A Body of Practical Divinity

Use 2. See what a Privilege it is to be the Children of good Parents: The Parents are in Covenant with God, and God lays up Mercy for their Posterity, Prov. 20.7. The just man walks in his Integrity, his Seed are blessed after him. A Religious Parent ⟨p. 284⟩doth not procure Wrath, but helps to keep off Wrath from his Child: He seasons his Child with Religious Principles; he prays down a Blessing on his Child: He is a Load-stone, drawing his Child to Christ by good Council and Example. O what a Privilege is it to be born of Godly Religious Parents! St. Austin saith, That his Mother Monica travelled with greater Care and Pains for his new Birth, than for his Natural. Wicked Idolaters entail Misery on their Posterity. God visits the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children: But Religious Parents procure a Blessing upon their Children. God reserves Mercy for their Posterity.

3. The third Reason against Image-worship, Of them that hate me.] This is a Reason against Image-worship, 'tis hating God: The Papists who worship God by an Image, hate God. Image-worship is a pretended Love to God, but God interprets it an hating of him: Quae diligit alienum odit sponsum: She that loves another Man, hates her own Husband. An Image-lover is a God-hater. Idolaters are said to go a Whoring from God, Ezek. 34.15. How can they love God? I shall show that Image-worshippers hate God, whatever love they pretend.

3. The third Reason against Image-worship, Of them that hate me.] This is a Reason against Image-worship, 'tis hating God: The Papists who worship God by an Image, hate God. Image-worship is a pretended Love to God, but God interprets it an hating of him: Quae diligit alienum odit sponsum: She that loves another Man, hates her own Husband. An Image-lover is a God-hater. Idolaters are said to go a Whoring from God,