Now to define this question, we must note, that as there be two manner of honours that we owe unto God, that is to say, […] ⟨image 18⟩spiritual service of the heart & the external or outward worshipping: even so on the other side, be there two kinds of Idolatry, the first is when a man through a false fantasy which he hath conceived in his hart or spirit doth corrupt & pervert the spiritual salves of one only god The other is when a man (for what cause so ever it be) doth give or transfer the honour which belongeth unto god only, unto any creature. As for an ensample unto an image, let us then begin to speak of the duty which we owe toward god, to serve him duly. Is it sufficient for every man to hold god within him self within his heart for his saviour and worship him in secrete? No, he requireth ⟨image 18⟩more of us saying, that we must glorify him as well in our body as in our spirit & he adjoineth the cause. Because that both of them belong unto him. Now although we had not this commandment, yet it is evident that it should be so, for in as much as our bodies be redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. What reason is it, that we should prostitute it before an Idol? Seeing that it is the temple of the holy ghost. What an horrible sin were it then for to defile it with such sacrilege? Considering that it is predestinate to receive the crown of immortality and to be partaker of the glory of god, is it then convenient for to corrupt and to foil it with such filth? let us learn ⟨image 19⟩then that even as our souls be consecrated unto God, even so ought our bodies to be reserved unto his honour. S. Paul crying against whoredom useth this argument.1 Seeing that our bodies are the members of Christ, is it lawful to make them the members of an harlot? By the same reason may we say, seeing that our bodies be the men bres of Christ, shall we deuyde them from his communion by polluting them and bowing of them before Idols? Therefore our Lord speaketh of his true servants, and giveth them this mark that they had not bowed their knees before Baal nor yet had kissed his hand,2 who might have said that they were not corrupt with false superstition ⟨image 19⟩holding Baal for their God in their hearts. But he willing to signify that the matter lieth not all together therein, said. That they had not done him any reverence by any outward gesture.
Now to defyne this questiō, we must note, that as there be two maner of honours that we owe vnto God, that is to saye, 〈…〉 ⟨image 18⟩spirituall seruyce of the harte & the external or outwarde worshyppinge: euen so on the other syde, be there two kindes of Idolatry, the fyrste is whan a mā through a false fantasy whiche he hath cōceyued in his hart or spirite doth corrupt & peruert ye spiritual salues of one only god The other is whan a man (for what cause so euer it be) dothe geue or transfer ye honor which belongeth vnto god onely, vnto any creature. As for an ensāple vnto an ymage, let vs then begyn to speake of the duty which we owe towarde god, to serue hym duelye. Is it sufficient for euery man to holde god within hym selfe within hys harte for his sauyour and worshyp hym in secrete? No, he requyrethe ⟨image 18⟩more of vs saying, that we must glorify him as well in our body as in our spirite & he adioyneth the cause. Because that both of them belonge vnto hym. Now although we had not this commaundement, yet it is euydent yt it shoulde be so, for in as much as our bodyes be redemed by ye precious bloud of Iesus Christ. What reason is it, yt we shoulde prostytute it before an Idoll? Seing that it is the temple of the holy gost. What an horrible synne were it then for to defyle it with such sacryledge? Considerynge that it is predestinate to receyue ye crowne of immortalite and to be partaker of the glory of god, is it then conuenient for to corrupte and to foil it with such fylth? let vs learne ⟨image 19⟩then that euen as our soules be consecrated vnto God, euen so ought our bodyes to be reserued vnto his honour. S. Paul cryinge agaynste whoredome vseth this argument.1 Seing yt our bodies are the membres of Christ, is it lawfull to make thē the membres of an harlot? By the same reason maye we saye, seinge that our bodyes be ye mē bres of Christ, shall we deuyde them frome his communion by pollutinge them and bowing of them before Idoles? Therfore our Lorde speaketh of his true seruauntes, and geueth them this marke that they had not bowed their knees before Baal nor yet hadde kissed his hande,2 who might haue said that they were not corrupt with false superstitiō ⟨image 19⟩holding Baal for their God in their hartes. But he willinge to sygnifye that ye matter lyeth not all togyther therin, sayde. That they had not done him any reuerence by any owtwarde gesture.
- 11. Cor. 6.
- 23. Kin. 19.3. Kyn. 19.
