First, Idolatry: that is, the1 worshipping of GOD in Images or Idols, whereof God giveth so straight charge fTake heed therefore unto your selves, for you saw no similitude in the Day that JEHOVAH spake unto you in Horeb out of the middest of the fire: That ye corrupt not your selves, & make you a graven Image, the likeness of any representation, &c. And the gProphet crieth out, Unto whom will ye liken the mighty God? and what likeness will ye address for him? Hither belongeth that, where he is said to be a hGod, that hideth himself, that is to say, invisible, and not to be expressed by carved Images: As ⟨p. 161⟩the opposition there showeth. Wherefore the Apostle in the Catalogue of offences worthily giveth the first place hereunto: They iturned the glory of the incorruptible God into the similitude of the Image of a corruptible man, and of Birds, and of four-footed beasts, and of creeping things. This was the sin of the Israelites in the Wilderness: for they worshipped not the Calf; as the Papists, to colour their own Idolatry, do affirm, but God in the Calf; so themselves proclaim: kTomorrow shall be the Holy-day of JEHOVAH: Let us make a Feast tomorrow to JEHOVAH. And the Psalmist beareth lwitness, They turned their glory into the frame of an Ox that eateth grass. And yet this Calf made to worship God in the form thereof, Stephen calleth an Idol, Acts 7. 41. These two kinds bowing down to Moloch, to serve and worship him, and worshipping the true GOD in the bowing down to Moloch, are plainly distinguished, Zephaniah, 1. 5. and Judgements there pronounced against both sorts of such worshippers: for it is certain, that Idols and Images are so far from being, as they seem mglasses and representations to make men see God the clearer, that contrariwise they close and daub up mens eyes from seeing, and their hearts from understanding. As the Prophet in plain words speaketh, Isaiah 44. 18. teaching nothing indeed but vanity and lies. Their molten nImages are wind, and emptiness, or confusion. What oprofiteth the carved Image, when the framer thereof hath carved it a molten Image, and a teacher of lies? But ptogether (both Jews and Gentiles jumping in the same Idolatry) they are brutish and become Fools, for the stock (or wood, that is to say, the Image made of wood) is a doctrine of vanities.
First, Idolatry: that is, the1 worshipping of GOD in Images or Idols, whereof God giueth so straight charge fTake heed therefore vnto your selues, for you saw no similitude in the Day that IEHOVAH spake vnto you in Horeb out of the middest of the fire: That ye corrupt not your selues, & make you a grauen Image, the likenesse of any representation, &c. And the gProphet cryeth out, Ʋnto whom will ye liken the mightie God? and what likenesse will ye addresse for him? Hither belongeth that, where he is said to be a hGod, that hideth himselfe, that is to say, inuisible, and not to be expressed by carued Images: As ⟨p. 161⟩the opposition there sheweth. Wherefore the Apostle in the Catalogue of offences worthily giueth the first place hereunto: They iturned theaglory of the incorruptible God into the similitude of the Image of a corruptible man, and of Birds, and of foure-footed beasts, and of creeping things. This was the sinne of the Israelites in the Wildernesse: for they worshipped not the Calfe; as the Papists, to colour their owne Idolatrie, doe affirme, but God in the Calfe; so themselues proclayme: kTomorrow shall bee the Holy-day of IEHOVAH: Let vs make a Feast tomorrow to IEHOVAH. And the Psalmist beareth lwitnesse, They turned their glorie into the frame of an Oxe that eateth grasse. And yet this Calfe made to worship God in the forme thereof, Stephen calleth an Idoll, Acts 7. 41. These two kindes bowing downe to Moloch, to serue and worship him, and worshipping the true GOD in the bowing downe to Moloch, are plainely distinguished, Zophaniah, 1. 5. and Iudgements there pronounced against both sorts of such worshippers: for it is certaine, that Idols and Images are so farre from being, as they seeme mglasses and representations to make men see God the cleerer, that contrariwise they close and dawbe vp mens eyes from seeing, and their hearts from vnderstanding. As the Prophet in plaine words speaketh, Esay 44. 18. teaching nothing indeed but vanitie and lyes. Their molten
- 1The Papists Idolatry, and their wicked and fond distinction, as if the Scripture only condemned such Images as the Heathen made for the worshipping of their false gods, which is manifestly confuted both by the example of the Jews, Exod 32. and by this Commandment of Moses, Deut. 4. 12, 15, 16 who, to restrain the people from Idolatry, opposeth the voice of God heard in the Mountain to all Images, even to the Image of God himself, not only to the Image of Heathen gods; When Jehovah spake unto you out of the middest of that fire, ye heard the voice of his words, but saw no similitude, save a voice: take heed therefore, &c.The Papists Idolatrie, and their wicked and fond distinction, as if the Scripture onely condemned such Images as the Heathen made for the worshipping of their false gods, which is manifestly cō futed both by the example of the Iewes, Exod 32. and by this Commandement of Moses, Deut. 4. 12, 15, 16 who, to restraine the people from Idolatry, opposeth the voice of God heard in the Mountaine to all Images, euen to the Image of God himselfe, not onely to the Image of Heathen gods; When Iehouah spake vnto you out of the middest of that fire, yee heard the voice of his words, but saw no similitude, saue a voyce: take heed therefore, &c.
- fDeut. 4. 15, 16
- gIsaiah 40. 18.Esay 40. 18.
- hIsaiah 45 15. [Greek or Hebrew]Esay 45 15. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- iRom. 1. 23
- k
