Idolaters do please themselves wonderfully in their superstitions and wicked service. For although they be full of crimes, and naughtiness, yet behold their refuge, namely, they think to appease God by their goodly services. As if we at this day should set forth the wickedness, and villainies wherewith the Papists overflow, they were not able to deny them: but will flatter themselves under this pretext forsooth, that they perform a goodly service unto God, and will think that all their vices should be sufficiently covered under this cloak. The Prophet therefore plucks away this visor from Idolaters, and denounceth against them that they shall no more have ought wherewith to cover their filthiness. For the Lord will constrain them to cast away their idols, to the end they may know it was in vain for them to have put their trust in them. Lastly, they should be ashamed of their vanity. Because in prosperity they thought that God was favourable unto them, as if he had taken delight in their service: and could not otherwise persuade themselves, till such time as it was manifested unto them by effect, that he abhorred them. It is in adversity then that they began to acknowledge their filthiness as the Prophet Hoseas very well teacheth, when he compares them to harlots,1 who perceive not their uncleanness all the while they gain well; and enjoy their pleasures. But when they have lost these things and are forsaken of their lovers, then they begin to bethink themselves of their poverty and shame, and to enter into the way of repentance; of the which they would never once have thought, whilst they were lulled asleep in their wantonness. And so falls it out with all idolaters who are never so ashamed of their beastliness as to cast away their Idols from them, till being pressed with extreme calamity, they think themselves somewhat low brought.
IDolaters doe please themselues wonderfully in their superstitions and wicked seruice. For although they bee full of crimes, and naughtines, yet behold their refuge, namely, they thinke to appease God by their goodly seruices. As if we at this day should set forth the wickednes, and villanies wherewith the Papists ouerflow, they were not able to denie them: but will flatter themselues vnder this pretext forsooth, that they performe a goodly seruice vnto God, and will thinke that all their vices should bee sufficiently couered vnder this cloake. The Prophet therefore pluckes away this vizard from Idolaters, and denounceth against them that they shall no more haue ought wherewith to couer their filthines. For the Lord will constraine them to cast away their idols, to the end they may know it was in vaine for them to haue put their trust in them. Lastly, they should be ashamed of their vanitie. Because in prosperitie they thought that God was fauorable vnto them, as if he had taken delight in their seruice: and could not otherwise perswade themselues, til such time as it was manifested vnto them by effect, that he abhorred them. It is in aduersitie then that they began to acknowledge their filthines as the Prophet Hoseas verie well teacheth, when he compares them to harlots,1 who perceiue not their vncleannes all the while they gaine well; and inioy their pleasures. But when they haue lost these things and are forsaken of their louers, then they begin to bethinke themselues of their pouertie and shame, and to enter into the waie of repentance; of the which they would neuer once haue thought, whilest they were lulled asleepe in their wantonnes. And so falles it out with all idolaters who are neuer so ashamed of their beastlines as to cast awaie their Idoles from them, till being pressed with extreame calamitie, they thinke themselues somewhat low brought.
- 1Hos. 2.7.
