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…

I take leave of this point with a caution. Fly the places of infection, come not within the smoke of Idols, lest it smother the zeal of Gods Temple in your hearts. Revolting ⟨p. 33⟩Israel calls for gods; but why should this god of theirs be fashioned like a Calf? What may be the reason of this shape? Whence had they the original of such an Idol? Most likely in Egypt: they had seen a black Calf with white spots worshipped there. This Image still ran in their minds, and stole their hearts, & now they long to have it set up before their eyes. Egypt will not out of their fancies: when they wanted meat, they thought of the Egyptian flesh pots: now they want Moses, they think of the Egyptian Idols. They brought gold out of Egypt; that very gold was contagious: the very Ear-rings and Jewels of Egypt are fit to make Idols. The Egyptian burdens made them run to the true God, the Egyptian examples led them to a false god. What mean our wanderers by running to Rome & such superstitious places, unless they were weary of the Church of God, & would fetch home Idols? If it were granted, that there is some little truth among them, yet who is so simple as to seek his corn among a great heap of chaff, and that far off; who may have it at home, winnowed and cleansed to his hand?

I take leaue of this point with a caution. Flie the places of infection, come not within the smoke of Idols, lest it smother the zeale of Gods Temple in your hearts. Reuolting ⟨p. 33⟩Israel cals for gods; but why should this god of theirs be fashioned like a Calfe? What may bee the reason of this shape? Whence had they the originall of such an Idol? Most likely in Egypt: they had seen a blacke Calfe with white spots worshipped there. This Image stil ran in their minds, and stole their hearts, & now they long to haue it set vp before their eyes. Egypt wil not out of their fancies: when they wanted meat, they thought of the Egyptian flesh pots: now they want Moses, they thinke of the Egyptian Idols. They brought gold out of Egypt; that very gold was contagious: the very Eare-rings and Iewels of Egypt are fit to make Idols. The Egyptian burdens made them run to the true God, the Egyptian examples led them to a false god. What meane our wanderers by running to Rome & such superstitious places, vnlesse they were weary of the Church of God, & would fetch home Idols? If it were granted, that there is some little truth among them, yet who is so simple as to seeke his corne among a great heap of chaffe, and that far off; who may haue it at home, winnowed and clensed to his hand?