A20559:141
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The use of this is, to teach us to avoid all means and occasions that may draw us unto this filthy sin. In which thing when Solomon was not very circumspect, but would marry with superstitious wives, how quickly did he grow superstitious like them. And Amaziah when he had overcome the Edomites, & put them to flight, so that they were constrained to leave their Gods, and fly for their lives, yet the very looking on these Idols did infect him: for as the eyes of an harlot, and looking on her will infect one with uncleanness, so the looking on an Idol will pollute an ignorant and blind hart, and bring it to confusion. But David did otherwise, for when he was following the Philistines, and had them now in chase, so hard as they were driven to leave their gods and run for their lives, yet he left pursuing them, and had rather stay, for he found a greater work then slaying his enemies, because he knew that such was the corruption that was in his men, and himself, as that these Idols might have done them more harm, then all the Philistines could; and therefore that none might be infected and corrupted by them, he and his men took them all & burnt them with fire.
The vse of this is, to teach vs to auoyd all meanes and occasions that may draw vs vnto this filthie sinne. In which thing when Salomon was not verie circūspect, but would marry with superstitious wiues, how quickly did he grow supersticious like them. And Amaziah when he had ouercome the Edomits, & put them to flight, so that they were constrained to leaue their Gods, and flye for their liues, yet the verie looking on these Idolls did infect him: for as the eyes of an harlot, and looking on her will infect one with vncleannesse, so the looking on an Idoll will pollute an ignorant and blinde hart, and bring it to confusion. But Dauid did otherwise, for when he was following the Philistines, and had them now in chase, so hard as they were driuen to leaue their gods and runne for their liues, yet he left pursuing them, and had rather stay, for he found a greater work then slaying his enemies, because he knew that such was the corruption that was in his men, and himselfe, as that these Idolls might haue done them more harme, then all the Philistins could; and therefore that none might be infected and corrupted by them, he and his men tooke them all & burnt them with fire.