Question 56

1. Is it a sin to worship any creature? Yes.

   “They served the creature more than the Creator” Romans 1:25

2. Or the image of any creature? Yes.

   “Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image an abomination unto the Lord” Deuteronomy 27:15

3. May we not worship the host of heaven? No.

   “Lest when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, thou shouldst be driven to worship them” Deuteronomy 4:19

4. Nor great and good men? No.

   “Why do ye these things, we are also men of like passions with you” Acts 14:15

5. Nor good angels? No.

   “Let no man beguile you of your reward, by a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels” Colossians 2:18

1. Is it a sin to plead for idols? Yes.

   “Will ye plead for Baal?” Judges 6:31

2. Or pray to them? Yes.

   “One shall cry to him yet he cannot answer” Isaiah 46:7

3. Or trust in them? Yes.

   “They shall be greatly ashamed that trust in graven images” Isaiah 42:17

4. Or attribute any thing to them? Yes.

   “Lest thou shouldst say, My idol hath done them” Isaiah 48:5

5. Or give them any part of religious worship? Yes.

   “If my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand this were an iniquity, to be punished by the Judge” Job 31:27

1. Is it a sin to worship the true God by images? Yes.

   “Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves, for ye saw no manner of similitude” Deuteronomy 4:15–16

2. Can we form any image of God in our minds? No.

   “To whom will ye liken God?” Isaiah 40:18

3. Is it impossible then to form it with our hands? Yes.

   “For we must not think that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver, or stone graven by art or man’s device” Acts 17:29

4. Do those therefore that attempt it put a great affront upon him? Yes.

   “They change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible man” Romans 1:23

1. Doth this commandment forbid all superstitious practices in worship? Yes.

   “In all things ye are too superstitious” Acts 17:22

2. And all sinful compliances with the invention of men? Yes.

   “Touch not, taste not, handle not after the commandments and doctrines of men” Colossians 2:21–22

3. Does it particularly condemn the idolatry of the papists in worshipping a consecrated host? Yes.

   “For it is bread that we break” 1 Corinthians 10:16

4. Is it enough that these things are not expressly forbidden? No.

   “They offered strange five, which the Lord commanded them not” Leviticus 10

Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795), pastor at Bourton-on-the-Water. Verses from the King James Version.