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…

It is a foolish thought, that God will be glorified by a lie. Our judicial Astrologers, that tie mens destinies to the Stars and Planets, pretend Gods honour, who hath given such virtue and influence to his creatures; but indeed make them no better then Idols. Though the Sun and Moon be good and necessary, yet to adore the Sun and Moon is flat Idolatry. It was not Mercury that made the thief, nor Venus that made the strumpet: as when the husband cudgelled his adulterous wife, and she complained that he was unnatural to strike his •wne flesh; alleging that it was not she that plaid the harlot, but Venus in her: to whom he replied, that neither was it she that he did beat, but Venus in her, or rather Venus out of her.

It is a foolish thought, that God will bee glorified by a lie. Our iudiciall Astrologers, that tye mens destinies to the Starres and Planets, pretend Gods honour, who hath giuen such vertue and influence to his creatures; but indeed make thē no better then Idols. Though the Sunne and Moone bee good and necessary, yet to adore the Sunne and Moone is flat Idolatry. It was not Mercury that made the theefe, nor Venus that made the strumpet: as when the husband cudgeld his adulterous wife, and shee complained that he was vnnaturall to strike his •wne flesh; alledging that it was not shee that playd the harlot, but Venus in her: to whom he replied, that neither was it shee that he did beat, but Venus in her, or rather Venus out of her.

To make this useful to our selves; let us take heed of fancying an other service of God, then he hath prescribed us. Every Master in his own family, appoints the manner how he will be served. He that requires our service, requires it his own way; or else he holds us to serve our ⟨p. 45⟩selves, not him. Shall we make our selves wiser then our Maker, as if he did not best know what would best please him? Shall heaven give a blessing to that, which was devised against the will of heaven? Doth not God threaten them with the addition of plagues, that shall add to his precepts? If such devices be good and necessary, why did not God command them? Did he want wisdom? If they be not necessary, why do we use them? Is it not our presumptuous folly? The Lords Jealousy is stirred up by the rivality, not only of a false God, but of a false worship. Nothing is more dangerous, then to mint his services in our own brains. In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines,