Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But now let us come to that which Moses hath set down concerning the Lords ordinances and statutes. The first commandment that he giveth the Jews, is that when they be come into the Land which they were to possess for their inheritance they should beat down all the altars of the heathen, break and deface their idols, burn all the groans where they had used their superstitions, and utterly root out the remembrance of them. Here we see again how hateful a thing idolatry is unto God, and that he can not abide that his service should in any wise be corrupted. Let us mark I say, that God accepteth not any service at our hands, when it is mingled with any abuse or folly of our own heads: but as we must serve him only, so must we serve him not after our own fashion, but according to his own will, commandment & allowance. Wherein we see how a great number of ignorant wretches beguile themselves nowadays. For having protested that their intent is to serve the only one God, they put to many patches of their own, bearing themselves in hand that it is not amiss. And why? So long as mine in devour be to serve God say they, & that I do it of a good intent; why should it be condemned? Yea, but we hear how our God can not away with any companion,¹ as he declareth everywhere; and even in this text we be taught the same expressly enough: for God will have all remembrance of idols utterly rooted out. For why? As long as idols have their use; God is defaced & overcovered that he can not be discerned, and likewise all things in the world are confounded by it. Therefore it is all one as if men should go about to spoil him of his majesty & glory. And even the papists themselves avow the same thing in their common byword, when they say that God is not known for the Apostles. And it was Gods will that they should make a common proverb of it, to show that they cut their own throats with their own knife, in that they can allege no excuse at the latter day. For they say they meant it not: no, but will not their proverb prove them liars? Yes: for their own words shall judge them. Howsoever they fare, let us note that if Gods service be not kept in the own pureness, all is marred: so that although men worship him never so much, yet he misliketh it, as we see by his speaking thereof in his prophet Ezekiel.²

But now let vs come to that which Moses hath set down concerning the Lords ordinances and statutes. The first cōmandement yt he giueth the Iewes, is that when they be come into the Land which they were to possesse for their inheritāce they shoulde beate downe all the altars of the heathen, breake and deface their ydolles, burne all the grones where they had vsed their superstitions, and vtterly root out the remembrance of them. Here we see again how hatefull a thing ydolatrie is vnto God, and that he can not abide yt his seruice should in any wise be corrupted. Let vs marke I say, that God accepteth not any seruice at our hands, when it is mingled with any abuse or folly of our owne heades: but as we must serue him onely, so must we serue him not after our owne fashion, but according to his owne wil, cōmandement & allowance. Wherein we see how a great number of ignorant wretches beguile themselues nowadayes. For hauing protested that their intent is to serue ye only one God, they put to many patches of their owne, bearing themselues in hand that yt is not amisse. And why? So long as mine in deuour be to serue God say they, & that I do it of a good intent; why shold it be condemned? Yea, but we heare how our God can not away with any companion,