Theophilus. I cannot perceive that they have any other cause, but the same which hath engendered all the other Gods among the Paynims, which have 1deified and called Gods, all the creatures of whom men do feel, aid and help. Seeing then the great purity which is in the fire, and the great utility that men did receive thereby, and how necessary it was 2unto mans life, and how it represented the fires and celestial lights, of the sun and of other planets and stars (whom mey have also •olden for Gods, because of their great beauty and utility) they did in ⟨image 162⟩like manner think that they had just occasion to hold and take the fire for a God, which they did see to be of one self nature with the celestial fire, which always moveth and giveth life unto all things as the soul of them. They had yet certain other occasions, in that that the holy Scripture oftentimes compareth God to the fire, and calleth him, a consuming fire: and that God appeareth sometime: in the likeness 3of fire, and that the fire came down from heaven oftentimes, for to consume the sacrifices of the holy Patriarchs and Prophets. They had more just occasion to confirm themselves in that opinion, and more goodlier appearance for to allow their religion, then the Papists have for their Images and Idols. For we cannot deny, but that the fire is a lively Image of God, which showeth forth and representeth unto us it self more lively, then all the Idols which ever were in the world. And therefore God would appear in the 4likeness of fire, and represent his gifts and graces, his virtue and power by the same: the which he would never do by Idols and Images, and would never appear in them, nor speak, nor do any virtue or miracles by them, but hath left the same for the Devil, 5who is served with such instruments, the which God hath altogether rejected and cursed, and hath defamed them by defamed titles, calling them filthiness, vanity, 6lying, nothing, abomination and other like names, which oftentimes are rehearsed in the books of the Prophets. Furthermore had not the Chaldeans and Persians good occasion to prefer it above all the other. For sith that all the other were either of wood and of stone, or of gold, silver or other metals, he did melt, burn and consume 7all, insomuch that there was not one, which could resist him.
Theophilus. I cannot perceyue that they haue any other cause, but the same whiche hath ingendered all the other Gods amonge the Panyms, which haue 1delfied and called Gods, all the creatures of whome men dooe féele, ayde and helpe. Seeinge then the great poritie whiche is in the fire, and the greate vitlytie that men dyd receyue thereby, and howe necessarye it was 2vnto mans lyfe, and howe it represented the fires and celestiall lyghfes, of the sunne and of other planets and starres (whome mey haue also •olden for Gods, bycause of their greate beautie and vtilytie) they dyd in ⟨image 162⟩lyke manner thincke that they had iust occasion to holde and take the fire for a God, whiche they dyd sée to bée of one selfe nature wyth the celestiall fire, whiche alwayes moueth and gyueth lyfe vnto all thinges as the soule of them. They had yet certeine other occasions, in that that the holye Scripture oftentimes compareth God to the fire, and calleth hym, a consuminge fire: and that God appeareth sometime: in the lykenesse 3of fire, and that the fire came downe from heauen oftentymes, for to consume the sacryfices of the holye Patriarches and Prophetes. They had more iust occasion to confirme themselues in that opinion, and more goodlyer appearaunce for to allow their religion, then the Papistes haue for their Images and Idolls. For wée cannot denye, but that the fire is a lyuelye Image of God, which sheweth foorth and reprosenteth vnto vs it selfe more lyuely, then all the Idolls which euer were in the worlde. And therefore God woulde appeare in the 4lykenesse of fire, and represent hys gyftes and graces, his vertue and power by the same: the which he woulde neuer dooe by Idolls and Images, and woulde neuer appeare in them, nor speake, nor doe any vertue or myracles by them, but hath lefte the same for the Dyuell, 5who is serued wyth such instrumentes, the whiche God hath altogether reiected and cursed, and hathe defamed them by defamed tytles, calling them filthynesse, vanytie, 6lying, nothing, abhomination and other like names, which oftentimes are rehearsed in the bookes of the Prophets. Furthermore had not the Chaldeans and Persians good occasion to preferre it aboue all the other. For sith that all the other were either of wood and of slone, or of golde, silver or other mettalles, he did melte, burne and consume
- 1Phin. li, 1. ca. 1
- 2Idolatry of the sire & of the Planets. Lue. Flor, in Numa. Flat, de Pbilo. dogm. VA in Camillo.
- 3God compared to the fire. Deut. 4. d. 24. Hebr. 12. g. 19. Exo. 3. a. 2. Act. 7. d. 31. 3. Reg. 18. f. 33
- 4Rxo. 3. 2. 2. Act. 7. d. 31.
- 5Images the instruments of the DevilImages the instruments of the Diuel
- 6The titles of the Images.The titles of ye Images.
- 7The power of the fire about the others gods.The povver of the fire about the others gods.
