The fourth Chapter. Of Idolatrie, forbidden by the first Commandement.
1 THe word Idolatrie is a Gréeke word, and a compound of ⟨…⟩ and ⟨…⟩, and is nothing else, but The worshipping of idols. And ⟨…⟩ is deriued of this word ⟨…⟩, which signifieth, 2 A forme, or (as if ye did saie) A shape. But an idoll (as we now speake of) is euerie forme or figure, which men haue inuented vnto themselues, to resemble and expresse God. And as there be found out sundrie and manifold matters of these formes; so be there also diuers kinds of idols. Wherevpon, if the matter be stones, wood, or metall, whereby God is outwardlie counterfeited, to the intent he should be there worshipped; those be grosse and most manifold idols. There may be vsed also a spirituall matter, which then happeneth, when those formes and images are nothing else, but conceits of the hart and mind; which men doo frame to themselues to represent GOD himselfe; not as the scripture declareth him, but according to their owne opinion and rashnesse. Wherefore, according to the properties of the matter, 3 an idoll is diuided into two kinds; the one is outward or visible, and hath recourse to the outward senses of men; but the other is inward, that is, wrought in the inward parts of the mind. There be also two parts of religious worshipping. The one is inward, whereby we beléeue in God himselfe, trust in him, giue him thanks, submit our selues and all that we haue vnto him, and deuoutlie call vpon him in our praiers: in these actions (no doubt) consisteth the inward worshipping. But the other part hath outward tokens, wherein we giue a testimonie of this mind of ours, by prostrating the bodie, and bowing the knée, by vncouering the head, by speaking, and by exercising rites and ceremonies by God appointed. And this is an outward worshipping or adoration.
2 But we must note, 4 that such outward kind of signes of bowing the bodie, or knées, and such other like, are doone also vnto creatures: I meane vnto princes and kings, which in earth doo represent vnto men the authoritie of God, and doo supplie his place in the administration of things. And verelie, then they are nothing else to be estéemed, but certeine sure testimonies, whereby, as manie as are subiects, doo trulie and from the hart confesse, that they in the name of God will be subiect and obedient vnto such powers, so farre as pietie and the word of God shall permit. But we must beware, lest in our inward iudgement we attribute more vnto them than is méet; or expect more of them than their power and might is able to performe: for otherwise we should not scape idolatrie. Wherefore, if anie, by bowing himselfe to his prince, would signifie that he can not erre; and that it is lawfull for him to doo whatsoeuer him listeth, to command anie thing whatsoeuer his pleasure is: doubtlesse such a one should be counted an idolater, and should commit the crime aswell inwardlie as outwardlie.
And whether the Popes hirelings doo vse this trade, we may héereby easilie gather; 5 in that they so cast themselues at his féet, to testifie, that they will be subiect vnto him; as to the onelie vicar of Christ vpon earth, as to the vniuersall bishop of the church, as to him that can not erre in decrées of doctrines concerning faith; and finallie, as to whom onelie it is lawfull, as he list himselfe, to determine of religion and christian discipline. 6 Let this then be euerie where a sure and firme rule; that these outward submissions of the bodie doo then apperteine to idolatrie, when they shall be testimonies, that the mind attributeth more vnto the creature than is méet; or which are onelie proper vnto God. For they be not referred vnto God himselfe, or to the obedience of his commandements; but to vaine formes and similitudes, which we our selues haue imagined to our selues, and conceiued in our mind.