Question. Rehearse now the Second Commandment.
Answer. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth : thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them. For I the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me ; and show mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my Commandments.
Scripture References: Ex. 20:4; Lev. 26:1; Deut. 4:15-19; Isa. 40:18 and 44:9
Question. It may seem that this Law doth condemn the art of Painting and Graving; so that it is not lawful to have any images at all.
Answer. Not so: For in this first Table he speaketh not of any artificial thing civilly to be used, but only treateth of things which do appertain to the worshiping of God.
Scripture References: Mat. 22:20, 21:36-37
Question. What is then the meaning of this Commandment?
Answer. In this second Commandment, God first forbiddeth us to make any Images to express or counterfeit him, or to seek him or to worship him in Images. And secondly, he chargeth us, not to worship the Images themselves or to abuse them in any wise by Idolatry or Superstition : but that we worship God alone in spirit and truth and as himself hath commanded us in his Word, to worship him, and not otherwise, after our own fantasies.
Scripture References: Isa. 40:18; Deut. 5:8-9; Psalm 97:7; Isa. 44:17
Question. Why is it not lawful to express God with a bodily and visible form?
Answer. Because there can be no likeness or agreeing between God, who is a spirit, eternal, infinite, unmeasurable, incomprehensible, and a bodily, frail, dead, and vain shape or Image.
Scripture References: Psalm 113:4-5, 11:3-4; Isa. 40:18; John 4:24; Rom. 1:23, 23
Question. What manner of worshiping is it which is here condemned?
Answer. When we intending to pray turn our selves to Images, fall down, and kneel before them, with uncovering our heads : or by other signs do show any honour unto them, as if God were presented unto us by them.
Scripture References: Lev. 25:1; Deut. 4:19, 5:9; Psalm 97:7, 115:8; Isa. 44:17; Acts 7:41