Owen - BT200 O97 1684

on the Glory of Chrift. !2 07 I(a: ~7· 5'· ) andthat hereon he endeavours to be tike unto him, what Lha11 we have to oppofe thereunto ? For it is certain that filch Images are apt to makeimpreffions on the minds of men; partly from the readinefs of the fenfes and imagination to give them admittance into their thoughts; and partly from their natural inclinations unto fuperftition , their av~rfation from things fpiritual and invifible, with an inclination unto things prefent and vifible. Hence among themwho are fatisfied that' they ought not to be adored · with any Re/i.. gious Veneration, yet fome are apt upon the fight of them to entertain a thoughtful Revermce, as theywould do if.,,rhey were ro enter into a Pagan Temple full of Idols ; and 'others are continually making approaches towards their ufe and venera. tion in Paintings and Altars and fuch outwarq'poftures of worfhip as are ufed in the Religious Ser~ vice of them. But that they do fenfibly affect the minds of men carnal and fuperftitious, cannot be denied, and as they filppofe, it is with a love unto Chrift himfelf. However, certain it is in general, and confeffed on aU hands, that the beholding of Chrift is the moft bleffed means of exciting all our Graces, fpiritualizing all our affections, and tranf: forming our minds into his likenefs. And if we have not another, and that a more excellent way of beholding him, than they have who behold him, as they fuppofe, in images and crucifixes, they would feem to have the advantage of us. For their minds will really be '!ffected with fomewhat, ours with nothing at all. And by the preten~e thereof, they inveagle the carnal affeaions ofmen ignorant of the power of the Gofpel, to become . their

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