Jesu-Worship Confuted
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A30643.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Jesu-Worship CONFUTED, OR, CERTAIN ARGUMENTS Against bowing at the Name JESUS. Proving it to be Idolatrous and Superstitious, and so utterly unlawful. WITH Objections to the contrary fully Answered. By H. B.
ISAIAH 2. 9.
LONDON: Printed for H. C. in Popes-head-Alley, in the Year 1660.
Argument 1.
A LL Idolatry is utterly to be abhorred.
But, Adoration or Bowing at the name JESUS is Idolatry.
Therefore such adoration is altogether to be abhorred.
First, That all idolatry is to be abhorred the Apostle showeth, 1 Cor. 10. 14. And all men confess it.
Secondly, That adotation at the name, or naming the name JESUS is idolatry, is thus proved: That name that is adored before, or above the name JEHOVAH, is made an Idol, and so the adoration of it is idolatry; But, adoration at the name JESUS, is to adote that name above the name JEHOVAH. Therefore the name JESUS, so adored, is an idol, and it's adoration is idolatry.
The reason of this act is taken from the practice of the IESU-Worshippers, who never use any adoration or sign of reverence when JEHOVAH is named, but only when JESUS is named they give both outward and inward adoration to the name JESUS, but not to the name JEHOVAH: So that they adore the name JeSUS above the name JEHOVAH.
If they say their adoration of the name JESUS is not terminated, not bounded in the word or syllables JESUS, but passet • to the person of JESUS.
I answer, It is but a frivolous, absurd and ridiculous shift which Dr. Fulk on Phil. 2. 10. against the Rhemists, confuteth in the Jesuits, saying; That this their evasion is too short a Cloak to cover their Idolatry. As also in the case of Image-worship, the Papists use the very same shift; namely, that their worship rests not in the Image, but passes through it to the thing represented by it. And the ancient idolatrous Gentiles could plead the same for their worshipping of Images, which the ancient Fathers shown the vanity of. And again, It is as clear that this IESU-Worship is terminated in the very name JESUS, by the common and singular Worshippers of it, as Image-worship is by ordinary Papists (at least) terminated in the very Image, as Augustine ibidem. Quis (saith he) adorat, velorat, Who adoreth or prayeth, looking upon an Image, & is not so affected that he thinks he is not heard of it which he prayeth to; ducit enim saith he, &c. for the similitude of a form, and the apt frame of the members in a Picture or Image, doth draw & carry along with it the weak hearts of mortal men by a kind of base affection; and so this use of bowing at the name JESUS intimates unto the people's minds an opinion of some excellency in this name above JEHOVAH.
And if they do by this name JESUS worship the person JESUS, yet this teacheth the people a most gross and impious error, in preferring JESUS before God the Father. And Chrysostom reciting those words of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 8. 2. To us there is but one God the Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ, think not (saith he) that one of these names is greater then another in their signification, or more excellent; and to prefer one before another, argues a contentious disposition, to introduce into the orthodox doctrine, men's own inventions; yea, its plain; that they prefer the name JESUS before the person of Christ, seeing when JESUS is named they worship with Cap and Knee, but none at all when Christ is named; so as they show hereby, that this their wor • hip appropriated unto, and terminated in the very name and syllables of JESUS, as Bishop Andrew's blusheth not to affirm, in his Court Sermon on Phil: 2. 10.
Argument 2.
A Second Argument proving JESU-worship, or bowing and capping at the name JESUS when it is mentioned or sounded in the ear, to be idolatry, is, If the adoration of the name JESUS when it is painted on a Wall be idolatry, then the adoration of the name when it is heard or pronounced with the mouth, is also idolatry, but the first is true, therefore also the second, namely that the worshipping of the name JESUS when it is heard pronounced with the mouth is idolatry.
That the first is true, to wit, that the worshipping of the name JESUS painted on a Wall is idolatry, no good and sound Protestant will deny, for, there is this same reason thereof, as of all other Image-worship, names being a kind of the things they represent or intend.
That the second is as true as the first, I prove thus, Because it skills not by which of the senses idolatry is committed, for it may be indifferently and alike committed by all the senses. For example, the Scripture shows idolatry to be committed, sometimes by the sense of tasting, as eating and drinking, 1 Cor. 10. 17. Neither be ye Idolaters as were some of them, as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Sometimes by the sense of touching, as kissing of Baals mouth, 1 Kings 19. 18. Sometimes by the sense of smelling, as burning of Incense to Idols was idolatry committed, Jer. 11. 12. And as in Julians time offering of incense, and sweet perfumes. Frequently also by the sense of seeing is idolatry committed. And lastly idolatry is made, (and nowadays no less frequently committed by pressing this JESU-worship) by the sense of hearing, as when the Papists at the very sound of the Bell that goes tinkling before their Breaden-god, or Hoast carried to the sick, or in procession wheresoever they be, or whatsoever they are doing; though they see nothing, yet they must slap down on their Marrow-bones. Thus by the sense of Hearing their God in the Hoast being presented or conveyed to their minds, they commit idolatry as if it were presented to their eye: And therefore the provincial Synod of Leno in France, resolved (in the behalf of their Image-worship) that there was the same reason of adoration, when the Image of Christ is represented to the eye, as when the name JESUS is sounded in the ear, for that which the one insinuates into the mind by the ear, the other insinuates the same by the eye. If therefore it be idolatry to worship the name JESUS written on a Wall, then it is no less idolatry to give adoration when it is uttered with the mouth.
Argument 3.
THat which is not the name above every name, is not to be adored or reverenced above of before other names. But the name JESUS is not the name above every name; therefore it is not to be reverenced or adored before, or above all other names.
The Major is clear, for that which is honored above others hath some excellency above others; either really in it self, or else in the opinion of honor. And that the name JESUS is the name above other names, what Divine is so doltish as to imagine it, so bold as to avow it? Even the JESU-worshippers themselves have been much beaten off from their false gloss of a late devising, and by one of their greatest Patrones hereof, falsely fathered upon all the Fathers, whereas not one of them did ever so interpret that place, Phil. 2. 10. For as they dare not affirm it, so its clear that the Text is clean otherwise interpreted by two other places; as Isa. 45. 23. & Rom. 14. 10. As they are conferred in the Margents of our Bibles, which (at least) are far more ancient and authentic, then any authority which can produce the contrary, whatsoever, as I suppose and believe.
Argument 4.
A Fourth Argument may be framed thus; All will-worship, devised, prescribed and imposed by the will, commandments and doctrines of men, whatsoever pretence and specious show it hath of wisdom or piety, is condemned by the Apostle, and so is damnable for Christians to conform and yield unto it. But such is the adoration or worshipping of the name JESUS: I say it is a mere will worship of man's devising, prescribing, and imposing. For proof, Pope Gregory a superstitious Pope (as all of them write) and very zealous in setting up new guides of worship, was the first that under a Canon for this Jesu-worship to be used, especially in the Mass, and in the reading of the Gospel. And another Pope John 21. granted indulgence and pardon of sins to all such worshippers of the name JESUS; such a high esteem have men of these things which themselves have devised, as part of God's worship, but indeed will-worship, (as the Crow thinks her own birds fairest) that they therefore prefer them before God's Ordinances and Commandments, and will favor and encourage such as conform to them and more severely punish those that out of tenderness and truth of conscience refuse so to do. Yea, the Papists have a Holy-day dedicated to the name of Jesu, and Jesu-worshippers have even thrust it into our Kalenders, but in black letters, mourning that it is not in scarlet, as their hope is it will shortly be, if it can find worshippers enough! And our Jesu-worshippers confess that they are bound in conscience to bow at the name JESUS, because the Church commands it, that is, because men do command it; Ergo, by their own confession being devised by man, and having no ground in Scripture, it is a will-worship, and so damnable, and surely they condemned in their own consciences.
But where I pray doth the Church command this Jesu-worshipping? in the Canons say they, I deny it, for the Canon says, when the Lord Jesus is mentioned due reverence shall be given; now the Lord Jesus is not the name Jesus, nor the name Jesus, the Lord Jesus, and to confound the name Jesus with the Lord Jesus deserves a hissing, but they are at a Non-plus-ultra; but if they will force the letter of the Canon to serve their corrupt sense, they are together to be exploded, seeing they fight against a canonical Scripture, the only Canon and right rule of the worship of God.
Objections answered.
Object. 1. Some say, this adoration is a thing indifferent, therefore it may be used or not used.
Answer. If it be a thing indifferent, why is it then so rigidly imposed, as a thing of absolute necessity to be observed? This destroys the nature of a thing indifferent, which the Scripture condemneth, this being a will-worship of human invention.
Object: 2. But it is a pious Ceremony and conducing much to the honor of God.
Answer. Seem it never so pious and specious to man's carnal fancy, yet being idolatrous (as hath been proved) it is but pious idolatry, or idolatrous piety; and God abhorreth that piety and pretended honor as vain, which is taught by the precepts of men, Matth: 15. 9.
Object: 3. But bowing at the name of Jesus is a slighter, a lesser matter then that a man should suffer himself to be deprived of the use of his Ministry for refusal of it.
Answer. A man's Ministry is precious indeed, and the calling high and honorable, and to be preferred before all the world; but it is not so precious as to be valued above a good conscience and the Kingdom of Heaven, but to do the least evil willfully, for the greatest good, makes damnation just: Nor is the least idolatry or superstitious act to be counted light, for having but an appearance of idolatry, and being of no good report, it ought to be avoided, for the least kind or degree of idolatry being once committed and given way unto, it is an inducement to that which is most gross, and doth naturally enfeeble a man's spirit, making it less able to resist and repulse greater abominations; and commonly God gives over such to grosser sins of impietyes, who make not conscience of the least, and such as seem but light. It is the saying of a Divine, Qui modicas spernit, paulatim decidit, He that makes light account of small sins falls by little and little, & sins that seem less are so much the more perilous because they are the more easily committed, and securely retained, and less carefully repented. As for this Jesu-worship, why should any Minister think it a small matter, when the Imposers themselves set such a penalty upon it, as the loss of a man's Ministry for not conforming to it?
Object: 4. But it is imposed only for unity and peace sake.
Answer. It is no good peace that breaks the peace of a good conscience, and a man's peace with God: That is no good unity, which devides a man from the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Object: 5. But if one Ceremony be yielded to, we shall then quickly enjoy our Ministry, and the Gospel without anymore impositions.
Answer. And how know you that? but suppose it were so, were not your peace bought at too dear a rate? But, why should any deceive himself of so vain a hope, when he sees the contrary before his eyes? who sees not that those are but the beginnings, and inducements to greater matters, and he that is catched in the snare is easily brought to yield to more hard conditions?
Object: 6. But to yield to this world, not be offensive to the people, who generally can digest it well enough, and therefore less danger in it.
Answer. Though it would not offend the ignorant sort, which are the greatest number, yet it would scandalize and wound the weak brother, grieving his soul to see thee fall, and giving examples to others to follow thee in a way that is not warrantable, but sinful, For whatsoever is not of faith (as this is not) is sin.