A Short Information, but agreeable unto Scripture: OF IDOL-IMAGES.  
Made unto the Christian Congregation at Prague, when as, by his Royal Majesties most gracious Command, the Castle-Church there, was cleansed from all Images, on Sunday the twelfth of December, in the year 1619.  
By Abraham Scultetus.  
Faithfully translated according to the high Dutch Copy printed at Heidelberge, by Gotthard Voegeliu, 1620.  
M. D. C. XX.   

The Entrance.  
I Doubt not but that there are many, who will think it strange, which either now do see and behold, or shortly shall hear and understand, that the Altar and Images are removed and put out of this Church. For many men will perhaps thus think and say with themselves: That God might even as well have been served and honoured through the Images: That also they were the common people's Books and Bible: And that the Altar and Images did much adorn and beautify the Church, which now (being despoiled of these Ornaments) seems to be bare and naked like a Wilderness.  
Now therefore the better to meet with, and satisfy such conceited thoughts, I will for this time lay aside and pretermit the Text of the Gospel appointed for this day; and briefly, yet plainly and evidently declare unto you, what almighty Gods will and pleasure is, concerning such Images and Altars. Which will and pleasure of God, when it shall be brought forth, and made manifest out of the holy Scripture, as clear as the day light and bright Sunshine, then shall not any be justly offended, at the cleansing and purging of this Church from Images. But all godly minded people that do see it, or shall hear of it, will spiritually much rejoice thereat, and be hearty thankful for the same, first unto the most high God, & next unto his royal Majesty.  
Wherefore that all may become profitable unto us, we will first call upon our Lord God, for the grace and assistance of his holy Spirit, with the same prayer which our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ himself hath taught us, saying, Our Father, etc.  

The Text.  Thus spoke the strong and jealous God, out of the fire unto the people of Israel: EXOD. 20. 4, 5, 6. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graved Image, or any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the Earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: For I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my Commandments.  

The Exposition.  
ANd if Moses and Aaron stood here together, yet could they not sufficiently utter, with what a fiery zeal the Lord God hath forbidden, to make & worship Images. For when the Lord gave the ten Commandments, he threatened not in any Commandment so hard and grievous a punishment unto the transgressors; and promised not in any Commandment unto the obedient performers, so large a blessing, as in the Commandment of Images. For he will punish those who transgress this Commandment, even unto the fourth generation; but will richly and over-abundantly reward those with grace and mercy, who obediently observe and keep this Commandment.  
And the Lord God hath not repeated any Commandment so often, as he hath done even this Commandment of Images. For in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus, when he first gave the ten Commandments, he doth not thereupon presently repeat any other Commandment, than this, and saith: Ye have seen that I have talked with you 
Exod. 22. 22, 23.  from Heaven. Therefore ye shall not make with me (any thing) Gods of Silver, neither shall ye make unto you Gods of Gold. And when Moses was ready to dye, & admonisheth the people of their duty, he presseth not any Inhibition so deeply into their hearts, as even that Inhibition of Images. For in the fourth Chapter of Deuteronomie, he thus speaketh unto the people: Take ye therefore 
Deut. 4. 15, 16, 17, 18.  good heed unto yourselves. (For ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spoke unto you in Horeb, out of the fire.) Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and cording to his Essence and being: But yet he may be graved and pictured according to that form, wherein he appeared unto diverse of the faithful in the old Testament.  
To which I answer: God may at his pleasure, Ans. appear in what form or shape he will; but yet it becometh us to follow his Commandment: Thou shalt not make unto thee any Image. Again, Make not unto you any Image, the likeness of any figure. Besides, the forms and shapes wherein the Lord God did at any time appear unto any of the Saints, were not in any wise God's Image and Picture. For God only took such forms & shapes upon him but for a time, and did soon after, lay them aside again. And thus did he also show and reveal himself, sometimes now presently after this form, then anon again, after another form; in so much that a man must needs stand in doubt, which form and shape was Gods true likeness and similitude. Therefore the Prophet Esay, notwithstanding he had seen the Lord sit on the Circle 
Esay 40. 22, 25.  of the Earth, even above on high, as upon an elevated seat, whose clothing filled the Temple; yet doth he reprove all them who will make any Image, likeness, or similitude of God, and asketh as was heard, saying: To whom then will ye liken me?  
3. So also God should not, nor aught to be 
3. God should not, nor aught to be pictured.  graved or pictured. For such Imagery is both hurt full unto men, and dishonourable unto God. It is hurtful unto men; for a man may soon thereby corrupt and undo himself, yea, and provoke the Lord God unto anger against him, as it is written in the fore-alleaged fourth of Deuteronomy. It is dishonourable, and a disparagement unto the Lord God, as whose Glory and Majesty cannot by any means be graved or pictured, with any manner of visible Image or Picture. Whence it is, that the holy Apostle Paul writes in the first Chapter to the Romans, That the Heathen became Fools, 
Ro. 1. 22, 23.  when they changed the glory of the uncorruptible God, into an Image made like to corruptible man, & birds, and to four footed beasts, & creeping things.  
This doctrine of ours concerning the forbidden Images and Pictures of God, is so clear and evident, that it is also acknowledged of sundry principal Popish Divines, to be sound, good, and agreeable to the will of God. For one of them called Gabriel Vasquetz, acknowledgeth plainly, speaking 
Lib. 2. de adorat. disp. 4. cap. 2.  of adoration; that all manner of picturing of God, is directly forbidden in the second Commandment. And the chief Sorbon Doctors at Paris, Claudius Espencaeus, Salignacus, Picherellus, as as also with them Bishop Monlucius have long since shown (as is to be seen in the History of the Reformed Churches in France the fourth Book) that they therefore wished, that all Images and Pictures of the holy Trinity, were clean removed and wholly put out of Churches and Houses, seeing the same are plainly forbidden by the Holy Scripture, by Counsels, and by many godly, learned, and much praised worthy men.  
But yet here, me thinks, I hear some man object Object. again and demand: Seeing that the Son of God is become man, whether he may not be pictured according to his humanity?  
To which I answer: Christ came not therefore Ans. into the World, that men might take his Picture; but that men should believe in him, and convert themselves unto him. And therefore is it, that we have not any Commandment at all, to make any such Image or Picture, nor yet have any example thereof in all the whole new Testament. As also he cannot possibly at this day be truly pictured, no not according to his humanity, seeing there life's not now any man on the Earth that hath seen him. And here hence it is, that one doth paint him with a yellowish, another with a flaxen, a third with a black, the fourth with a brown beard. And so then a man must take that for Christ his Picture, which the Painter holds in his opinion to be the best. Not to say any thing, that seeing Christ being true God and man, is in one person, they who boast to have his Image and Picture, have thereof notwithstanding but a false Christ.  
Now as concerning the Images and Pictures of 
Of the Images of Saints.  the Virgin Mary, of Elizabeth, and of other holy Saints: If a man knew of what form and fashion they properly were indeed, their Pictures might well be had in private houses. But they are not by any means to be there set up in those places, where men perform Gods public service and worship, neither to be prayed unto, no nor yet for ornament sake. Not to be prayed unto, that being a chief part of God's worship. For it is written: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto 
Exod. 20. 5.  them, nor serve them. And again, Thou shalt worship 
Mat. 4. 10.  the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve, which is taken from the Law in Deuteronomie, 
Deut. 6. 3. & 10. 20.  where the word (only) is wanting, and supplied by Christ as being Gods true meaning. Not for ornament sake; for it is written: Abstain 
1. Thes. 5. 22  from all appearance of evil. Now the Images set upin holy places, have the appearance of being prayed unto and worshipped: For there are many people who think and are persuaded, they are set up there for that very end & purpose. And if they had not that appearance, yet there is great danger therein, that they may be prayed unto, and worshipped of superstitious people: as we have hitherunto seen, that it hath been but too much practised in this place. And we ought, as much as in us lieth, endeavour to avoid and prevent such danger. For it is written: Thou shalt not put a stumbling 
Levit. 19 14  block before the blind, but thou shalt fear thy God, saith the Lord in Leviticus. And again, Christ 
Mat. 4. 7.  saith, (out of Deut. 6. 16.) Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Wherefore the consequent followeth not, nor is of any value: It is lawful to have the Pictures of the Apostles, and of other holy Saints of God in private houses: Therefore it is also lawful to have and set them up publicly in Churches. For in a private house, (where the Inhabitants be not superstitious) there is no appearance of praying unto them, and worshipping of them, nor yet of any danger that they might be prayed unto, and worshipped of other superstitious people, and therefore are not there unlawful. And so much shall suffice to have spoken of the first main point; namely, that God should not nor ought not, that God cannot be graved or pictured.   

Of the second.  
But yet there are people here found, who give 
2. God will not be called upon or honoured by Images.  out, that it is true indeed, men should not pray, nor give reverence or worship unto the Images & Pictures; yea, and that they themselves also do it not. But yet say, that men may honour and worship God by and through the Pictures, according as these words following, stood written here on the beam under the great Crucifix:  

Effigiem Christi, cùm transis semper honora:  
Non tamen effigiem, sed quem designat adora.   
That is:  

When ere thou dost before Christ's Image stand,  
Or pass it by; give honour out of hand:  
Yet not to th' Image, which thine eyes do see;  
But to the Lord it represents to thee.   
Whereunto we give this answer: That it were much to be desired, that Images were not indeed prayed unto, and worshipped at all. But the practice and experience teacheth far otherwise: whilst it is daily seen, how the people do come, and bow themselves before the Altars, Images and Crucifixes; how they put off their Hats unto them; how they kindle Lamps and Tapers unto them. And should many of them see, that a Crucisix should be hewed in pieces, or burned into ashes, oh! how would even their very heart then bleed for giefe? This is indeed truly to do reverence and honour unto Images, and make Idols of them. But go too: Say, they pray not unto the Images; say, they give no reverence, nor do honour and worship unto them. Yet will not God have, nor can endure, that we pray unto him, that we worship him, and that we give him honour in, by, or through Images. For he saith at once roundly and expressly out: They shall not be bowed down unto, nor served. In which words he forbids all manner of service, honour, or worship, that may any way whatsoever be given unto Images. As also it is written, john 14. 6. that No man can come to the Father but by the Son: not by Images & senseless dumb Idols. Besides, it excuseth not their Idolatry at all, that they pretend & say; that through and by the Image, they pray unto and call upon the Saviour. For the Israelites would not be taken or thought to pray unto, and worship the golden Calf: as they themselves also say, To morrow is a Feast (not unto the Calf, but) 
Exod. 32. 5, 8, 10.  unto the Lord. And yet nevertheless the Lord saith unto Moses, They have worshipped the Calf, and have sacrificed thereunto, and therefore his wrath was waxen hot against the people to have consumed them. Yea, it faileth so fare that God will be worshipped by Imagens, as that he will not at all be so much as served BEFORE IMAGES. For thus sound forth aloud his own words. Ye 
Levit. 26. 1.  shall make you no Idols nor graved Image, neither rear you up a standing Image, (or Pillar) neither shall ye set up any Image of stone in your Land, to bow down unto it, or before it. And therefore before Images we ought not to pray, not to baptise, not to administer the Lords Super. For whether a man hoodwink himself, or no; whether a man see the Images, or see them not; yet it is all one, and directly against the will of God, that any should pray before Images.  
If now it be not lawful at all for us to honour and worship the Lord Christ through and by Images; then is it much less lawful for us to honour and worship the Saints deceased, as the Virgin Mary, Peter, Wenceslaus, Rochus, Sebastian & others, by and before the Images. For, beside that the Saints departed are not to be worshipped or prayed unto, neither in regard of themselves; for it is written: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy 
Mat. 4. 10.  God, and him only shalt thou serve: nor yet in regard of their being Mediators and Intercessors: For it is written: For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and Men, even the Man Christ 
1. Tim. 2. 5.  jesus. Wherefore; If any man sin, we have an 
1. john 2. 1.  Advocate with the Father jesus Christ the righteous: And he maketh intercession for the Saints according 
Rom. 8. 27.  to the will of God. For he is entered into 
Heb. 9 24.  Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. And therefore they have great need to look well about them and consider, how they will one day answer for it before God, who now so much love Images, as that they honour them with the putting off of the Hat, with kneeling, and with other like Ceremonies. For they belong unto the number of those, of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh in his second Chapter, saying: Their 
Isai. 2. 8, 9  Land is full of Idols, they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. There the mean men bow down, & the great men humble themselves: This thou wilt not forgive them.   

Of the third.  
Here hence now it is easy to conclude, what 
3. That Christian Magistrates ought to remove all Images from the Churches, they mean to worship God in.  then a Christian Magistrate is to do, when for his serving of God he taketh in a Church, which is replenished with Idol-Images? The Lord himself determines the matter, Exod. 34. 13. Thou shalt destroy their Altars, break down their Images, and cut down their groves. And Deut. 7. 5. Thus shall ye deal with them; Ye shall destroy their Altars, and break down their groves, and burn their graved Images with fire. Again, Deut. 12. 3. You shall overthrew their Altars, and break their Pillars, and burn their groves with fire, and you shall hew down the graved Images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. And 1. Sam. 7. 3. Samuel spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying: If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, than put away the strange gods, and Ashtaroth from among   

The first supposed ground is,  
That God speaketh in the ten Commandments, Object. 1 of the Idol-Images of the Heathen and unbelieving people: Therefore the Commandment of Images, concerneth not at all the Images of Christians under the new Testament.  
The Answer is: It is false, that God in the old Ans. Testament, spoke only of the Idols of the Heathen. For the ten Commandments are Gods everlasting unchangeable will, and extend unto all people, and every one in the whole World; as also unto all and every age and time, both of the old and new Testament. Now as a Thief or an Adulterer in the new Testament, sins as well against the ten Commandments, as did a Thief and an Adulterer in the old Testament: even so, whosoever honoureth and worshippeth Images in the new Testament, he sinneth as well against the ten Commandments, as he who did honour and worship Idols in the old Testament.   

The second supposed ground.  
Yet God himself had in salomon's Temple all Object. 2 manner of Images.  
I answer: It is very true indeed: But there Ans. were not there any Images at all of any of the Saints departed, as of Abraham, of Isaac, and of jacob; there were not any Historical commemorative Images, of which it is here spoken.   

The third supposed ground.  
But yet the common lay people may by Images be Object. 3 put in mind of many good things: especially by the Crucifix, of the Death and Passion of our Lord jesus Christ.  
I answer: It stands not in man's will and pleasure, Ans. that he institute and ordain unto himself, a public remembrance and commemoration of the benefits of God; but that belongs unto the Lord God alone to do, as it is written, Psal. 111. 4 He hath made his wonderful works to be had in remembrance: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. And even for this purpose hath the Lord God ordained the preaching of his Gospel, that by the same the benefits of our Lord Christ might be as it were together painted before men's eyes: According as the Apostle Saint Paul witnesseth of himself, Gal. 3. 1. 2. 5, 6. etc. That he had evidently set forth jesus Christ before their eyes; not by a Crucifix, but as himself further acknowledgeth, through and by the preaching and hearing of faith. And even to this end did our Lord jesus institute his holy Supper, that we should celebrate it in remembrance 
Luke 22. 19  of him. For the bread that we break, 
1. Cor. 11. 24 25, 26.  is it not a notable remembrance (I beseech you) that jesus Christ endured and suffered for us many bitter sorrows, and such as never man suffered (Consider, and behold, if ever there were sorrow like 
Lam. 1. 12.  my sorrow) and at length death itself, when body and soul were pulled asunder the one from the other upon the Cross? The Cup of Blessing or Thanksgiving, is it not an excellent remembrance, that the blood of Christ jesus ran gently out of his body, and was shed for our sins? These Remembrancers hath our Lord Christ instituted, and Saint Paul hath repeated them. But the Idol and Imagery Remembrancers hath Antichrist, even the Pope instituted. Before whose being, there was not any Image-remembrancer known of in the Church of God. But this was well known, that every Image was falsehood, jer. 10. 14. And that they be teachers of lies, Habac. 2. 18.   

The fourth supposed ground is an Objection made by Protestants:  
For the abuse of a thing, a man must not therefore Object. 4 cast away the thing itself: As a man will not cast away good Wine, because that some abuse it to drunkenness. Even so we may still retain Images in Protestant Churches, if we do but forbear to worship them and pray unto them.  
I answer: This rule (A thing is not therefore presently to be cast away, because it hath been abused) Ans. hath not any place or being, in those things which are not of themselves necessary, and yet are withal dangerous. Now all Protestants do acknowledge and confess that Images are not of themselves at all necessary. And that they are dangerous, we have here seen and beheld with our eyes in this very Church. Therefore Images may not by the foresaid Rule, be at all defended or excused. Besides, who knoweth not that the brazen Serpent commanded by God to be set up 
2. Kin. 18. 4.  and looked upon, was again broken down, when it came to be worshipped by the people?   

The fift supposed ground.  
Why (may some say) thou standest now thyself Object. 5 in that Pulpit, from whence much Idolatrous matter hath been preached. Thou dost celebrate the Lord's Supper in that Church, wherein the Papists have held their Mass. Wherefore then is not both Pulpit and Church broken down together?  
I answer: We teach not that all that should be Ans. broken down, which men have abused, or might abuse unto Idolatry. For so should Heaven, and all created things be destroyed. But we teach thus, That all those things which a man may well spare, and which are dangerous, and may lightly give unto this or that body an occasion to Idolatry, be in time removed and cast away, agreeably unto the clear and plain Word of God, 1. Tim. 5. 22. Be not partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Again Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy God. According to this Rule did the godly Priests (in the time of magnanimous, heroical Champion judas Maccabeus) reform all, when as the holy Place had been grievously profaned by that wicked Antiochus. They broke not down the Temple, in which there had been shameful Idolatry committed: but they cleansed, and bore the defiled stones into an unclean place, as it is written, 1. Mac. 4. 42. 43. According to this Rule, our Lord, Mat. 21. 12, 13. made reformation at Jerusalem. For he neither broke down the Temple, nor yet the pharisees Pulpit, from whence they taught merely men's traditions and inventions. But he cast out all them that bought and sold in the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold Doves; whereby they had made his House of Prayer, a Den of thiefs. The  
What? Will ye be wiser than the Ancients? Our Object. 8 forefathers had for many hundred years ago, the Images in worth and honour in this place.  
I answer: Whether in this respect we will be Ans. wiser than the Ancients, I thereunto let King David answer in his 119. Psalm, 100 v. where he saith: I understand more than the Ancients, because I keep thy Precepts. But if a man will inquire of the age of Images amongst Christians, than it will appear, that afore twelve hundred years, afore thirteen hundred years, afore fourteen hundred years, afore fifteen hundred years, afore sixteen hundred years, there was not any Image of God the Father, any Image of God the Son, any Image of God the Holy Ghost, any Image of any Saint departed, found at all in any of the Christians Churches and Houses of Prayer. Yea, look how many Images, how many Altars, how many Chalices, how many Massing Vestments are yet found amongst us; so many present witnesses are there, that we are stepped aside from the ancient simplicity: when as they knew not of any Image, of any Altar, of any Chalice, of any Massing Vestments. As the same is as clear as the Sunshine, to be showed out of justin Martyrs second Apology, out of Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, and other much esteemed worthy ancient Fathers.   

The ninth supposed ground.  
And if we will have the Images put down, than Object. 9 ought they first to be put out of men's hearts, and afterwards from before their eyes.  
I answer: Thus say men here on Earth; and it Ans. is all earthly humane reason. But God that is in Heaven, saith fare otherwise: Break them down, destroy them, burn them; that is, put them away from before your eyes, and out of your sight. And that not without great reason. For even like as a man will not see a Thief that he steal, and will not see an Adulterer that he break Wedlock, with an opinion that Theft and Adultery must be first showed unto him out of God's Word to be unlawful: Even so should not, nor can a Christian Magistrate see and behold that men rob the Lord of his honour, and use alliance with Images; seeing the Commandment: Thou shalt not make unto thyself any Image, thou shalt not bow down unto it nor worship it; is even as clear and evident, as the Commandments: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not commit Adultery.   

The tenth supposed ground.  
The people are offended at the taking down, removing and putting away of Images. 
10. Object.   
I answer: They took offence also at our Lord Christ's preaching, joh. 6. Should not Christ therefore have preached? Whosoever doth the will of God, he hath not any need to fear any offence at all to be by him occasioned and given. But whosoever is offended at the full doing of the will of God, he sinneth both against God, & against his Neighbour.  
Out of all which, every one may well perceive and understand, what a number of weighty and persuasive reasons did together enforce his Royal Majesty is not at all any way purposed, to compel or grieve any man's conscience: as also he hath never yet done in his own hereditary Countries. For in this respect, he holds with the Emperor Maximilian the second, who was wont to say: That Kings commanded and bare Rule over their Subject's bodies, but not over their Consciences. But yet for all this, his Royal Majesty will not (as it were not sitting he should) have his own Conscience ensnared; and therefore desireth to serve the Lord God, according to that clear knowledge wherewith God hath enlightened him, and according to that his will, which he hath revealed unto him. And what that revealed will of God is, ye have now already sufficiently understood: Namely, that  
He will not be pictured, as also he ought not, nor yet can be pictured.  
He will not be honoured, by, through, or before Images  
He will, that men break down all Images, and wholly depend on him alone with all the heart.  
Whosoever therefore now (in the fear of God) truly thinks on all these things, he will not at all be offended at the removing, and casting away of all Images herehence: But he will much rather, greatly thank the Lord God, that the public abomination and great offence, is in time removed and taken away.  
And if yet there should perhaps be any, who hath notwithstanding still some doubt and scruple in his mind, let him but please confidently to come unto us: and he shall with all love, mildness, and well befitting good resolution be answered, and have more full information and satisfaction given unto him by us out of God's Word. For it is our very intent and purpose, wholly so to labour and endeavour to bring much people unto saving knowledge, as that thereby they may rightly come to know, and gladly acknowledge the true Will of God, and according to such knowledge, zealously and faithfully to serve him. Whereunto, the Lord vouchsafe both unto us & to you the holy Spirit, who hath promised and bound himself to give it us, if we call faithfully upon him for it: even jesus Christ the righteous, blessed and praised, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, now & for ever, Amen.   

The Prayer after the Sermon.  
ALmighty, most merciful, most gracious, loving God and Father, we give thee most humble praise and thankes for all thy mercies and benefits, which we uncessantly have received, and still do of thy rich goodness; that thou hast so graciously governed us all the whole time of our life long, protected and preserved us, and even hitherunto hast kept us. But especially and above all we thank thee dear Father, that thou hast suffered us to live to see the good day, wherein this Church is cleansed and purged from all Idolatry & Images.  
We beseech thee O eternal Lord God, graciously to enlighten their eyes, who yet sit in the dark●