An Arrow Against Idolatry, Chapter 1
AN ARROVV AGAINST IDOLATRIE. TAKEN OVT OF THE Quiver of the Lord of HOSTS.
By H. A.
PSALM. 119.31.
I cleave to thy Testimonies: Lord, let me not be ashamed.
Printed. 1624.
THE PRINCIPALL things here handled.
OF the Beginning and Nature of idolatry. Chap. 1.
How fast the sin of idolatrie cleaveth to all flesh. Chap. 2.
Of Ieroboams idolatrie that infected Israel, and of the pretenses that he mought make for his sin. Chap. 3.
A conviction of Ieroboams impiety. Chap. 4.
Of the idolatrie of these times, far exceeding Ieroboams. Chap. 5.
A Conclusion Dehortatorie from this sin. Chap. 6.
AN ARROW AGAINST IDOLATRIE.
CHAPTER I.
Of the Beginning and Nature of Idolatry.
THE old Serpent, called the Divell and Satan, Rev. 12.9.hath frō the beginning sought to draw men aGen. 3.from the service of God, to the service of himselfe: and this hee hath done, as by other sinnes, so chiefly by idolatry, which therefore aboue all other, is b1 Cor. 10 19.20. Rev. 9.20.called, and counted, the worship and service of Divils.
2 To bring men hereunto, he hath first laboured to separate them from the true Church. For that being the house of the living God;1 Tim. 3.15. Psal. 26.8. the place where his honour dwelleth; the pillar and ground of truth: it is a mean c1 Sam. 26 19.to conserv men in the true service of God, and preserv them from Idolatry. And from the Church, Satan hath separated men, either by causing thē to be cast out for sin, as Cain was and his seed:Gen. 4. or to with-draw and schism themselvs for some pretended cause or quarrell; as did the d1 King. 12.27.28.29.Israelites, and eIude 19. Heb. 10.25others after them: or to forsake the fellowship of the Saints for louelove of the world, fear of affliction, or the like; as fGen. 11.3… & 12.1 2.3.4, & 24 10, & 28.2, & 31.30 …3.Nahor and his house accompanied Abram, from Vr, of the Chaldees unto Charran, and no further; but dwelling there, gaue himselfe to idolatry, from which Abram, and all that would goe with him, were gJos. 24.2.called.
3 Again, the divill takes a contrary course to draw men to this sin; by commingling and uniting his children and synagogue, with the Church and People of God; whereby even they also hGen. 6.2.3may be made flesh, drawn by examples and allurements, to partake with idolatrous worship: as iPs. 106.28 35.36.Israel and others, were mixt with the Heathens,1 Cor. 8.10. & 10.14. ad 21. and learned their works, and served their idols; which were their ruin.
4 Idolatry is performed, either by mixing mens kMat. 15.8 Ier. 7.31. Ezek. 43.8.own inventions with the ordinances of God in the service of him: or by using and applying the rites and services of the Lord, or other humane devices; unto the honour and service of some lRom. 1.23.25.creature, in heaven, earth, or under the earth: which is is with neglect and dishonour of the Creator, who is blessed for ever, Amen.
5 Again, as the service of God is outward and inward; outward, by observing and doing the externall things commanded, of assembling together,mLev. 22.2 &c. nPsal. 95.6bowing down, vocall oAct. 4.24. & 20.7. 1 Cor. 10.16.18.praying, and preaching, administring and partaking of the sacrifices, sacraments, and other holy things; inward, pPs. 2.11. & 5.7. Heb. 11.5.6.39. 1 Cor. 13.by fear, faith, hope and louelove: so is the service of idols or Divils, outward and inward, performed with body or with spirit, or with both; for whatsoever is due unto God, Satan seeketh to defrawd him of, and apply unto qMat. 4.….himself, by idolatry.
6 Idolatrie is a Greek word, compounded of Idol, which signifieth any similitude, image, likenesse, form, shape or representation, exhibited either to the body or minde; and latrie which signifieth service. Wherupon Idol-latrie, or Service-of-similitudes, is the performance of any religious dutie to that which hath a supposed similitude of God, but is not God indeed: or the performance of that unto the true God, which hath a similitude, shew and resemblance of his service, but is not so in deed; because aDeut. 12.32.he requireth it not at our hands, and therefore is but a bCol. 2.23.will-worship, or voluntary Religion; a thing devised and done, according to cHos. 13.2our own understanding. And these two sorts of Idolatrie, God hath forbidden dExod. 20.in the first and second commandments.
7 The first commandement bindeth us eDeut. 6.4.5.to hauehave Iehovah the living and true God, for our God, and none other: and forbiddeth generally these foure things. 1 The having of strange gods, and not the true; as fAct. 14.11 12.15.had the heathens. 2 The having of strange Gods with the true, as g2 King. 17.33.had the Samaritans. 3 The having of no God at all, as hPsal. 14▪ 1foolish Atheists. 4 The not iIsa. 29.1; Tit. 1.16.having of the true God aright, but in hypocrisie onelyonly; not in truth and sincerity. These, with aDeut. 13.1.2▪3.6.7.13, &c. and 7.25.26.al causes, occasions, provocations, &c. that any way moue draw or perswade unto these or any of them; yea, every b1 Thes. … ▪ 22.appearance of them, are to be shunned and abhorred.
8 The second commandement bindeth cIoh. 4.20▪ ad 24.to the true worship of the true God, which is, onelyonly, dDeut. 12.32, & 4.1, 2, 5, 6, &c.as himselfe commandeth, and by the means, rites and services that hee ordaineth: and it forbiddeth. 1 Al ePsal. 119.113. Is…. 29.13. Col. 2.23.22inventions of our own to worship God by; voluntary religion, opinions and doctrins of men. 2 All imitations fLev. 18.2, 3. Deut. 12 30 31. Rev. 17.2.of Heathens or Antichristians in their God-services, to doe the like unto the Lord our God. 3 All imitation or counterfeiting g1 Kin. 12, 28 — 32. Amos 4.4, 5, & 5.21, 22.23. Hos 8.14▪of Gods own ordinances and institutions; as to make Temples, like his Temple, Feasts like his Feasts, Altars like his, Ministers like his: which was the sin of Israel. 4 All hGen 17.14 Num 9.13, Ier. 3.10, & 4.14, & 12.2.neglect of Gods services, or of the means and instruments by him ordained; all irreligious profanenes or hypocrisie. Together with all iHos. 4.1… 17. Amos 5.5▪communion with such kind of idolatry, all causes, occasions, and provocations therunto.
9 And that Idols, are not onelyonly false resemblances of things which are not; and Idol-latrie, not onelyonly the giving of divine honour to a creature, as unto God; (as Antichrists aBellarm. de Imag. sanct. c. 5, Greg. de Valent. l. 2. de Idol. c. 1.champions do pretend:) but that all religious images, or similitudes, made by man himself, are Idols; and that all religious use and service of them is idolatrie, appeareth by the words of the Law. For every man is forbidden to make unto himselfe, any bTemunah Exod. 20.4form, shape, or resemblance, of things in the heavens, earth or waters, of any cSemel. Deut. 4.16,similitude, shew, or likenesse; any dTabnith. Deut. 4.16.frame, figure, edifice or structure, of man or beast, fowl or fish, or any creeping thing; any eTselem. Ezek 7.20, & 16.17.Image, type, or shadowed representation ▪ any fM…s…ith. Lev. 26.1.imagined picture, fabrick, or shape; gMatt…sebah. Lev. 26.1.any statue, erected-monument or pillar; finally, any thing hEx. 20.4graven or carved, or iHos. 13.2molten; kEze. 8.10drawn-out, painted or poutrahed: So that it is not possible, for the wit or hand of man, to devise or make any image, or representation whatsoever, which commeth not within the compasse of the words and things fore-warned of God.
10 The latrie, or service of Idols forbidden, is also as large, under these words, aEx. 20.5.thou shalt not worship them, neither shalt thou serv them. For man being charged to bMat. 4.10 Deu. 10.20worship the Lord his God, and serv him onelyonly; is bound to giuegive him all manner of religious honour, and none at all unto images, or creatures. Worship is any reverend submissiue gesture, as cDeut. 5.9▪bowing-down, dPs. 95.6, Rom. 11.4.kneeling, prostrating, with all other like lowly & louely behaviour, as eHos. 13.2kissing, fEze. 18.6lifting up of the eies, and all that appertain or lead unto this worship, as gDeut. 16.1, 6. 1 King. 12.32. Hos. 4.15.observing the time, comming to the place, and other the like. And hereby is meant, not externall worship onelyonly: but as God is a Spirit, hIoh. 4.24▪and must be worshipped in spirit; so spirituall worship may be given to no idols: as in heart to louelove, reverence or regard them; for God iIsay 42.…will not giuegive his glorie to another, nor his praise to graven images.
11 Service, is the practise or observing of any religious ordinance of what sort soever, inward or outward; and hereunto pertaineth, all Ministerie, Priestood, ministration, kNum. 8 22.24.about Temple, Altar, Sacrifices, &c: all gifts and oblations lNum. 4.2… ad 31, & 18.4.7.of things living or dead, as cattell, silver, gold, vessels, instruments, &c. all mNum. 7.3.5.purifications,n1 Chron. 23.28.2… ▪ &c. clensings, preparations of things for Gods worship; administring aExod. 12 26.27.of Sacraments, and partaking with them; b1 Cor. 10 18.eating of the sacrifices; c1 King. 6 Nehem. 3. 2 King. 12, … ad 12.building, repairing, fortifying of any holy Citie, Temple, Altar, or other like, belonging to religion; with all dExod. 36 1, &c, and 39.32.maner work, labor, industry of body or mind, to help forward such things; eNehem. 10.32—37 39. Ex. 30.16, & 35.5. &c.paying of tithes, offerings, contributions, of what creature soever, for the maintenance of the Ministers, ministration, or worship. Finally, whatsoever tendeth to the furtherance and upholding of any worship or religion, it is comprehended in this word service: that vayn is the distinction that Idolaters fBellar. de eccles. triumph. l. 1. c. 12.make between the service latria, and the service dulia; giving this to Saints and Images, the other not; when God by one word Ghnabad forbiddeth both; and g1 Sam. 7.3, douléusate autóimónoi, q.d. giv him onelyonly your dulia.bindeth us to giuegive dulia, as well as latria, unto God onelyonly.
12 Many sorts of idolaters hauehave alwaies been in the world, which hauehave defiled themselvs with innumerable idols; whose vanity and filthines, God manifesteth by titles and names giving unto them. For Idols are called hLev. 19.4 1 Chro. 16.26.Aelilim, that is, things of naught; because they hauehave nothing of that which fools think they hauehave, that is, of the divine power and Godhead, or of true Religion: and so can neither help those that honour them, nor hurt those that abhor them; neither sanctifie any creature, nor pollute the same, to him that hath knowledge: in effect they are nothing, they can neither doe good nor evil. Wherupon the Apostle saith, a1 Cor. 8.an Idoll is nothing in the world: and therfore nothing to be esteemed.
13 They are called also bLev. 26.3 Deut. 29.… Eze. 6.4, 5▪Gillulim, as it were filths, dung, or excrements, because they are loathsome and abominable to God, and doe defile the consciences of men; proceeding as dung and excrements out of mans corrupt heart, and vain invention: and in other plain termes are named cEzek. 2 ….8. Ier. 32.3Shikutsim, that is, lothsome things, or detestable, and dEze. 7.… & 11.21Toghneboth, that is, abominations.
14 And for the labour and misery that commeth by their means, they be called ePs. 115 1 Sam. 3… 9.Ghnatsabim, that is, Sorrows; because with much labour, care and curiosity, they are invented, framed, erected; and yet bring nothing to man, but fPsal. 16sorrow and misery. Briefly, as they are in every respect false, vile, vain, and worthlesse: so cary they the titles of a…er. 14.22 16.19, 2.8.11.18.15.13.25Vanities, lies, unprofitable, false-vanities, leasings; and Hos. 10.8 4.15.Aven, that is, vain-iniquitie.
15 Though this be the nature and condition of idols with God; yet men louelove to vanish in their own vanities, robbing him of his honour, and deceiving themselvs; ascribing to idols a false conceited holines, more or lesse, according to the folly of the institutor, or worshipper. For all true holines is frō Ex. 39.30 1 Sam. 2.2 …say 6.3.God alone, who as he is Lev. 20.8 ….26, & ….8.12.15 … & 22.2 32.most holy, so halloweth he, or …en. 28.16 …, &c.sanctifyeth his people and his worship, with all the Rites and Ordinances of the same. Hee by his Word and presence, giveth holines to persons, to places, to altars, to statues, to sacrifices, to means and instruments of all sorts, wherwith his service is performed: and in the right use of these holy things, God is hallowed and honoured of us; which right use he manifesteth in his …co. 29.29.….36.37.…, & 40 9 ….11, &c, …o. 17.17.Word. But Satan, who Mat 4 9seeketh the possession of Gods throne and glorie, giveth or ascribeth 1 King. 2.28-33 …ct. 19 27.….to his own ministers temples, altars, images, instruments and ceremonies, a counterfeit holines, which is in deed most deadly contagious filthines, as the evill spirit frō whom it proceedeth, is most filthy and aLuk. 11.24.impure: and in the use of these execrable things, the bDeut. 3… 17. Rev. 9.2… 1 Cor. 10.2.Divill is hallowed and honoured as a God.
16 And the more to deceiv, this serpent maketh man himself his instrument, to frame and set up his religion and service, which bringeth to perdition. For the wisedom and prudence of the natural man, which is very c1 Cor. 1.2 Rom 8 7▪foolishnesse and enmity unto God, the Divil doth abuse to d1 King. 12.18. Dan. 3.devise and establish a carnal worship and politick religion; which exceedingly eAct. 19, 28.35.pleaseth the naturals: for highly doe they esteem of themselvs, and of all their own inventions. And Satan to confirm them, addeth lying fRev. 1… 13.14.signes and wonders, as fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices on the altar erected to his honour, who is gIoh. 12.3Prince of this world, whom worldly men adore. Thus steppeth up Idolatry with her blind devotion; a hGal. 5.2work of the flesh, and of the Divill.
17 And this sin, so bewitcheth men given over therunto: as (through Gods just judgment,) it aIsa. 44.…shutteth their eyes that they cannot see, their hearts that they cannot understand. They hauehave no knowledge or discretion to argue, that if they can not giuegive life or sense or motion to a dead image; nor any naturall power therunto, to doe Ier. 10.5.good or evill: how much lesse can they giuegive it spirituall life, or any religious power, vertue or operation? For example: a man maketh images of silver and gold, and buildeth for them a court or pallace. One image hee setteth on a throne, and calleth it his King: others he nameth Lords of the Councill, Iudges and Iustices of the Common-wealth. VntoUnto a Iudge he cometh and saith; Good my Lord hear the cause of your suppliant, and doe me right from the violence of my adversary: an other while he supplicateth to the golden King, falling down and saying, deliver me, for thou art my Le…ge. Would not this man be derided of all for his folly, and counted as witlesse as the image it selfe that he sueth unto? No lesse is their madnesse, that make images of Saints for religious use, building for them Churches and Chappels. One idol they name Christ, an other S. Peter; and the rest, as they please to call them. And though they bee altogether false representations, (as it the lot of images to be aHab. 2.1…teachers of lies;) so that the picture of Christ, be in deed like Caiphas, and S. Peters, like Iscariot; resembling no more the true visage of Christ, and of Peter, then K. Henry the S, his picture, is like the image of Iulius Caesar; neither is there any more holines in these statues, by any relation or reference, then the Divill can giuegive them, (for word of God to sanctifie them, there is none:) yet fall the fools down before these their fictions, and say, O Christ help me: S. Peter pray for me. But these stony Saints bPsa. 115… 5—6.8.hauehave eyes and see not, hauehave ears and hear not: like them be they that make them, and whosoever trusteth in them.
18 Nor is there lesse impiety, in idols of other nature and esteem. For when among men, one is set up as Head of the Church, an other as Patriarch, an other as Primate, Arch-bishop, Metropolitan, &c. all of them as very good Lords spirituall; and these without calling and appointment from God: these be cZach. 11…17.idoll Shepheards, not true Pastors of the flock; and the indignity and dishonour which they doe unto Christ, is more then if disloyall subjects should choose, and set up from among themselvs, without publick Authority, one to be Lord President, an other Lord Chief Iustice, and others in their severall rooms and offices, for to rule the realm, and to judge all the causes and occurrents of the same.
19 So is it in all other religious ordinances of humane invention: as when Antichristians set forth new Sacraments to seal up Gods grace and remission of sins; what is it, but as if some falser should make conveyances of crown land, seal them with a signet of his own counterfeit making, and call it by the name of the Kings privie seal. When they make a new form or frame of Churches, as to be Provinciall, Nationall, Oecumenicall, with Arch-preists and Prelates to over-awe them: mought they not with as good right alter the form of the Common-wealth, making new Ditions and Iurisdictions, with Curions, Decurions, and other new Magistrates to controul them? When they make solemn daies of assembly, and call them holy; when they make new books, canons, constitutions, ceremonies, and call them Ecclesiasticall, sacred, laudable; constraining men to keep and doe them: they deal with Christ and his Kingdom, as they that in a civill State should take upon them, without commission, to appoint new Terms, Sessions & Assises; to forge new Laws, Statutes, Court-rolls, evidences &c, and compell men to credit and obey them. Now therefore ô Kings be wise; Ps. 2.10.11be learned yee Iudges of the earth, serue the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling; and purge your Realms of all idolatries, the humane ordinances of religion, which are after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For you would none of you suffer such innovation or alteration in your Civill Polities, lest your Honours should be impeached: much lesse should ye suffer it, in the Politie Ecclesiastick, to provoke God to wrath. For he is a gealous God, Exod. 20.5.and will visit this iniquity on Princes and on Subjects; on fathers and on children: blessed are they that watch, and keep their garments from pollution of the world herein.