cum adjectione Meshiach Jehovah unctus Domini Dan. 2. 2. cui Luc. 2. 26. respondet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est que haec appellatio in N. T. libris tritissima Aaron and his sons were anointed and the high-Priests in succession ever after but the inferiour Priests only at the first time The high-Priest was anointed alwayes with sacred oyl the confection of which the Lord himself appointed in the Law One Prophet may seem to have been anointed but there seems not to be any certain proof of anointing any Prophet Whether the Kings had the holy oyl poured upon them or no it is doubtful yet it seems rather it was by 1 Kings 1. 39. This outward Ceremony or Type expressed two things 1. That God did of his good pleasure assign and depute that person to that Office 2. That God would certainly assist him with gifts fit for his place if he were careful to seek the same at Gods hands Unctio antiquitus in V. T. oleo fiebat quod quia secundum naturalem efficientiam tum fragrantia reddebat corpora tum agilia accomodum erat duabus rebus naturalibus significandi quarum una est personae ad munus aliquod divinum obeundum sanctificatio consecratio alterum adaptatio seu donorum ad illud necessariorum collatio Armin. Thes. Pub. decimâ— quarta Christ as man first received Gratiam habitualem which did perfect his humane nature in it self These personal excellencies in Christ were Dona virtutes qualifying gifts for his office and sanctifying graces 2. Gratiam capitis as the Churches head John 1. 14. Not as if that of the Papists were true it is therefore perpetual because continued by the Priest still who they say offers up the body of Christ in the Masse as a Sacrifice to God but 1. Because by his once offering he did fully accomplish that which was needful for his Church so that he needs not to be offered again 2. Because the fruit is eternal thy pardon shall be for ever thy grace for ever Christs priestly actions were transient but the benefit endureth for ever 3. He continually exerciseth his intercession 4. He admitteth of no successour and this is one main reason why the Apostle maketh him a Priest for ever because there is no Successour as there was in Aarons order therefore to hold Priests Sacrifices and Altars is to make void the office of Christ and to deny his Priesthood The great relief the Jews had against sin committed was in the priestly Office The high-Priests great work was to make Atonement for the sins of the people for reconciliation Levit 16. 14 21. Heb. 2. 18. when Christ died upon the crosse he then offered up himself a Sacrifice and made atonement to God the Father all our sins were laid upon him But Christ did all in a more transcendent and eminent way then any high-Priest did before the high-Priest though he offered up a Sacrifice to God yet himself was not made a Sacrifice The parts of Christs priestly function are two Satisfaction and Intercession the former whereof giveth contentment to Gods justice the later soliciteth his mercy for the application of this benefit to the children of God in particular B. Usher of Christs Incarnation Some say there were three things in the priestly Office 1. Ostensio a representation of ones person Exod. 28. 12 29. The high-Priest did bear the names of the children of Israel on his shoulders to shew that Christ represents you to his Father every day and on his heart to shew Christs tender affection to you Heb. 9. 24. 1 Ioh. 2. 21. 2. Oblatio an offering of a Sacrifice the Priests offered Sacrifices Christ in a way of obedience voluntarily laid down his body and soul which was equivalent to all the persons in the world Heb. 9. 14. 3. Intercessio Heb. 7. 29. the Priests burned Incense Those things which God hath promised and Christ purchased shall be bestowed by the Intercession of Christ. When the Priest went into the holy place he sprinkled it with bloud Christs Intercession is his most gracious will fervently and unmovably desiring that all his members for the perpetual vertue of his Sacrifice may be accepted of the Father Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. Vide Aquin. part 3. Quaest. 22. Art 1 2 3 4 5 6. Alwayes when the Scripture speaks of the redemption of Christ it cals him God Acts 20. 28. because therein the efficacy of his redemption lay but when that speaks of Christs intercession it cals him Sonne Heb. 4. 14. 7. ult because Christs interest and favour with God was the great ground of his acceptance with him A compleat Priest must have 1. Fulnesse of righteousnesse so had Christ habitual righteousnesse active and passive righteousnesse 2. Fulnesse of interest in God so had Christ Matth. 3. ult therefore he was able to reconcile us unto God 3. Fulnesse of compassion must be a pitiful high-Priest 4. Fulnesse of merit in his Sacrifice The obedience of Christ did in a far higher degree please God the Father then the rebellion of Adam did displease him For there the vassal rebelled here the equal obeyed B. Bils Full Redemption of mankinde by the death of Christ. His death was an act of obedience he died in obedience unto his Fathers will or to the agreement between his Father and him Matth. 26 54. Ioh. 10. 18. 17. 4. Phil. 2. 8. As there is a Covenant of grace between God and us so there was a Covenant of redemption between God and Christ. Non intercedit per humilem deprecationem ut vulgò loquuntur per modum suffragii sed potius per modum jurisdictionis atque per efficacissimam perfectissimi sui meriti repraesentationem Maresii Hydra Socin expugnata lib. 1. cap. 17. Joh. 17. 24. Christ doth not in Heaven kneel upon his knees utter words or put up a supplication unto his Father for us that is not agreeable to the glory to which he is exalted but appearing in the sight of God for us as a publick person he willeth and desireth that the Father would accept his satisfaction in the behalf of all that are given unto him Vedel de Deo Synagogâ— l. 2. cap. 11. Vide plura ibid. Quid potuit cogitari convenientius quam ut imago Patris increata creatam reparareâ— imaginem Filius naturalis Patri accerseret Filios adoptivos Rivet Disp. 13. de satisf Christi Vide Grotium de satisfactione Christi c. 4. Mors peccati poena est Rom. 5. 12. 6. 2. quam nemini infligit Deus nisi aut peccatotori aut peccatoris Personam referenti Rivet Disput. 13. de satisfactione Christi Ex 1 Pet. 2. 21. iâ—eprè Sociniani colliguâ—t Christum exemplarem saltem servatorem esse quâ— doctrinam ammâ—tiatam mortalibus non actionibus solum sed passionibus sanguinis sui effusione obsignavrrit adcóque in utroque genere exemplo praeiverit Quasi verò alli fines
exercising of them the elements are changed relatively in respect of their use and end though not substantially they are not meer signs but such as besides their signification seal unto us our remission or sins and Gods favour But 1. The Word it self doth not profit without faith much lesse the seals of it 2. People are exhorted to examine themselves before they come to the Sacrament 1 Cor. 11. therefore the very use of the Sacraments conferres not grace though the heart of man put forth no good motion at that time we should not there relie upon the external acts of receiving there is panis Domini and panis Dominus Object Act. 2. 38. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins Answ. They are said to be baptized for the remission of sins not that Baptisme ex opere operato doth remit sins but because it is a signe and seal of the pardon of them The Sacraments receive their power from the Lords own institution Some signs signifie by nature as smoke is a sign of fire the picture of my friend makes me remember him 2. Other signs come wholly from institution as the heap of stones called Galead between Iacob and Laban there is a kinde of resemblance and aptnesse in the things which God hath chosen to signifie but the efficacy of them depends on the institution of Christ which contains two things 1. A word of command to do such a thing for such an end 2. A word of promise that it shall be effectual for such an end A piece of wax annexed as a Seal to the Princes Patent of pardon or other like deed is of farre other use and greater efficacy and excellency then any ordinary waxe is though it be the same still in nature and substance with it So the bread in the Lords Supper being a seal of Gods Covenant and of Christs last Will and Testament is of farre other use and of farre greater efficacy and excellency then any ordinary bread is though it be the same still in nature and substance with it Relationes non faciunt realem mutationem in subjecto sed tantum in usu VII Why hath the Lord made choice of such an applying the Covenant of Grace by signs and vouchsafed such an Ordinance as this in the Church seeing the same things are done by preaching of the Word and prayer There are excellent Reasons of it 1. It is a great part of Christs Soveraignty to make any thing though never so contemptible a part of homage to him no reason can be given of it but only his will as a Lord will have Land passe by delivering a wand or twig 2. It is a glory to his power that he can make a little water or wine sign and seal the conquering of my sins and salvation of my soul. 3. Christ hath herein exceedingly condescended to his peoples weaknesse in applying the Covenant of Grace by signs while we are in the flesh to have sensitive things to represent spiritual these signs inform the judgement work on the affections help the memory wonderfully recal the Covenant of Grace act faith and other graces a naked word is enough to a strong faith but these are great props of our faith in our weaknesse so Gideon was confirmed Thomas when he put his hand into Christs side He acts the things before our eyes that he saith in his Word VIII Since God hath had a constituted Church in a visible body segregated from all mankinde he hath had some standing Sacraments even since Abrahams time The Sacraments of the Jewish Church and ours agree in these things 1. They have the same Authour 2. Serve for the same spiritual ends They had two so have we Circumcision was for Infants so is Baptisme the Passeover for men grown so the Lords Supper Circumcision was once administred the Passeover often so Baptism once and the Lords Supper often M. Bedf. Treat of the Sac. par 2. c. 106. They differ thus Theirs were praenuntiativè of Christ to come Ours annunciativè of Christ exâ—ibited so Austin Theirs were given to the Jews ours not to one but to all people The matter of both theirs and our Sacraments is one they ate and drank the same spiritual meat and drink that we do that is Christ. The effects also are the same in kinde and nature which is a partaking of Christ they differ in the manner Christ is more plentifully partaked in ours more sparingly in theirs Cartw. on Rhem. Test. Circumcision is the same with Baptism for the spiritual part it was the seal of the new-birth Deut. 30. 6. so Baptism Tit. 3. 5. Col. 2. 2. Circumcision was a seal of the righteousnesse of faith Rom. 11. 11. so Baptism Acts 8. it was the seal of the Covenant of Grace so Baptism it was the way of admittance and entrance into the Church so Baptism Matth. 28. Acts 2. it was the distinguishing badge between them who were Gods people and the rest of the world so Baptism 1 Cor. 5. 12. it was but once administred so Baptism None might eat the Passeover till they were circumcised Exod. 12. nor are any to be admitted to the Lords Supper till they be baptized Acts 2. 41 42. Circumcision was a seal of the Covenant Gen. 17. 10 11. so Baptism that being the nature of a Sacrament it was a seal of the righteousnesse of faith so Baptism Acts 8. 37 38. 2. It was the Sacrament of initiation under the Law so is Baptism now under the Gospel Mat. 28. 19. 3. It was a distinguishing badge under the Law so is Baptism under the Gospel 4. It was the Sacrament of Regeneration Deut. 30. 6. so is Baptism Titus 3. 5. Col. 2. 11 12. 5. It was partaked of but once so Baptism Our Sacraments differ from the Sacraments of the Jews accidentally onely in things concerning the outward matter and form as their number quality clearness of signification and the like not essentially in the thing signified or grace confirmed 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3. Ioh. 6. 35. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Phil. 3. 3. Col. 2. 11. IX The Sacraments of the New Testament are only two All Christians agree that Christ hath established Baptism and the Lords Supper All the Reformed Churches concurre in this that there are but two onely to which properly the definition of a Sacrament doth belong though there may be many in a metaphorical sense The Papists say they are seven adding Orders Matrimony Confirmation Penance Extream Unction The Fathers do commonly use the word Sacrament for a mystery or sign of a holy thing so there may be many Sacraments But as the word Sacrament is taken in a straiter signification to note the visible signs instituted by Christ for the assurance and increase of Grace in the faithful so there are but two The Schoolmen themselves who were the first authours that raised them up
to the precise number of seven for we find it not in any of the Fathers or other Writers whatsoever before a thousand years after Christ have shewed that the seven are not all Sacraments if the name of Sacrament be taken properly and straitly Rainolds against Hart. The number of seven Sacraments was not determined untill the dayes of Peter Lombard which lived 1151 years after Christ. None but Christ onely can institute a Sacrament Their Schoolmen Alensis and Holcot have denied confirmation to be from Christ his Institution their Hugo Lombard Bonaventure Alensis Altisiodorus have affirmed the same of extream Unction which in the primitive Church by the judgement of their Cassander was not so extream Matrimony and Confirmation were held by the Schoolmen to be no Sacrament Iohn the Evangelist notes that out of the side of Christ being dead there came bloud and water hence arose the Sacraments of the Church Paul twice joynes them both together 1 Cor. 10. 1. 12. 12 13. The Fathers intreating precisely of the Sacraments of the New Testament do only expresse two Baptism and the Eucharist so Ambrose in his Treatise properly written of the Sacraments and Cyril in his Book entituled a Catechism Onely Baptism and the Lords Supper in the New Testament were instituted by Christ Matth. 28. 24. therefore they onely are Sacraments of the New Testament Christ did onely partake in these two Paul acknowledgeth but these two 1 Cor. 10. 2 3 4. Matrimony 1. being ordained before the fall can be no Sacrament which is a seal of the Promise and Covenant of Grace after and by reason of the fall 2. It is not proper to the Church as Sacraments are but common to Jews Turks and Infidels 3. Every Sacrament belongs to every member of the Church but this belongs not to their Priests and Votaries See M. Cartw. Rejoynd par 2. p. 82 83. Cajetane denies that the Text of Iohn 20. 23. and Ephes. 5. 32. and Iam. 5. 4. being the sole grounds of Scripture which Papists have for three of their Sacraments Auricular Confession Matrimony and Extream Unction do teach any such thing It came not from the Lord to ordain one Sacrament for the Clergy as Orders a second for the Laity alone as Marriage a third for catechized ones as Confirmation a fourth for sick ones as Unction a fifth for lapsed ones as Penance These are no Scripture but tradition Sacraments The Councel of Trent thus argues There are seven defects of a man seven degrees of the body seven Aegyptian plagues seven planets seven dayes in the week they should adde also seven heads of the Beast Therefore there are seven Sacraments Vide Aquin. part 3. Quaest. 65. Art 1. X. The use of the Sacraments of the New Testament 1. To quicken our dulnesse and stirre up our care in performing the duties whereto the Gospel bindeth us viz. to endeavour and labour to repent and beleeve and obey out of an assured confidence that God will accept and help our endeavours 2. To confirm and stablish our hearts in faith that we may setledly beleeve that God hath and will perform the good things sealed up viz. Remission of sins sanctification and salvation all the spiritual blessings of the new Covenant The uses or ends of the Sacraments are especially three 1. To strengthen faith 2. To seal the Covenant between God and us 3. To be a badge of our profession Atters of the Sac. l. 1. c. 3. XI Whether any other but a Minister lawfully called and ordained may administer the Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper It is held by the Reformed Churches and by the soundest Protestant Writers That neither of these Sacraments may be dispensed by any but by a Minister of the Word lawfully ordained 1. God hath appointed the Ministers of the Word lawfully called and ordained and no other to be stewards and dispensers of the mysteries of Christ 1 Cor. 4. 1. Tit. 1. 5 7. 2. He hath appointed them to be Pasâ—ors or Shepherds To feed the stock of God Ier. 3. 15. Ephes. 4. 11. Acts 20. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2. much of this feeding consists in the dispensation of the Sacraments 3. Christ gives a Commission to the Apostles to teach and baptize and extends the same Commission to all teaching Ministers to the end of the world Matth. 28. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. Neither of the Sacraments have efficacy unlesse they be administred by him that is lawfully called thereunto or a person made publick and cloathed with Authority by Ordination This errour in the matter of Baptism is begot by another errour of the absolute necessity of Baptism Mr. Hendersons second Paper to the King The Scripture joyneth together the preaching of the Word and dispensations of the seals both belonging to the Officers who have received Commission from Jesus Christ Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 1. M. Ball. Heb. 5. 4. No man takes this honour but he which is called as was Aaron which sentence doth manifestly shut out all private persons from administration of Baptism seeing it is a singular honour in the Church of God Cartw. 2d Reply 11th Tractate The example of Zipporah either was rash or singular and also no way like womens baptizing Circumcision was then commanded the Head of the Family Baptism belongs only to Ministers Matth. 28. she circumcised her son when he was not in danger of death as these baptize CHAP. VIII Of Baptism BAptism is taken sometimes for the superstitious Jewish ablutions and legal purifications as certain representations of our Baptism as Mark 7. 3 4. and Heb. 9. 10. Sometimes by a Synecdoche for the Ministery of the Doctrine and Baptism of Iohn Mat. 21. 25. Acts 1. 5. Sometimes for the miraculous and extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost Acts 1. 5. Sometimes by a Metaphor for the crosse and afflictions Matth. 20. 22. Luke 12. 50. Lastly for the sign of the Covenant of Grace Mat. 28. 19 20. Mar. 16. 15 15. Our Lord took Baptism as some have observed from the Jews baptizing of Proselytes and washing of themselves from uncleannesse which was known and usual among them And he chose the Lords Supper likewise from a custom observed among the Jews at the Passeover at the end of the celebration whereof the Fathers of Families were wont to take a Cake of bread and after the blessing thereof to break and distribute it to the Communicants As also after that a Cup of wine in the like sort Whereunto that may have reference Ps. 116. 12 13. Iohns Pref. to his Christian Plea This custom Nestrezat Tableandu Sacrament de la Saincte Cene also mentions and saith The Master of the Family in giving the bread to every one of his domesticks set at a Table used these words Hold Eat This is the bread of the misery which our Parents did eat in Egypt and he quotes Deut. 16. 3. Baptism is the Sacrament of our initiation or ingraffing into Christ
especially when he hath no power committed unto him by God and the Church of repelling the wicked from this holy Communion 4. Because the punishment denounced against unworthy receivers is appropriated to them who thus offend and reacheth not to the innocent because they are in their company 1 Cor. 11. 29. It were much to be desired saith M. Downame that all wicked persons were excluded from this outward Communion with the Saints for what have dogs to do with holy things or swine with pearls and it were a great comfort to the godly if none but such as are like unto themselves had fellowship with them at this feast our Love Zeal and Devotion is more enlivened in this action by our mutual prayers when with one minde and heart we joyn together yet it should not wholly discourage us from coming to this sacred Feast though wicked persons be there present if we our selves be duly prepared For though we would not willingly eat with slovenly persons nor permit them to put their unclean hands into our dish yet if we have a good appetite and cannot help it we will rather admit such inconvenience then for want of food pine with hunger Theodosius the Emperour being a man guilty of rash effusion of bloud coming upon a Sabbath-day to the place of publick worship would have received the Sacrament Ambrose seeing him coming goes and meets him at the door and speaks thus to him How dare those bloudy hands of yours lay hold on the body and bloud of Christ who have been the shedders of so much innocent bloud Which speech did so startle him that he went away and was humbled for his sinne and afterwards came and made his publick confession and then was received in Whence we may see that Kings yea Emperours have been kept back from the Sacrament The Canons of our Church Can. 26. straitly charge every Minister That he shall not in any wise admit to the Communion any of his flock which are openly known to live in notorious sin without repentance Whether Iudas received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper M. Gillespie in his Aarons Rod blosâ—oming chap. 8. holds he did not and chap. 9. questions Whether he received the Sacrament of the Passeover that night in which our Lord was betrayed and chap. 10. saith If it could be proved that Iudas received the Lords Supper it maketh nothing against the Suspension of known wicked persons from the Sacrament One saith The evidence of this fact hath ever appeared so fully to the Church that this alone hath been ground sufficient to deduce their right of free admission D. Drake in his Barre to free Admission to the Sacrament pag. 5 6. urgeth reasons that Iudas did not receive the Sacrament and saith that it makes nothing for free Admission if he did M. Selden De Synedriis veterum Ebraeorum cap. 8. saith Seriò perpendatur Judam ipsum Furem Proditorem Scelestissimum hisque nominibus satis notum publicè peccantem in ipsa institutione cum reliquis undecim Sacramenti Eucharistiae juxta plerosque Veterum Recentiorum participem fuisse nec omninò ea interdictum He hath much more there out of divers ancient and modern Writers to confirm that opinion At what time the Lords Supper was instituted Christ instituted it at night because occasion so required we have not the like occasion therefore are not bound unto it In Trajans and Tertullians time Christians did celebrate the Sacrament before day Tempore antelucano because of persecution they durst not receive it in the day time in St Augustines time Tempore Antemeridiano so now It behoved that Christ should suffer at the time of the Passeover to shew himself the true Passeover 1 Cor. 5. 7. and immediately after the eating of the last Passeover should institute this Sacrament to shew that now he abrogated the Jewish Ordinance and did appoint this in stead of it A fair intimation that Baptism follows in the room of Circumcision as the Lords Supper doth the Passeover The consideration of this circumstance should be of great force to make us respect and reverence the Sacrament seeing Christ instituted it then when he was about to depart out of this life and to suffer death for us we usually remember the words of a dying friend The Elements of the Eucharist They are two not only differing in number but also in their kinde Bread and Wine the first of which is solid and belongs to meat the later liquid and serves for drink The body is sufficiently nourished if it have bread and drink Christ cals himself both Iohn 6. 58. Bread because it strengtheneth the body is therefore called Christs body and wine because it turneth into bloud is therefore called Christs bloud Isidor These two creatures are 1. Of ordinary use not rare gotten in every Countrey 2. Such creatures as God of old made representations of his grace Isa. 25. 6. and 55. 3. 3. They are creatures best in their kinde of all things we eat bread is most nourishing and universally necessary for all kinde of bodies Panis à pascendo and wine of all drinks 1 Cor. 10. 17. We are all one body in as much as we are partakers of one bread The Analogy standeth thus as many grains of Corn make one loaf of bread and many Grapes make one measure of wine in the Cup So many Christians partaking faithfully of this Sacrament become one mystical body of Christ by the union of faith and love The Lord hath appointed those Elements to shew that men should come with an appetite and thirsting to receive the Sacrament in ancient times was as much as desiderare è cujus manu desideravit In Baptism we have one sign as the material part in the Supper we have two signs partly to note out our whole full and perfect nourishment in Christ having whatsoever is requisite for our salvation and partly to shew a fuller remembrance of his death for the wine which is a figure of his bloud doth as it were represent it before our eyes Attersol of the Sacr. l. 3 c. 5. Vide Aquin. Sum parte 3. Quaest. 74. Art 1. There are two representing signs in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 1. That we might know thaâ—â—â— Christ wâ— have whole and perfect spiritual nourishment and whatsoever is â—â—qâ—isite to â—alâ—â—â—ion 2. For a more â—â—vely representation of Christ his death and pâ—ssion in which his bloud was separated from his body These elements are to be administred in both kindes severally Christ at his last Supper delivered first bread by it self and then wine and not bread and wine together in a sop or bread dipt in wine In the sop the wine is not dâ—unâ— but eaten Of receiving the Sacrament in both kindes Bread and Wine The Communion was instituted by Christ in both kindes as three Evangelists shew Mark 14. 23. Luke 22. 20. Matth. 26. 27. It was
do not admonish complain of or withdraw themselves from scandalous offenders In a word when many of these things are either in whole or in part omitted that are appointed then is this Commandment broken So that according to the number of duties commanded so must the breaches of this Commandment be numbred in case any of them be wholly or in part neglected Now I come to shew the sins of Commission that is the doing of things contrary to the duties commanded even things that are forbidden Sins of Commission are here of two sorts 1. Direct 2. Indirect The former being simply and of themselves sins the other sins by a consequent and in some respect annexed to them Direct breaches of this Commandment are in regard of performing these Ordinances and in regard of preserving and continuing them For performance here are two things forbidden The tendering of a false worship or abasing of the true False worship is a worship not enjoyned by God for the measure of Gods worship is the manifestation of his will wherefore what agrees not with that as being inconformable to the right rule of worship is worship alone in shew and appearance that is feigned and counterfeit like bad coyn not true and right Now worship is false in regard of the Object and Parts of it For the Object it is false First When the true God himself is intended to be worshipped but under some visible or sensible representation when I say God set forth by any Picture or Image is worshipped or when any such Image is used as a means to derive and convey honour unto him by This was the sinne of the Israelites in the wildernesse for they purposed in their intention to serve that God which brought them out of Aegypt but for the better helping of them in this worship and to stir up their devotion they would set up the image of an Ox a most beneficial creature whose labour did yield them through Gods blessing the best means of maintenance and living somewhat to represent God unto them and to bring his benefits unto their mindes So Aaron professeth when he saith To morrow shall be an holy day to the Lord. This was likewise the sinne of Micah the Ephraimite he made a Teraphim and had an house of Images Teraphim was the Image of a man â—e made this to worship God in and by for he saith Now I know Iehovah will blesse me it must needs be that he purposed to worship that God of whom he did expect a blessing for his worship and his mother had vowed the silver to Iehovah to make a graven and molten Image wherefore this Image vowed to Iehovah must needs be intended to serve Iehovah by This was the sinne of Ieroboam who said of the Calves These are thy gods that did bring thee out of the Land as if he had proclaimed that he intended to do service to the God of their Fathers but he thought it convenient to have him represented to them by these figures and under these Images to have service tendred unto him And therefore David chargeth the Israelites to have changed their glory meaning God who was indeed their glory into a similitude of a Calf that is to have set up an image of a Calf to represent him by and Paul saith the same of the wiser Heathen that they did worship God but not as God but changed the glory of that incorruptible God into the similitude of a corruptible man that is they went about to set out and represent to themselves the glorious maker of all things by sueh base and inglorious pictures as if there could be any proportion betwixt God and a dead Image the workmanship of mans hands which is indeed a great embasing of their apprehension of his Majesty causing them at last to think as meanly of God as of a thing that could be so set forth yea this is the sinne the Prophet so findes fault with in Gods Name saying What similitude will you set up to me and whereunto will you liken me And this is the sinne of the Popish Church which they continually commit and maintain and by which they have so corrupted themselves that they even cease to be the true Church of God and are turned into a company of spiritual adulterers for that Church with the wine of her fornications hath made almost all Nations drunken to whom hath she not conveyed the infection of this foul Idolatry God must be worshipped under the picture of an aged man the holy Ghost under the similitude of a Dove the Sonne of God under the similitude of a man hanging on the Crosse all foul Idolatries for seeing that Christ is God as well as man he is no more to have an Image set up to him then the Father or holy Ghost seeing the Divinity is not representable and the humanity without the Deity is not Christ so that it is nothing but a strong fancy makes men take any picture for Christs picture for seeing his natural physiognomy is wholly concealed in Scripture and no approved story hath acquainted us with it and seeing his Deity is wholly irrepresentible why should any picture drawn by man be called a picture of Christ rather then of the thief that hanged by him It must needs be a very dead devotion that a dead picture can provoke This is the first falshood of worship for the Object when the true God is intended as the Object but under some picture or representation for God represented by an Image is now become an Idol seeing the true God hath disavowed all such representing This is the first kinde of Idolatry Another is When a creature hath these kindes of worship performed to him or any like them which God hath appointed to himself and so becomes the object of worship so Paul to the Galatians defines Idolatry to be a serving of the creature or of those things which by nature are not Gods He useth the word serving which utterly overturns that fond distinction of worship and service mentioned by Papists to shift off the blame of this sinne to serve that which by nature is not God is flat Idolatry Now there are divers creatures which have been and are worshipped with the worship due to God or something like it and coined in imitation of it First Angels which thing began in the time of the Apostles and is by Paul writing to the Colossians condemned as a base will-worship Secondly Saints departed which grew into the Church long after by degrees and was rife since four hundred years after Christ amongst many though not allowed by the authority of the Church-Governours as after it was by building Churches dedicating Altars and dayes and offering Incense and the like to these all which are still in use and practice among the Popish Churches yea are by them maintained as very devout and profitable exercises for what more common then Invocation of Saints with