Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

espect inconceivable: no mind can grasp him; he is an infinite Spirit;
equally in every place, and in all points of duration.
The divine Being we must sanctify in our hearts:—that is, we must
separate all transitory, material, and, particularly, earthly things, from the
notion we form of him.
This commandment also forbids all inordinate attachment to earthly
and sensible things:—that is, things that are the objects of our senses, and
for the possession of which our appetites and affections are intensely
occupied.
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.
Against making and worshipping images—Image worship is a positive
breach of this command. It attempts to humanize God, and fills the
miserable idolater with the opinion that God is like to himself, if not
altogether so: and image worshippers in general have no other idea of
God than that of a gigantic man, of amazing dimensions, of vast strength,
wisdom, and skill;—no other kind of being having any such strength or
wisdom, thence, among the Roman Catholics, God is represented as a
very grave, venerable old man, with a triple crown, (which, however,
their popes borrow,) to signify his sovereignty over heaven, earth, and
hell; angels, men, and devils, being subject to him. All these, as well as
the triple crown, their symbol, have the popes of Rome, by their
doctrines, traditions, and pretensions, arrogated to themselves. They have
the keys of both worlds; they open, and no man shutteth; they shut, and
no man openeth! It is a matter of the highest astonishment that the
blasphemous pretensions of these individuals should have been
acknowledged, and conceded to them, for so long a time, by all the
powers of Europe! They have raised up and put down emperors and kings
at pleasure; have absolved, as in a moment, all their officers and subjects
from the most solemn oaths of allegiance, and their obligations of
obedience:—and for all this, they have given them indulgences,
purgatory, transubstantiation, image worship, worship of the Virgin Mary,