# Second Helvetic Confession
## Chapter 4 - Of Idols; or of Images of God, of Christ, and of Saints
And because God is an invisible Spirit, and an incomprehensible Essence, he can not, therefore, by any art or image be expressed. For which cause we fear not, with the Scripture, to term the images of God mere lies.

We do therefore reject not only the idols of the Gentiles, but also the images of Christians. For although Christ took upon him man’s nature, yet he did not therefore take it that he might set forth a pattern for carvers and painters. He denied that he came ‘to destroy the law and the prophets’ ([Matthew 5:17](/get-passage/Matthew+5:17)), but images are forbidden in the law and the prophets ([Deuteronomy 4:15](/get-passage/Deuteronomy+4:15); [Isaiah 44:9](/get-passage/Isaiah+44:9)). He denied that his bodily presence would profit the Church, but promised that he would by his Spirit be present with us forever ([John 16:7](/get-passage/John+16:7); [2 Corinthians 5:5](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+5:5)).

Who would, then, believe that the shadow or picture of his body doth any whit benefit the godly? And seeing that he abideth in us by the Spirit, ‘we are therefore the temples of God’ ([1 Corinthians 3:16](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+3:16)); but ‘what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?’ ([2 Corinthians 6:16](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+6:16)). And seeing that the blessed spirits and saints in heaven, while they lived here, abhorred all worship done unto themselves ([Acts 3:12](/get-passage/Acts+3:12), and [Acts 14:15](/get-passage/Acts+14:15); [Revelation 19:10](/get-passage/Revelation+19:10), and [Revelation 22:9](/get-passage/Revelation+22:9)), and spake against images, who can think it likely that the saints in heaven, and the angels, are delighted with their own images, whereunto men do bow their knees, uncover their heads, and give such other like honor?

But that men might be instructed in religion, and put in mind of heavenly things and of their own salvation, the Lord commanded to preach the Gospel ([Mark 16:15](/get-passage/Mark+16:15))—not to paint and instruct the laity by pictures; he also instituted sacraments, but he nowhere appointed images.

Furthermore, in every place which way soever we turn our eyes, we may see the lively and true creatures of God, which if they be marked, as is meet, they do much more effectually move the beholder than all the images or vain, unmovable, rotten, and dead pictures of all men whatsoever; of which the prophet spake truly, ‘They have eyes, and see not,’ etc. ([Psalm 115:5](/get-passage/Psalm+115:5)).

Therefore we approve the judgment of Lactantius, an ancient writer, who says, ‘Undoubtedly there is no religion where there is a picture.’ And we affirm that the blessed bishop Epiphanius did well, who, finding on the church-doors a veil, that had painted on it the picture, as it might be, of Christ or some saint or other, he cut and took it away; for that, contrary to the authority of the Scriptures, he had seen the picture of a man to hang in the Church of Christ: and therefore he charged that from henceforth no such veils, which were contrary to religion, should be hung up in the Church of Christ, but that rather such scruple should be taken away which was unworthy of the Church of Christ and all faithful people. Moreover, we approve this sentence of St. Augustine, ‘Let not the worship of men’s works be a religion unto us; for the workmen themselves that make such things are better, whom yet we ought not to worship’ (De Vera Religione, cap. 55).
