Sermons upon the Book of Job

As for the Paynims which meant to honour God without knowing him, forasmuch as they knew not any whit of God or of his majesty: needs must they do sacrifice unto the Idols which they had forged and set up in their own brain. God then accepteth not any other service, than that which is done unto him by one that knoweth him. Thus much for the first point. And for the second, it §20behoveth that the serving of God be spiritual. The Pagans have surmised, that God would be appeased if a man offered him an Ox or a Calf: but that was a great mockery, as who would say, that God were transfigured, and that when he is angry with men, they could appease him by the mean aforesaid. Therefore it behoveth men to set down this rule first of all, namely that the serving of God is spiritual: we must mount far higher than these visible shapes: for they must lead us to a heavenly end, and not hold us down here in the world §30without lifting up of our minds unto heaven. Ye see then how the faithful had always their eye upon God when they made sacrifice: and thereby were put in mind of their vices and sins, to the end to be displeased with themselves for the same. The Paynims knew no whit of this. Now then we perceive, that we may not rest upon the outward show, when we deal with the serving of God: but we must come to the well head: that is to wit, we must know which is the God whom we should worship, and we must understand how and in what wise it becometh §40us to press unto him, and that the Ceremonies which we use, do lead us to this spiritual service whereof mention is made here. As for example, in these days the Papists have many Ceremonies like unto us: for they can well bow down their knees when they purpose to pray, and they have such other things: And yet for all that, we see they know not whereunto they shape themselves, for as much as they go to kneel down before a puppet of wood or stone: whereby they show how they know not what God is: and so it must needs be, that all the religion §50which they think themselves to have, is unclean & unholy. They have store of apish toys: but they turn all upside down, because they regard not what God hath commanded, but rather follow their own inventions, bearing themselves in hand, that they have done much, when they have patched a great sort of rags together.