The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Thirdly, As the corrupt errors of men came from Gods anger, so in mercy he hath appointed times, wherein he will purge and take away their dross. For these Church-burdens and Church-corruptions have been far more heavy upon Gods people, than State-oppressions. Therefore the first thing that Gideon did, who was raised up by God, to be a Judge to deliver Israel from their cruel oppressions, was to remove their Altars, and all their Idolatry: he began with God first, Judges 6.28. And so when Moses had gathered the people of Israel into a body, and they were capable of a Civil Government, yet the first thing he doth, is to prescribe them Laws concerning the worship of God; and in the Decalogue, the first Table is for the Duties relating to God. By this you see, That corruptions in Gods worship and truth, as they are greater sins than others; they are talents when others are pounds; so they lie more heavily upon the people of God, they bewail them more. Rome, as it was Egypt, did not so much trouble the godly, as it was Sodom; the Idolatry more than the cruelty offended the people of God. This being so, God among temporal promises of deliverance, of righteousness and peace, doth also comfort the godly with times of Reformation in his Church, that this hay end stubble shall no longer stand to dishonour his building. Thus God by the Prophet Isaiah promiseth. To purge away their dross, and to take away their tin from them, Isai. 1.25. which doth relate to their Church-sins, their Idolatries, as well as State-sins. And by Ezekiel, you have a glorious promise concerning Church-Reformation, Ezekiel 36.25. as well as temporal, He will give them to see their Idolatries, so that they shall be confounded and never open their mouths. Especially, God hath those times, when people shall be ashamed of their errors, of their superstitions, and shall never open their mouths again to plead for them, or justify them, When they shall see the pattern of the Mount, Ezekiel 43.10. You have a notable promise, Malachi 3 3 where upon Christs coming, there is promised a glorious restoration, He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi. Christ when he came into the world found all Gods worship grossly polluted; all the Priests had defiled themselves: