A Body of Practical Divinity

4. It is a Mercy to be delivered from Idolatrous Places, because of the sad Judgments inflicted upon Idolaters. This is a Sin enrageth God, and makes the Fury come up in his Face, Ezek. 38.18. Search through the whole Book of God, and you shall find no Sin God hath followed with more Plagues, than Idolatry, Psal. 16.4. Their Sorrows shall be Multiplied, that hasten after another God. Psal. 78.58, 59. They moved him to Jealousy with their Graven Images. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel, ver. 60. So that he forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh. Shiloh was a City belonging to the Tribe of Ephraim: There God set his Name, Jer. 7.12. But for their Idolatry God forsook that Place; gave his People up to the Sword, caused his Priests to be Slain; his Ark to be carried away Captive, and it never returned to Shiloh any more. How severe was God against Israel for Worshipping the Golden Calf, Exod. 32.27. The Jews say, that in every Misery that befalls them, there is Uncia Aurei Vituli, an Ounce of the Golden Calf in it, Rev. 18.4. Come out of her my People, that ye be not partakers of her Sins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues. Idolatry lived in, cuts Men off from Heaven, 1 Cor. 6.9. So then it is no small Mercy to be delivered out of Idolatrous Places.

4. It is a Mercy to be delivered from Idolatrous Places, because of the sad Judgments inflicted upon Idolaters. This is a Sin enrageth God, and makes the Fury come up in his Face, Ezek. 38.18. Search through the whole Book of God, and you shall find no Sin God hath followed with more Plagues, than Idolatry, Psal. 16.4. Their Sorrows shall be Multiplied, that hasten after another God.