For if the contempt or transgression of Moses Law was worthy of death, What should we judge the contempt of Christs Ordinance to be? (I mean, after they be once received.) And if Christ be not come to dissolve, but to fulfil the Law of his heavenly Father, Shall the liberty of his Gospel be an occasion that the especial glory of his Father be trodden under foot, and regarded of no man? God forbid. The especial glory of God is, That such as profess themselves to be his people,1 should hearken to his voice: And amongst all the voices of God revealed to the world, touching punishment of vices, is none more evident, neither more severe, then is that which is pronounced against Idolatry,2 the teachers and maintainers of the same: And therefore I fear not to affirm, That the Gentiles (I mean, every City, Realm, Province, or Nation amongst the Gentiles, embracing Christ Jesus, and his true Religion) be bound to the same League and Covenant that God made with his people Israel, when he promised to root out the Nations before them, in these words, Beware that thou make not any Covenant with the Inhabitants of the Land, 3to the which thou comest, lest perchance that this come in ruin, that is, be destruction to thee; but thou shalt destroy their Altars, break their Idols, and cut down their Groves: Fear no strange Gods, nor worship them, neither yet make you sacrifice to them: But the Lord, who in his great power, and out-stretched arm hath brought you out of the Land of Egypt, shall you fear, him shall you honour, him shall you worship, to him ⟨p. 25⟩shall you make Sacrifice, his Statutes, Judgements, Laws, and Commandments you shall keep and observe. This is the Covenant which I have made with you, saith the Eternal, forget it not, neither yet fear ye other gods; but fear you the Lord your God, and he shall deliver you from the hands of all your enemies. To this same Law and Covenant are the Gentiles no less bound, then sometime were the Jews, whensoever God doth illuminate the eyes of any multitude, Province, people, or City, and putteth the sword in their own hand to remove such enormities from amongst them, as before they knew to be abominable;4 then (I say) are they no less bound to purge their Dominions, Cities, and Countries from Idolatry, then were the Israelites, what time they received the Possession of the Land of Canaan.
For if the contempt or transgression of Moses Law was worthy of death, What should we judge the contempt of Christs Ordinance to be? (I mean, after they be once received.) And if Christ be not come to dissolve, but to fulfill the Law of his heavenly Father, Shall the liberty of his Gospel be an occasion that the especiall glory of his Father be trodden under foot, and regarded of no man? God forbid. The especiall glory of God is, That such as professe themselves to be his people,1 should hearken to his voice: And amongst all the voices of God revealed to the world, touching punishment of vices, is none more evident, neither more severe, then is that which is pronounced against Idolatry,2 the teachers and maintainers of the same: And therefore I fear not to affirm, That the Gentiles (I mean, every City, Realm, Province, or Nation amongst the Gentiles, embracing Christ Jesus, and his true Religion) be bound to the same League and Covenant that God made with his people Israel, when he promised to root out the Nations before them, in these words, Beware that thou make not any Covenant with the Inhabitants of the Land, 3to the which thou comest, lest perchance that this come in ruine, that is, be destruction to thee; but thou shalt destroy their Altars, break their Idols, and cut down their Groves: Fear no strange Gods, nor worship them, neither yet make you sacrifice to them: But the Lord, who in his great power, and out-stretched arm hath brought you out of the Land of Egypt, shall you fear, him shall you honour, him shall you worship, to him ⟨p. 25⟩shall you make Sacrifice, his Statutes, Iudgements, Laws, and Commandments you shall keep and observe. This is the Covenant which I have made with you, saith the Eternall, forget it not, neither yet fear ye other gods; but fear you the Lord your God, and he shall deliver you from the hands of all your enemies. To this same Law and Covenant are the Gentiles no lesse bound, then sometime were the Jews, whensoever God doth illuminate the eyes of any multitude, Province, people, or Citie, and putteth the sword in their own hand to remove such enormities from amongst them, as before they knew to be abominable;4 then (I say) are they no lesse bound to purge their Dominions, Cities, and Countries from Idolatry, then were the Israelites, what time they received the Possession of the Land of Canaan.
- 1The especial honour which God requireth of his people.The especiall honour which God requireth of his people.
- 21 Sam. 15.
- 3Exod. 34.
- 4Note.
