A treatise of the cohabitation of the faithful with the unfaithful Whereunto is added.…A treatise of the cohabitacyon of the faithfull with the vnfaithfull Whereunto is added.…

Jeroboam thought much after this sort / for his mind was not to draw the people away from the worship of the god Jehovah ¹but he feared less if they should customablie go to the temple at Jerusalem / the people would fall from his kingdom and join themselves again to the house and stock of David: wherefore he se•inge his own profit / said / that it was not needful that they should go up unto the temple / and to the Ark of the covenant when they would worship the true god: for the same god which was represented unto them by the Ark of wood and the temple / might even aswell be represented unto them by these new signs and golden calves: There is no change but even of the form and outward shape: for as at Jerusalem by the Ark / so here by the calves the living god should be represented: And what make the it matter what the sign be / so the worship be all one: Therefore the same worship that ells they should do at Jerusalem / they might more commodiously do it in bethel / and dan. So that he doth nothing ells / but establish ⟨image 21⟩this outward work / in with he would have them worship the true god: but he had no warrant in gods word for it / and that beinge ab sent / ther is nothing in his act remaining but mans work / superstition / and Idolatry: so is it judged. And therefore none of his subjects should have hearkened to him. So now / when Tyrants / Kings / Queens / Bishops / and such other as are the soldiers of Antichrist / the Pope I mean / do compel and constrain men unto such vile and ungodly superstitions as the popish brood have and do set up, although they do pretend a good well willing mind unto their people and country (as they say) and that all shall be for their wealth: And though they do also say / that these things are of an ancient begyn̄yn ge and continuance: Yet indeed they are but popish Idolaters / and to Idolatry do they train men. Therefore their subjects must not hearken unto them neither obey them herein / But do rather as S. Paul teacheth. Have no fellowship with their unfruitful works / but rather reprove them. He call ²lith them their works, for gods works they can not be called / because they do differ / and swerve from his word: with them (saith he) have no fellowship What then is to be done in that case? We must (Paul saith) reprove them.