Treatise Roman Catechism With Reply
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-roman-catechism-with-reply-026 |
| Words | 385 |
(Concil. Trid,
Sess. 25, de Sacr. Imag. Catech. Rom., par. 3, c. 2, n. 20,)
and proposed to them to be worshipped. (Cajetan. in Aquin.,
q. 25, art. 3.)
REPLY. There is nothing more expressly forbidden in
Scripture, than the making any image or representation of
God: “Take ye good heed unto yourselves, (for ye saw no
manner of similitude,) lest ye corrupt yourselves; and make
you a graven image, the similitude of any figure.” (Deut. iv. 15, 16.) If it had been acceptable to God, he would have
chosen a similitude to appear in ; but seeing he did not,
they were not to presume to make one for him. This is to
“change his glory.” (Rom. i. 21, &c.) And “to place such
an image in a Christian temple is abominable,” saith St. Austin. (De Fide et Symb., c. 7.) And “thus to describe
the Trinity, is a deformation of it,” saith Cassander. (Art. 21, sec. de Imag.)
Q. 48. Upon what pretence do they make such representa
tions of God? A. They say, they thereby represent not God, but some of
his properties and actions, after the manner they are described
in Scripture; as when “the Ancient of days” is said to “sit
on a throne, having the books opened before him; ” (Dan. vii. 9, 10;) thereby signifying his etermity and infinite wisdom. (Catech. Rom., ibid.)
REPLY. But what is this to those images and pictures used
by them which have no resemblance in Scripture? Such are
their descriptions of the Trinity in Unity, as of God the
Father like an old man, having the Son lying in his bosom,
and the IIoly Ghost over his head like a dove. (2.) God himself never appeared in any form; and so the
resemblance in Daniel was only a prophetical scheme, and did
no more belong to God than the eyes and ears that are ascribed
to him in Scripture. (3) God cannot be represented at all, but by such proper
ties and effects: But if an image of God be forbidden to be
worshipped, then the image, even by such properties and
effects, is forbidden to be worshipped. Q. 49. But are not such descriptions of God, the way to
represent him, as if he was like unto one of us? A.