Lord’s Day 35Questions 96–98
Reformed Church in America English, 1879
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Text public domain · U.S.
1879 Reformed Church in America Q&A text with inline proof references. Source: Wikisource scan transcription.
This English edition was published in the United States in 1879, before the current U.S. public-domain cutoff. Rights evidence. Verified 2026-07-14.
What doth God require in the second command?
That we in no wise represent God by images (Deut. 4;23, 24), nor worship him in any other way than he has commanded in his word (Deut. 12;32).
Are images then not at all to be made?
God neither can nor may be represented by any means (Isa. 40;18, 25); but as to creatures, though they may be represented, yet God forbids us to make, or to have any resemblances of them, either in order to worship them (Ps. 97;7), or to serve God by them (Lev. 26;1).
But may not images be tolerated in the churches, as books to the laity?
No: for we must not pretend to be wiser than God, who will have his people taught not by dumb images (Zech. 10;2); but by the lively preaching of his word (2 Tim. 3;16, 17).