1Who can sufficiently wonder at the vain and foolish wit of men, in inventing such means and courses to pacify Gods wrath, as are so far from being agreeable to his will, and warrantable by his word, as they are clean contrary thereunto, and in that respect must needs incense his wrath more and more. The Heathen of old were wont to sacrifice children, virgins, men, and such like kinds of humane blood: which the Jews, giving themselves over to all Heathenish idolatry, learned of them. For where *the Heathen gave their children to Molech, athe Idol of the Ammonites, which is supposed to be Saturn, bthe Jews ⟨p. 43⟩also did so: not withstanding that cthe Lord had expressly forbid them so to do: and dmade a capital law against all that should so do. As for the Heathen, they had their Oracles at which they used to ask counsel, and take advice in all their weighty exploits, and in all their difficulties and distresses: as ethe people of God were wont to ask counsel of the Lord. The Heathen supposed that God gave counsel at those Oracles: but it was the Devil himself who most egregiously seduced them. For the Holy Ghost calleth false gods fDevils. Now gthe Devil hath been a murderer from the beginning: and ever thirsted after mans blood. No marvel then, that the counsel and advice of these oracles was, that for appeasing wrath, or removing calamities mans blood should be sacrificed. As of old when the Grecians were to depart, after they had burnt Troy, but were hindered by cross and boisterous winds, their Priest told them that their Kings daughter must be sacrificed, which thereupon the foolish King suffered to be done. aPolyxena also the daughter of Priamus and Hecuba is said to be sacrificed to appease the Ghost of Achilles. bTheudatus or Theodatus King of the Bactrians is recorded to be sacrificed by Arsace King of Persia to Apollo, after he had overcome him in battle. cPygmalion is said usually to sacrifice men to the gods. dThe Bistans a people of Thrace, made a law to sacrifice strangers to their gods. eTaurica Chersonesus a country in the North part of Europe, now by some called Tartarica the less, had inhabitants that also were wont to sacrifice strangers to Diana. fThe men of Abdera a city of Thrace had a custom every first day of the year to stone a man to death, and to sacrifice him to the gods, for a prosperous success of that year.
1WHo can sufficiently wonder at the vaine and foolish wit of men, in inventing such meanes and courses to pacifie Gods wrath, as are so farre from being agreeable to his will, and warrantable by his word, as they are cleane contrary thereunto, and in that respect must needs incense his wrath more and more. The Heathen of old were wont to sacrifice children, virgins, men, and such like kinds of humane bloud: which the Iewes, giving themselves over to all Heathenish idolatry, learned of them. For where *the Heathen gave their children to Molech, athe Idoll of the Ammonites, which is supposed to be Saturne, bthe Iewes ⟨p. 43⟩also did so: not withstanding that cthe Lord had expresly forbid them so to do: and dmade a capitall law against all that should so do. As for the Heathen, they had their Oracles at which they used to aske counsell, and take advice in all their weighty exploits, and in all their difficulties and distresses: as ethe people of God were wont to aske counsell of the Lord. The Heathen supposed that God gave counsell at those Oracles: but it was the Devill himselfe who most egregiously seduced them. For the Holy Ghost calleth false gods fDevils. Now gthe Devill hath beene a murtherer from the beginning: and ever thirsted after mans bloud. No marvell then, that the counsell and advice of these oracles was, that for appeasing wrath, or removing calamities mans bloud should be sacrificed. As of old when the Grecians were to depart, after they had burnt Troy, but were hindred by crosse and boisterous winds, their Priest told them that their Kings daughter must be sacrificed, which thereupon the foolish King suffered to be done. aPolyxena also the daughter of Priamus and Hecuba is said to be sacrificed to appease the Ghost of Achilles.
- 1In Navigat. Hispan. sub Car. 5. Imper. in insula Carolina, mactatio hominum legitur. Carthaginenses Saturno excellentiores è filijs suis sacrificabant. Diodor. Sic. lib 20.In Navigat. Hispan. sub Car. 5. Imper. in insula Carolina, mactatio hominum legitur. Carthaginenses Saturno excellentiores è filijs suis sacrificabāt. Diodor. Sic. lib 20.
- *2 King. 16. 3.
- a1 King. 11. 7.
- bJer. 31. 35.Ier. 31. 35.
- cLev. 18. 21.
- dLev. 20. 2. Pater silium tradebat sacerdotibus qui faciebant dues rogos magnos, & inter hos puerum traducebant. Et quidam moriebantur, quidam superpius manebant. Si pater unum ex si ijs traduceret, rely quos sire salvos, & patrem in omnibus oe icem putabant.Lev. 20. 2. Pater silium tradebat sacerdotibus qui faciebant dues rogos magnos, & inter hos puerum traducebant. Et quidam moriebantur, quidam superpius manebant. Si pater unum ex si ijs traduceret, reli quos sire salvos, & patrem in om nibus oe icem putabant.
- eNum. 27. 21. Judg 20. 18.Num. 27. 21. Iudg 20. 18.
- fDeut. 32. 17.
