The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
Ver. 13. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule.] As did the carpenter of Cockram, who yet made but an ill-shaped rood, and was forced to sue for his money. a Mrs Catismore suffered in King Henry VIII's days for saying that images were but carpenters' chips; and yet they are no better. That is a remarkable saying of Seneca, Ridiculum est genu posito, &c. It is a ridiculous thing to worship images, and yet to slight the man that made them.
And maketh it after the figure of a man.] God made man after his own image; and man, to be even with God, will needs make him after his image. b
a Acts and Mon., fol. 1340.
b Quasi ad hostimentum.