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:butifthattextdonotsignifythatforthereisnootherthatcanbeallegedforit,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,thisisnoscandalgivenforhehadnocausetofollowsuchexample,butisapretenceofscandalwhichhetakethofhimselfforanexcusebeforemen。Foranunlearnedmanthatisinthepowerofanidolatrouskingorstate,ifcommandedonpainofdeathtoworshipbeforeanidol,hedetesteththeidolinhisheart: