Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But here is express mention made of: the Temple of Pheor, to show that although the people had an eyesore there to turn them away to superstition: yet had they a remedy for it also, inasmuch as GOD called earnestly upon them by his word, that they should not meddle with the idolatries of the heathen. In deed it was a hard chastisement for them, to be driven to have the temple of an idol continually in their sight. It was as if God meaning to have spited them, should have said, I have called you to possess a land that is allotted to my service, where ye should have seen nothing that should have offended you: for my Sanctuary should have bin set up among you, I should have bin worshipped purely, according to my law, the land should not have bin defiled with old superstitions, all such things should have bin wiped out, so as ye should have heard nothing sound in your ears but my prayers. But now ye be here in a corner of a country, where ye behold the ⟨p. 178⟩temple of an idol, and where shameful abominations are committed. Therefore it is as a vengeance which ye be fain to suffer for your sins, because ye be not worthy to enter into the land that I promised you. Thus ye see how it was Gods will to chastise his people, when he did let them dwell by the temple of Pheor. Likewise if we in these days be mingled with idolaters, so as we be fain to look upon the filthiness which they commit, and upon their §10perverting of all religion: let us understand that by that means God punisheth us, or at leastwise humbleth us because of our sins. And we ought to be sorry, not only for the offences that are committed by the unbelievers, but also because we may well perceive that we be not worthy to see the whole world reformed, so as there might be one accord and consent of harmony in religion, and GOD be purely worshipped every where: I say we be not worthy §20to see it. Now then if superstitions be near us, and we be driven to behold the marks of them, or to hear any piece of them: Let us impute it to our own sins.

But here is expresse mention made of: the Temple of Pheor, to shewe that although the people had an eysore there to turne them away to superstition: yet had they a remedie for it also, inasmuch as GOD called earnestly vppon thē by his worde, that they shoulde not meddle with the idolatries of the heathen. In deede it was a hard chastisement for them, to bee driuen to haue the temple of an idoll continually in their sight. It was as if God meaning to haue spyted them, shoulde haue sayd, I haue called you to possesse a lande that is alotted to my seruice, where yee shoulde haue seene nothing yt should haue offēded you: for my Sanctuarie should haue bin set vp among you, I should haue bin worshiped purely, according to my law, ye land should not haue bin defiled with old superstitiōs, al such things should haue bin wiped out, so as ye should haue heard nothing sownde in your eares but my prayers. But now ye bee here in a corner of a countrie, where ye beholde the