Moses (Deut. 4.19.) gives a caution to Israel from the Lord, that they should take heed of imitating the Heathens in their abominations, and this is one particular, Lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the Sun, and the Moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all Nations under the whole heaven. Observe that, The Lord thy God hath divided them unto all Nations under heaven; Therefore take heed that thou do not worship them. They are the work of God, they are creatures; and worship, which is proper to the Creator, must not be given to them. It is a remarkable Text, Lest (saith he) thou shouldest be driven to worship them. How driven? Not by external force and power, but driven by the strong inclination of thine heart, ravished with such beautiful objects. The excellency that is in the works of God hath power to draw, yea to drive the heart of man to commit idolatry. Job shows this, while he acquits himself so industriously from it (Chap. 31.26, 27.) If I beheld the Sun when it shined, or the Moon walking in brightness, and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth had kissed my hand; this also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge, &c. Some translate that (Deut. 4.) in this language of Job, Lest thou be deceived t• worship the Sun, Moon and stars, and host of heaven: this is very considerable: but the thing I chiefly note in that Scripture to the point in hand, is this, That the Lord hath made and appointed the stars to the several parts of the heavens, he hath divided them to all Nations under the whole heaven. Some stars are the portion of one people, others of another. As the earth is an inheritance divided among the children of men; so also are the stars and heavens.1 We seldom consider what riches we receive from that part of our inheritance; most think they live by the earth only; No, saith Moses, The Lord hath divided the heavens, the Sun, Moon and Stars, unto all Nations under heaven. He hath settled it, what star such a Land shall have, and in what seasons, as also what proportions of the Sun and Moon, for light, heat and influence. He hath made them for the children of men. Man is fed and clothed, warmed and cherished from heaven more then from the earth:
Moses (Deut. 4.19.) gives a caution to Israel from the Lord, that they should take heed of imitating the Heathens in their abominations, and this is one particular, Lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the Sunne, and the Moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all Nations under the whole heaven. Observe that, The Lord thy God hath divided them unto all Nations under heaven; Therefore take heed that thou do not worship them. They are the work of God, they are creatures; and worship, which is proper to the Creatour, must not be given to them. It is a remarkable Text, Lest (saith he) thou shouldest be driven to worship them. How driven? Not by externall force and power, but driven by the strong inclination of thine heart, ravished with such beautifull objects. The excellency that is in the works of God hath power to draw, yea to drive the heart of man to commit idolatry. Job shews this, while he acquits himself so industriously from it (Chap. 31.26, 27.) If I beheld the Sunne when it shined, or the Moon walking in brightnesse, and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth had kissed my hand; this also were an iniquity to be punished by the Iudge, &c. Some translate that (Deut. 4.) in this language of Iob, Lest thou be deceived t• worship the Sunne, Moon and stars, and host of heaven: this is very considerable: but the thing I chiefly note in that Scripture to the point in hand, is this, That the Lord hath made and appointed the stars to the severall parts of the heavens, he hath divided them to all Nations under the whole heaven. Some stars are the portion of one people, others of another. As the earth is an inheritance divided among the children of men; so also are the stars and heavens.1 We seldom consider what riches we receive from that part of our inheritance; most think they live by the earth only; No, saith Moses, The Lord hath divided the heavens, the Sunne, Moon and Stars, unto all Nations under heaven. He hath setled it, what starre such a Land shall have, and in what seasons, as also what proportions of the Sunne and Moon, for light, heat and influence. He hath made them for the children of men. Man is fed and cloathed, warmed and cherished from heaven more then from the earth:
- 1Per hanc divisionem intelligit ordinem & morum planetarū, qui in suis orbibus ita disponuntur, ut unaquaeque regio suo tempore eorum gaudeat influxibus. Pined.Per hanc divisionem intelligit ordinem & morum planetarū, qui in suis orbibus ita disponuntur, ut unaquaeque regio suo tempore eorum gaudeat influxibus. Pined.