The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

OF THE WORSHIP OF IMAGES. 355CHAPTER XVII.OF THE WORSHIP OF IMAGES.Two things are here to be determined ; firsts the practiceof the Church of Rome as regards images; and, second^the judgment which the Word of God pronounces on thatpractice.Her practice, so far as pertains to its outward form, is asincapable of being misunderstood as it is of being defended.She setsup images which are representations of saints, orof angels, or of Christ ; and she teaches her members toprostrate themselves before these images, to burn incense,and to pray before them, to undertake pilgrimages to theirshrine, and toexpect a more than ordinary answer to theintercessions offered before them. There is not a church inany Roman Catholic country throughout the world wherethis manner of worship is not every day celebrated ; and,being open to all, no concealment is possible, and none issought. The worshipper enters the cathedral, he selectsthe image of the saint whom he prefers, he kneels, he countshis beads, he burns his candle, and, it may be, presents hisvotive offering. As regards the letter of the practice ofthe Church of Rome, there is not, and there cannot be,any dispute. These facts being admitted, the controversymight here take end. This is what the Word of God de-