Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now Moses speaketh here by name of Beelphegor, which was the idol of the Ammonites, as is said afore. And the word Baal betokeneth a Principal, a Master, or a Patron: which thing is well worthy to be marked. For when we here speaking of the idols of the heathen, they seem to us to be far other things than those that we see nowadays. But the Scripture showeth us that they be in manner all one. And why? For the heathen were not so gross and dull-witted, but that they knew there was a certain sovereign majesty which had created heaven and earth, and held sovereign Dominion over all things. But therewith all they would needs have undergods and mean gods whom they termed their Patrons, as they do nowadays in the Popedom. Again there was another sort of gods, whom they thought to have the charge of several Countries: for every country had his idol. And so also this world Baal was the name as ye would say of a God that had the governance of a whole country, and served to get men favour at the great Gods hand. Now it may seem at the first blush, that this was no defacing of Gods glory, nor any impeachment to the continual serving and worshipping of him: and yet is it such a corruption as he cannot abide. For he will have all preeminence to himself, and he will not have men to give him or assign him any companion, as we shall see hereafter where Moses will say,¹ The Lord thy God is the only God. Again, when men make such mingling, and will needs have a multitude of gods: we see how god speaketh of it in the twentieth of Ezekiel. Go your ways (saith he) I give ye over,² seeing ye have other Gods than me: go serve the devil altogether, for I will have nothing to do with you. Let us mark well then, that Gods service can never be kept in his pureness, except all superstition be laid down, and men hold themselves simply to his word, without inventing of any thing, & without intermingling of any thing devised of their own brain. Thus ye see that the true and pure religion, is the exalting of the only one God, so as his glory is not darkened by adding any companion unto him.

Nowe Moses speaketh heere by name of Beelphegor, which was the ydoll of the Ammonites, as is saide afore. And the worde Baal betokeneth a Principal, a Master, or a Patrone: which thing is well worthie to bee marked. For when wee heere speaking of the ydolles of the heathen, they seeme to vs to bee farre other thinges than those that wee see noweadayes. But the Scripture sheweth vs that they bee in manner all one. And why? For the heathen were not so grosse and dulwitted, but that they knewe there was a certaine soueraine maiestie which had created heauen and earth, and helde soueraine Dominion ouer all thinges. But therewith all they woulde needes haue vndergods and meane gods whom they termed their Patrones, as they doe nowadayes in the Popedome. Againe there was another sort of gods, whom they thought to haue the charge of seuerall Countries: for euerie countrie had his ydol. And so also this worlde Baal was the name as yee woulde say of a God that had the gouernance of a whole countrie, and serued to get men fauour at the great Gods hand. Nowe it may seeme at the first blush, that this was no defacing of Gods glorie, nor any impeachment to the continuall seruing and worshipping of him: and yet is it such a corruption as he cannot abide. For he will haue all preheminence to himselfe, and hee will not haue men to giue him or assigne him any companion, as we shall see hereafter where Moses will say,