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…

Or what if we do not set up Idols in these Temples, when we make the Temples themselves Idols? or say not with Israel, Make us gods, while we make gods of our selves? while we dress altars, and erect shrines to our own brains, & kiss our own hands for the good they have done us? If we attribute something to our selves, how is Christ all in all with us? Do we justly blame them that worship the Beast of Rome, and yet find out a new Idolatry at home? Shall we refuse to adore the Saints & Angels, and yet give divine worship to our selves, dust and ashes? If victory crown our battles, if plenty fill our garners, or success answer our endeavours; must the glory of all reflect upon our own achievements? This is a rivality that God will not endure, to make so many Temples nothing but Idols. But as the Lancashire ⟨p. 64⟩Justice said of the ill-shaped Rood, though it be not well favoured enough for a god, it will serve to make an excellent devil. So proud dust and ashes, that arrogates the honour of God, and impropriates it to himself; though he be too foul for a Temple, yet he is fit enough for an Idol. When David prays, Libera me ab homine malo, Deliver me from the evil man, O Lord. Saint Augustine, after much study and scrutiny to find out this evil man, at last lights upon him; ab homine malo, that is, à me ipso: Deliver me from the evil man, deliver me from my self; Deliver Augustine from Augustine; I am that evil man. So, of all Idolatries, God deliver us from a superstitious worship of our selves. Some have Idolized their Princes, some their Mistresses, some their Manufactures; but they are innumerable that have Idolized themselves. He is a rare man that hath no Idol, no little god in a box, no especial sin in his heart, to which he gives uxorious and affectionate Indulgence.

Or what if wee doe not set vp Idols in these Temples, when we make the Temples themselues Idols? or say not with Israel, Make vs gods, while we make gods of our selues? while we dresse altars, and erect shrines to our own braines, & kisse our own hands for the good they haue done vs? If we attribute something to our selues, how is Christ al in all with vs? Do we iustly blame them that worship the Beast of Rome, and yet find out a new Idolatry at home? Shal we refuse to adore the Saints & Angels, and yet giue diuine worship to our selues, dust and ashes? If victory crowne our battels, if plenty fill our garners, or successe answere our endeuours; must the glory of all reflect vpon our own atchieuements? This is a rivality that God will not endure, to make so many Temples nothing but Idols. But as the Lancashire