The temple A sermon preached at Pauls Cross the fifth of August. 1624. By…The temple A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the fifth of August. 1624. By…

No agreement.

There be some points which the wrangling passions of men have left further asunder, then they found them; about which there needed not have bin such a noise. But things that are in their own natures contrary, and opposed by the ordinance of God, can never be reconciled. An enemy may be made a friend, but enmity can never be made friendship. The air that is now light, may become dark: but light can never become darkness. Contraries in the abstract are out of all composition. The sick body be recovered to health, but health can never be sickness. The sinner may be made righteous, but sin can never become righteousness. Fire and water, peace and war, love and hatred, truth and falsehood, faith and infidelity, Religion and Idolatry, can never be made friends: there can be no agreement betwixt the Temple of God and Idols.

There bee some points which the wrangling passions of men haue left further asunder, then they found them; about which there needed not haue bin such a noyse. But things that are in their owne natures contrary, and opposed by the ordinance of God, can neuer be reconciled. An enemy may be made a friend, but enmity can neuer bee made friendship. The ayre that is now light, may become darke: but light can neuer become darknesse. Contraries in the abstract are out of all composition. The sicke body be recouered to health, but health can neuer be sicknes. The sinner may be made righteous, but sinne can neuer become righteousnes. Fire and water, peace and warre, loue and hatred, truth and falshood, faith and infidelity, Religion and Idolatry, can neuer be made friends: there can bee no agreement betwixt the Temple of God and Idols.

God is Ens entium, All in all: an Idol is nothing in the world, saith the Apostle: now All and Nothing are most contrary. Idolatry quite takes away Faith, a fundamental part ⟨p. 28⟩