PICTURE-WORSHIP,

AND

IMAGE-ADORATION,

PROVED TO BE THE CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES

OF INTRODUCING

PICTURES INTO CHURCHES,

WITH A

BRIEF SKETCH OF THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS

IN THE ROMISH CHURCH.

BY A

CLERGYMAN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

BRIGHTON :

HENRY S, KING, BOOKSELLER TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER.

1, NORTH STREET, AND 44, EAST STREET;

LONDON: HAMILTON AND ADAMS, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1846.

1334.

"The day of the Lord shall be * * upon all pleasant Pictures, * * and the Idols He shall utterly abolish."

*

Isaiah ii. 12, 16, 18.

"Destroy all their Pictures, and destroy all their molten Images."-Numbers xxxiii. 52.

"But from learning by PAINTED stories, (i. e. in churches,) it came by LITTLE and LITTLE to IDOLATRY."Homily against Peril of Idolatry.

"For we are not so superstitious or scrupulous that we do abhor either flowers wrought in carpets, hangings, or other arras. Either images of Princes, printed or stamped in their coins, which when Christ did see in a Roman coin, we read not that He reprehended it, neither do we condemn the arts of Painting and Image-making, as wicked of themselves. But we would admit and grant them, that images used for no religion, or superstition rather, we mean images of none worshipped, nor in danger to be worshipped of any, may be suffered. But images placed publicly in temples, cannot possibly be without danger of worshipping and idolatry, wherefore they are not publicly to be used or suffered in Temples or Churches."-Homily against Peril of Idolatry.

"The painting of the PICTURE, and carved Image, with divers colours, enticeth the ignorant, so that he honoureth and loveth the picture of a dead image that hath no soul.”Wisdom xv. 45.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Ir was the intention of the author of the following pages to have added a Preface-to which indeed some references are made in the work itself but the duties of a large and populous Parish have hitherto prevented his doing so; and as he is unwilling any longer to delay the publication of the work (already on this account far too long a time in the press,) he ventures now to offer it to the public, so far curtailed of its fair proportions. Should it be fortunate enough to reach a second edition, perhaps the deficiency may be supplied.

May, 1846.