawfulinitself。Andthisscandalissin，andascandalgiven。Butifonebeingnopastor，norofeminentreputationforknowledgeinChristiandoctrine，dothesame，andanotherfollowhim，thisisnoscandalgiven(forhehadnocausetofollowsuchexample)，butisapretenceofscandalwhichhetakethofhimselfforanexcusebeforemen。Foranunlearnedmanthatisinthepowerofanidolatrouskingorstate，ifcommandedonpainofdeathtoworshipbeforeanidol，hedetesteththeidolinhisheart：

hedothwell；thoughifhehadthefortitudetosufferdeath，ratherthanworshipit，heshoulddobetter。Butifapastor，whoasChrist’smessengerhasundertakentoteachChrist’sdoctrinetoallnations，shoulddothesame，itwerenotonlyasinfulscandal，inrespectofotherChristianmen’sconsciences，butaperfidiousforsakingofhischarge。

ThesumofthatwhichIhavesaidhitherto，concerningtheworshipofimages，isthis，thathethatworshippethinanima