When Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others reviv'd the fame, the Council of Trent declar'd against them, and decreed that Honour and Veneration is due and to be given to the Images of Chrift, the Virgin Mary, and the other Saints. This they declar'd to be de Fide, as being handed down unto them in all Ages, and practic'd by the Piety of the Chriftians, warranted by the Scriptures, and authoris'd by theCatholick Church, and the Antient Holy, Fathers: Nor would this have been inferted in the Creed of Pope Pius as your Grace is pleas'd to call it) or made a Terni of Communion, as many other pious Practices of the Church are not, because they were not oppos'd; if thofe Gentlemen and their Sectators had not attempted to abolish it. The Council of Trent doth then declare it to be de Fide, that Honour and Veneration is due and to be given to the Images of Christ, the Virgin Ma ry, and other Saints. Because it would not fuffer any Part of the Depofitum Fidei to be taken away, or any of the pious Practices, which put us in mind of our Redemption, or of our Refpect to God or his Saints; but doth not pretend to make, anew Article of Faith (as your Grace is pleas'd to fay) otherwife than as aforefaid.

CHA P. II.

Of Idolatry.

Our Grace adds, ibd.

You

Nor does it ap

"pear that the Heathens themfelyes paid "greater Worship to their Images, than what "is maintain'd and practic'd in thofe Countries,

B 2

"where

"where the Roman Religion is establish'd." This, My Lord, is very hard indeed. But to give your Grace Satisfaction, and fhew that we are not Idolaters, I fhall endeavour to lay down. First, what that Idolatry is wherewith the Scripture fo often charges the Heathens, and your Grace, us, the Roman Catholicks. Secondly, what the Nature of it is, and wherein it doth confift. And Laftly, what exterior Actions of Men, are Idolatry, and how they are to be diftinguish'dfrom other Actions in themselves commendable, innocent or indifferent.

First, What that Idolatry is wherewith the Scripture fo often charges the Heathens, and your Grace, the Roman Catholicks.

This I take to be, not their making any graven or carv'd Images, or Similitudes of Things in Heaven or on Earth, or in the Waters; but their n aking these things to themfelves in Order to adore or worship them as their Gods: For the Scripture does not forbid the making of Images or Reprefentations of Things in Heaven or on Earth, as is plainly to be feen by the Command which God gave Mofes to make two Cherubins to be plac'd over the Ark; and from the Conduct of Salomon, who caused to be made, and placed several Figures and Reprefentations of things in Heaven, and on Earth in the Temple of Jerufalem. But the Scripture only forbids the making of these things to themfelves, that is to make them their Gods. For the Scripture doth not fay: Thou halt not make (to use your own Verfion) any graven Image, &c. But, thou shalt not make to thy felf any graven Image, &c. Exod. Chap.

20.

Now,

Now, My Lord, if making, carving, cafting, or painting Images be (in your Grace's Opinion) Idolatry, I am fure thofe of your Communion are not qualify'd to throw the firft Stone at the Roman Catholicks: For it is too vifible to be deny'd, that you have in many Places Figures, Images, and Reprefentations of Things on Earth, and in Heaven, and I my felf can aver, that I have seen in the great Church of St. Albans in England two Pictures, one of each Side of the great Altar, reprefenting Mofes as Lawgiver, and Aaron as High-Prieft with his Cenfer in his Hand: Why therefore, My Lord, may not the Crucifix or Image of our great Redeemer, Law-giver and High-Prieft Jefus Chrift, be as warrantably placed in our Church.

Secondly, What the Nature of this Idolatry is, and wherein it doth confift.

I believe your Grace, will not refuse to agree with me, that Idolatry (in the proper Signification of the Word) is the giving unto any Creature, the Honour, Worfhip, or Adoration, which is due only to God; and that, under the Notion of his being alone the Maker and Creator of all things, and confequently of our felves; and that therefore a fupreme Worfhip and Adoration is fo due to him; that if the fame be given to any Creature whatsoever, fuch an Action is properly Idolatry.

Laftly, What exterior Actions of Men are Idolatry, and how they are to be diftinguifk'd from other Actions in themselves Commendable, innocent or indifferent.

I know not whether I may hope for your Grace's Concurrence with me in Opinion, on this Head, as I flatter my felf I may on the two

B 3.

For

T

Former However, I'll take the Liberty to fay, that the diftinguishing Notes, Marks or Cha racteriflicks, of Idolatry from other Actions in themselves commendable, innocent or indiffe rent, consist in kneeling, proftrating, worshipping, &c. As to a Deity, or offering Sacrifice to any but to the only true God. And this I take to be fo, because kneeling 'o, proftrating before,or kiffing God's Creatures, according to the different Excellency's we conceive in, or the Duty and Obligation we owe unto them, is what is fo frequently and exprefly recommended unto us in the Holy Scriptures.

We are commanded to honour Kings, Princes, and Magiftrates, to give Tribute to whom Tribute is due, and Honour to whom Honour is due. In confequence whereof we give our Petitions and Prayers to Kings and Sovereign Princes upon our Knees, and kifs their Hands: Nay we may, by Scripture Warrant, worthip them with the fame external Act, wherewith we Worthip God. As appears by this Text: And David faid to all the Congregation, now bless the Lord your God. And all the Congregation blefs'd the Lord God of their Fathers, and bow'd down their Heads, and worshipp'd the Lord and the King. 1. Chron. 29. 20. H.re the People worfhipp'd God and the King with the fame Act, viz. God as their fupreme Lord, and the King as his Vicegerent.

We are allo commanded to bend the Knee, at the Name of Jefus, and by confquence may lawfully do the fame at the Figure or Image of Jefus: Since the Figure or Image of Jefus is to the Eye, what the found of the Word Jefus is to the Ear, I hope your Grace will alfo allow,

that

that to uncover the Head in Churches, to bow down at the Altar, to take the Sacrament kneeling, to kifs the Book of the Gofpels are innocent Practices, fince you do thefe things yourfelves: So that here is uncovering the Head, bowing, kneeling, kiffing, honouring, worshipping the Creatures of Almighty God without a ny danger of Idolatry, upon the best Warrant we can proceed in any Action of humane Life. Idolatry then, properly fpeaking, confifts in performing or practicing any of the aforefaid Actio is to Idols, or the Reprefentation of false Gods, in offering Sacrifice to them, or confiding in them; or even in offering Sacrifice to Saints or Angels, or to the Images or Representations of Saints or Angels, or even of Jefus Chrift himfelf; as believing the Saints or Angels to have any Divinity in them, or to be able to forgive us our Sins, other than to obtain that from God, by their Prayers and Interceffion for us.

Now I call upon your Grace to make out, when we bend the Knee, or bow, or kifs the Reprefentations, or Images of Jefus Christ, or of thofe of his Saints or Angels; That we be lieve any Divinity or Power in them, of their own Nature to forgive us our Sins, or that we offer Sacrifice unto them. On the contrary, we perform all the aforefaid Actions relatively, because the faid Reprefentations excite in our Minds Sentiments of Gratitude, firft to.our Saviour Jefus Chrift, by whofe Doctrine, Death, Paffion, Refurrection and Afcenfion we hope to be fav'd; and next to his Saints, who were the happy Inftruments of conveying unto us the Knowledge of him and of his Doctrine. So that in effect this Honour is paid to no other but to Jefus Christ himself.

B. 4

And