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：
hedothwell；thoughifhehadthefortitudetosufferdeath，ratherthanworshipit，heshoulddobetter。Butifapastor，whoasChrist’smessengerhasundertakentoteachChrist’sdoctrinetoallnations，shoulddothesame，itwerenotonlyasinfulscandal，inrespectofotherChristianmen’sconsciences，butaperfidiousforsakingofhischarge。
ThesumofthatwhichIhavesaidhitherto，concerningtheworshipofimages，isthis，thathethatworshippethinanimage，oranycreature，eitherthematterthereof，oranyfancyofhisownwhichhethinkethtodwellinit；orbothtogether；orbelieveththatsuchthingshearhisprayers，orseehisdevotions，withoutearsoreyes，committethidolatry。Andhethatcounterfeitethsuchworshipforfearofpunishment，ifhebeamanwhoseexamplehathpoweramongsthisbrethren，committethasin。ButhethatworshippeththeCreatoroftheworldbeforesuchanimage，orinsuchaplaceashehathnotmadeorchosenofhimself，buttakenfromthecommandmentofGod’sword，astheJewsdidinworshippingGodbeforethecherubim，andbeforethebrazenserpentforatime，andinortowardsthetempleofJerusalem，whichwasalsobutforatime，committethnotidolatry。
Nowfortheworshipofsaints，andimages，andrelics，andotherthingsatthisdaypractisedintheChurchofRome，IsaytheyarenotallowedbythewordofGod，norbroughtintotheChurchofRomefromthedoctrinetheretaught；butpartlyleftinitatthefirstconversionoftheGentiles，andafterwardscountenanced，andconfirmed，andaugmentedbythebishopsofRome。
AsfortheproofsallegedoutofScripture；namely，thoseexamplesofimagesappointedbyGodtobesetup；theywerenotsetupforthepeopleoranymantoworship，butthattheyshouldworshipGodHimselfbeforethem；asbeforethecherubimovertheArk，andthebrazenserpent。Forwereadnotthatthepriestoranyotherdidworshipthecherubim。ButcontrarilywereadthatHezekiahbrokeinpiecesthebrazenserpentwhichMoseshadsetup，*becausethepeopleburntincensetoit。Besides，thoseexamplesarenotputforourimitation，thatwealsoshouldsetupimages，underpretenceofworshippingGodbeforethem；becausethewordsofthesecondCommandment，“Thoushaltnotmaketothyselfanygravenimage，“
etc。，distinguishbetweentheimagesthatGodcommandedtobesetup，andthosewhichwesetuptoourselves。Andthereforefromthecherubimorbrazenserpent，totheimagesofman’sdevising；andfromtheworshipcommandedbyGod，tothewill-worshipofmen，theargumentisnotgood。Thisalsoistobeconsidered，thatasHezekiahbrokeinpiecesthebrazenserpent，becausetheJewsdidworshipit，totheendtheyshoulddosonomore；soalsoChristiansovereignsoughttobreakdowntheimageswhichtheirsubjectshavebeenaccustomedtoworship，thattherebenomoreoccasionofsuchidolatry。Foratthisdaytheignorantpeople，whereimagesareworshipped，doreallybelievethereisadivinepowerintheimages；
andaretoldbytheirpastorsthatsomeofthemhavespoken，andhavebled；andthatmiracleshavebeendonebythem；whichtheyapprehendasdonebythesaint，whichtheythinkeitheristheimageitself，orinit。TheIsraelites，whentheyworshippedthecalf，didthinktheyworshippedtheGodthatbroughtthemoutofEgypt，andyetitwasidolatry，becausetheythoughtthecalfeitherwasthatGod，orhadHiminhisbelly。AndthoughsomemanmaythinkitimpossibleforpeopletobesostupidastothinktheimagetobeGod，orasaint，ortoworshipitinthatnotion，yetitismanifestinScripturetothecontrary；where，whenthegoldencalfwasmade，thepeoplesaid，“Thesearethygods，OIsrael“；*2andwheretheimagesofLabanarecalledhisgods。*3Andweseedailybyexperienceinallsortsofpeoplethatsuchmenasstudynothingbuttheirfoodandeasearecontenttobelieveanyabsurdity，ratherthantotroublethemselvestoexamineit，holdingtheirfaithasitwerebyentailunalienable，exceptbyanexpressandnewlaw。
Buttheyinferfromsomeotherplacesthatitislawfultopaintangels，andalsoGodHimself：asfromGod’swalkinginthegarden；
fromJacob’sseeingGodatthetopoftheladder；andfromothervisionsanddreams。Butvisionsanddreams，whethernaturalorsupernatural，arebutphantasms：andhethatpaintethanimageofanyofthem，makethnotanimageofGod，butofhisownphantasm，whichismakingofanidol。Isaynot，thattodrawapictureafterafancyisasin；butwhenitisdrawn，toholditforarepresentationofGodisagainstthesecondCommandmentandcanbeofnousebuttoworship。Andthesamemaybesaidoftheimagesofangels，andofmendead；unlessasmonumentsoffriends，orofmenworthyremembrance：forsuchuseofanimageisnotworshipoftheimage，butacivilhonouringoftheperson；notthatis，butthatwas：
butwhenitisdonetotheimagewhichwemakeofasaint，fornootherreasonbutthatwethinkhehearethourprayers，andispleasedwiththehonourwedohim，whendeadandwithoutsense，weattributetohimmorethanhumanpower，andthereforeitisidolatry。
Seeingthereforethereisnoauthority，neitherintheLawofMosesnorintheGospel，forthereligiousworshipofimagesorotherrepresentationsofGodwhichmensetuptothemselves，orfortheworshipoftheimageofanycreatureinheaven，orearth，orundertheearth；andwhereasChristiankings，whoarelivingrepresentantsofGod，arenottobeworshippedbytheirsubjectsbyanyactthatsignifiethagreateresteemofhispowerthanthenatureofmortalmaniscapableof；itcannotbeimaginedthatthereligiousworshipnowinusewasbroughtintotheChurchbymisunderstandingoftheScripture。ItresteththereforethatitwasleftinitbynotdestroyingtheimagesthemselvesintheconversionoftheGentilesthatworshippedthem。
Thecausewhereofwastheimmoderateesteemandpricessetupontheworkmanshipofthem，whichmadetheowners，thoughconvertedfromworshippingthemastheyhaddonereligiouslyfordemons，toretainthemstillintheirhouses，uponpretenceofdoingitinthehonorofChrist，oftheVirginMary，andoftheApostles，andotherthepastorsoftheprimitiveChurch；asbeingeasy，bygivingthemnewnames，tomakethatanimageoftheVirginMaryandofherSonourSaviour，whichbeforeperhapswascalledtheimageofVenusandCupid；
andsoofaJupitertomakeaBarnabas，andofMercury，aPaul，andthelike。Andasworldlyambition，creepingbydegreesintothepastors，drewthemtoanendeavourofpleasingthenew-madeChristians；andalsotoalikingofthiskindofhonour，whichtheyalsomighthopeforaftertheirdecease，aswellasthosethathadalreadygainedit：sotheworshippingoftheimagesofChristandhisApostlesgrewmoreandmoreidolatrous；savethatsomewhatafterthetimeofConstantinediverseemperors，andbishops，andgeneralcouncilsobservedandopposedtheunlawfulnessthereof，buttoolateortooweakly。
ThecanonizingofsaintsisanotherrelicofGentilism：itisneitheramisunderstandingofScripture，noranewinventionoftheRomanChurch，butacustomasancientastheCommonwealthofRomeitself。ThefirstthateverwascanonizedatRomewasRomulus，andthatuponthenarrationofJuliusProculus，thatsworebeforetheSenatehespokewithhimafterhisdeath，andwasassuredbyhimhedweltinheaven，andwastherecalledQuirinus，andwouldbepropitioustothestateoftheirnewcity：andthereupontheSenategavepublictestimonyofhissanctity。JuliusCaesar，andotheremperorsafterhim，hadtheliketestimony；thatis，werecanonizedforsaints：forbysuchtestimonyiscanonizationnowdefined，andisthesamewiththeapotheosisoftheheathen。
ItisalsofromtheRomanheathenthatthepopeshavereceivedthenameandpowerofPontifexMaximus。ThiswasthenameofhimthatintheancientCommonwealthofRomehadthesupremeauthorityundertheSenateandpeopleofregulatingallceremoniesanddoctrinesconcerningtheirreligion：andwhenAugustusCaesarchangedthestateintoamonarchy，hetooktohimselfnomorebutthisoffice，andthatoftribuneofthepeoplethatistosay，thesupremepowerbothinstateandreligion；andthesucceedingemperorsenjoyedthesame。ButwhentheEmperorConstantinelived，whowasthefirstthatprofessedandauthorizedChristianreligion，itwasconsonanttohisprofessiontocausereligiontoberegulated，underhisauthority，bythebishopofRome：thoughitdonotappeartheyhadsosoonthenameofPontifex；butratherthatthesucceedingbishopstookitofthemselves，tocountenancethepowertheyexercisedoverthebishopsoftheRomanprovinces。ForitisnotanyprivilegeofSt。Peter，buttheprivilegeofthecityofRome，whichtheemperorswerealwayswillingtouphold，thatgavethemsuchauthorityoverotherbishops；asmaybeevidentlyseenbythat，thatthebishopofConstantinople，whentheEmperormadethatcitytheseatoftheEmpire，pretendedtobeequaltothebishopofRome；thoughatlast，notwithoutcontention，thePopecarriedit，andbecamethePontifexMaximus；butinrightonlyoftheEmperor，andnotwithouttheboundsoftheEmpire，noranywhereaftertheEmperorhadlosthispowerinRome，thoughitwerethePopehimselfthattookhispowerfromhim。FromwhencewemaybythewayobservethatthereisnoplaceforthesuperiorityofthePopeoverotherbishops，exceptintheterritorieswhereofheishimselfthecivilsovereign；andwheretheemperor，havingsovereignpowercivil，hathexpresslychosenthePopeforthechiefpastorunderhimselfofhisChristiansubjects。