Note 19 — Chapter XV · OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY NATURE.

Truly it is to be done.] We said in art. 14 of this chapter, that they who attributed limits to God, transgressed the natural law concerning God’s worship. Now they who worship him in an image, assign him limits. Wherefore they do that which they ought not to do. And this place seems to contradict the former. We must therefore know first, that they who are constrained by authority, do not set God any bounds; but they who command them. For they who worship unwillingly, do worship in very deed: but they either stand or fall there, where they are commanded to stand or fall by a lawful sovereign. Secondly, I say it must be done, not at all times and everywhere, but on supposition that there is no other rule of worshipping God, beside the dictates of human reason; for then the will of the city stands for reason. But in the kingdom of God by way of covenant, whether old or new, where idolatry is expressly forbid, though the city commands us to worship thus, yet must we not do it. Which, if he shall consider, who conceived some repugnancy between this and art. 14, will surely cease to think so any longer.