Fourthly, we here learn what is the cause why Idolaters, 1who otherwise are exceeding wise, do live in most sottish superstition, and are blinded with such childish follies as may move in any just cause of admiration; namely, because they are seduced with a spirit of fornications, that is, not only abandoned of Gods spirit, who leadeth us into all truth, but also wholly lead with the unclean spirit Satan, the chief author of spiritual whoredom, who begetteth in these children of disobedience a spirit of Idolatry, that is, a vehement and earnest desire to live in this sin; with which they are so wholly transported, that they go forward in their gross and absurd courses, not only against religion, and the revealed will of God, but against reason, nature, and common sense. An example hereof we have in the Israelites, who howsoever they had so manifold experience of Gods mercy and power, in multiplying his benefits upon them, and in their miraculous deliverances, & preservation from their enemies, and of his severe justice in punishing their Idolatries, yet were so seduced with this spirit of fornications, that neither Gods mercies nor judgements could restrain them from forsaking his true worship, and serving the Idols of the Heathens, in as gross manner as those who never heard of ⟨p. 242⟩God and his word. The like experience we have in the Papists at this day, who howsoever they are worldly wise, in the things of this life, yet being bewitched and carried headlong with this spirit of fornications, they suffer themselves wittingly and willingly to be abused by their false teachers, as if they were the most ignorant idiots in the world; they believe the carnal presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the altar, contrary not only to religion but also to reason, nature, and their own sense, and adore their breaden God with divine worship; they are content with great sums of money to purchase pardon of their sins of the Pope, who is a sinful man like themselves, yea the man of sin; they whip and torment themselves before their idols like Baal's Priests; they creep to the Cross; and go on pilgrimage to images of wood and stone, and by praying, vowing, and offering unto them, they acknowledge them as their Gods, seeing they give unto them all parts of divine worship, whereas they are creatures more base and impotent then themselves;
Fourthly, we here learne what is the cause why Idolaters, 1who otherwise are exceeding wise, doe liue in most sottish superstition, and are blinded with such childish follies as may moue in any just cause of admiration; namely, because they are seduced with a spirit of fornications, that is, not onely abandoned of Gods spirit, who leadeth vs into all truth, but also wholy lead with the vncleane spirit Sathan, the chiefe author of spirituall whoredome, who begetteth in these children of disobedience a spirit of Idolatry, that is, a vehement and earnest desire to liue in this sinne; with which they are so wholy transported, that they goe forward in their grosse and absurd courses, not onely against religion, and the reuealed will of God, but against reason, nature, and common sense. An example hereof wee haue in the Israelites, who howsoeuer they had so manifold experience of Gods mercy and power, in multiplying his benefits vpon them, and in their miraculous deliuerances, & preseruation from their enimies, and of his seuere justice in punishing their Idolatries, yet were so seduced with this spirit of fornications, that neither Gods mercyes nor judgements could restraine them from forsaking his true worship, and seruing the Idols of the Heathens, in as grose manner as those who neuer heard of ⟨p. 242⟩God and his word. The like experience we haue in the Papists at this day, who howsoeuer they are worldly wise, in the things of this life, yet being bewitched and carried headlong with this spirit of fornications, they suffer themselues wittingly and willingly to be abused by their false teachers, as if they were the most ignorant ideots in the world; they beleeue the carnall presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the aulter, contrarie not onely to religion but also to reason, nature, and their owne sense, and adore their breaden God with diuine worship; they are content with great summes of money to purchase pardon of their sinnes of the Pope, who is a sinfull man like themselues, yea the man of sinne; they whip and torment themselues before their idolls like Baalls Priests; they creepe to the Crosse; and goe on pilgrimage to images of wood and stone, and by praying, vowing, and offering vnto them, they acknowledge them as their Gods, seeing they giue vnto them all parts of diuine worship, whereas they are creatures more base and impotent then themselues;
- 1The cause why the wisest Idolaters live in sottish superstitions.The cause why the wisest Idolaters liue in sottish superstitions.
