A Protestant Antidote Against the Poison of Popery, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The Second Property, is the Idolatry of the Romiſh Religion.
77. AS the Romiſh Religion is a Superſtitions Religion, (exceeding all divine warrant in thoſe forecited Cuſtoms and Practices, which neither Chriſt nor any of his Apoſtles, but ſuch and ſuch Popes in ſeveral Ages brought into the Church) ſo 2. it is an Idolatrous Religion alſo. Plato himſelf could ſay, that foreign is the Mother of all Superſtitions in lib. 10. de legibus▪ So Polanus affirms that Superſtition is the Mother of Idolatry, and that this Daughter is found in the Romiſh Church is evident, becauſe ſhe is called the great Whore; and ſpiritual Whoredom is (in Scripture Phraſe) Idolatry, Ezck. 16. oft. and Iſa. 1.21.
78. 'Tis a very honourable undertaking of Mr. Thorndike (and other Reconcilers to Rome) to wipe the Whores mouth of this Sin of Idolatry: But when thoſe men have ſaid all they can, they can never unſay what the Champions of our Religion have ſaid to prove it; as Rivers, the nearer they come to the Sea; the more brackiſh taſt have they; ſo thoſe men coming ſo near the See of Rome, diſcover but a brackiſh Spirit.
79 That the Romiſh Church diſowns the Paganiſh Idolatry, they may warrantably juſtifie; for the worſhips not thoſe heathen Gods, ſuch as Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, Mercury, &c. yet the ſpirit of whoredom is among them, as Hoſ. 5.4. She goes a whoring after other Idols, as Ezek. 6.9. and commits Adultery with ſtocks and ſtones, as Jer. 3.9. and Iſa. 16.17. Her Idolatry in worſhipping of Images, Reliques, Croſſes and the Hoſt, is altogether as abominable as that of the Pagans.
80. It is laid to Mr. Mountague's Charge by thoſe Informers againſt him, (ſuppoſed to be Mr. Ward and Mr. Yates) that in his gagging of the Gagger, he ſays touching Images, they have theſe uſes aſſigned them by your Popiſh Schoolmen, [Inſtitutionem Rudium, commonefactionem Hiſtoriae, et excitationem devotionis.] Stay there (ſaith he to the Jeſuit) go no farther, and we charge you not with Idolatry, you and we alſo give unto them theſe.
81. And yet this ſame Mr. Montague in his Appeal to Caeſar, pag. 249. ingeniouſly ſays; I do not, I cannot, I will not deny, that Idolatry is groſly committed in the Church of Rome. The ruder ſort (at leaſt) go to it with downright Idolatry, without any relative adoration, worſhipping that which they behold with their eyes; as the Image of the Virgin, &c. and the Crucifix, as if Chriſt himſelf was preſent.
82. But Mr. Perkins more ſolidly and fully ſays, that the Romiſh Religion (which he calls the great Italian Diana) is Idolatrous in many reſpects(a)Perk. Idolatry of laſt times, pag. 673.1. Vol. 1. As it preſents to us a deformed Chriſt; ſpoiled both of his Manhood and of his Offices: Of his Manhood, as if it could be made of the ſubſtance of Bread, as well as of the ſubſtance of the Virgin; and as if a ſolid Body (of many foot long) could be contained in a ſmall round Cake of two or three Inches.
83. He goes on to ſhew how it ſpoils him of his Offices; as of his Prieſthood by their own ſatisfactions, the Sacrifice of the Maſs, &c. Of his Kingly Office, by giving power to the Pope to pardon Sin, and to make binding Laws to the Conſcience. Laſtly, of his Prophetical Office, by adding and detracting from Chriſt's word, and making the Pope an Infallible Judge. The Popiſh abuſes herein, he calls notorious and deteſtable Idolatry. Perk. Idol. of laſt Times, pag. 673, 674.
84. The ſecond Reſpect, wherein the Church of Rome is Idolatrous, is her worſhipping God otherwiſe and by other means than he hath revealed in his Word; as in Images, Crucifixes, Hoſt, &c. ſeeing ſpiritual Adoration is now only required, John 4.21, 22, 23.(b)Babylon is a Worſhipper of Idols; Rome is Babylon, Ergo. And that worſhip which is tyed to either place or thing on Earth, is by that Scripture utterly abodiſhed and forbidden. Then in a third Reſpect, ſhe is Idolatrous in giving Gods property to Creatures; as to the Virgin Mary, to Saints and Angels, in her Invocating of them, and to the Pope in her flattering Titles to him, of Infallible, Univerſal, &c.
85. For the better underſtanding of this, we muſt know, there is a two fold Idolatry; as Peter Martyr ſaith, loc. commun. cap. 4. pag. 197. Ʋnaeſt, quâ nobis Deum, qualem volumus, pravis doganatis in animo fingimus; altera verò quâ externum cultum non tantùm ad Creaturas et Idola transferimus, verùm illum noſtris inventis ac mendaciis vitiamus: which in plain Engliſh, is, not only to worſhip a falſe God, but alſo to worſhip the true God by falſe means, is Idolatry.
86. There is Idolatry of the Firſt Commandment and Idolatry of the ſecond; when men eſteem and adore any thing for God, which is not the true God, this is Idolatry againſt the Firſt Commandment: But when the True God is indeed worſhipped, but he is worſhipped in Images, in Saints and Angels, and all falſe Mediums, and not by means of Gods own preſcribing; this is Idolatry againſt the ſecond, and there is great Affinity between them.
87. 'Tis ſaid 2 Chron. 33.17. The People ſacrificed in the high places, yet to the Lord their God. Their Sacrificing formerly was Idolatry againſt the firſt Command, but now 'twas Idolatry againſt the ſecond; as failing and falling ſhort of the true manner in worſhipping the true God. There is ſuch a reſemblance 'twixt them, that they are one in Genere.
88. Their Sacrificing, now, in the high places, yet to the Lord; was, in general, of the ſame kind, with their ſacrificing (formerly) in thoſe high places to Baal. The ſcope of the ſecond Command is to condemn all Willworſhip as Idolatry, which is not warranted by the word of God. 'Tis ſaid Deut. 12.4. Thou ſhalt not do ſo to the Lord thy God: 'Tis not ſaid, thou ſhalt not do ſo to thoſe Idols, but not ſo in that manner to the true God, as they did to their Idols. v. 30, 31.
89. Polanus in his Syntagni. Theolig. lib. 9. cap. 3. makes two ſorts of Idolatry: The 1. he calls tectior et ſubtilior; when the true God is indeed worſhiped, but with another manner of worſhip than he hath commanded himſelf, to be worſhipped in his word; as thoſe that worſhip God by Statues and Images are idolatrous, although they deny Centies millies (ſays he) that they worſhip any thing beſide the true God.
90. The ſecond ſort of Idolatry, which he calls Craſſior et Apertior, is, when any thing is religiouſly worſhipped for the true God, which is not God: This was the Idolatry of the Gentiles, worſhipping Devils, Men, and other Creatures with religious worſhip; and this is (ſaith he) the Idolatry of the Papiſts, in their religious worſhipping of not only Saints and Angels, (yea the very Images or Statues of them) but alſo of the Croſs, Reliques, yea of thoſe that were,
Nequaquam Sancti aut nunquam in rerum Naturâ.
91. If this be ſo, that this groſſer ſort of Idolatry be found in the Romiſh Church, how much more that which is ſubtiler and of a finer ſpun thread, pretending they worſhip God in their Images; as the worſhipping of Jehovah by or in the golden Calf (which Aaron made in the Wilderneſs) was plain Idolatry: In like manner as the worſhipping of God by the two Golden Calves (that Jeroboam ſet up at Dan and Bethel) was flat Idolatry.
92. Although we find Aaron pretended that by or in that Calf they worſhipped Jehovah; that brought them out of the Land of Aegypt. Exod. 32.4, 5. compared with Nehem. 9.18. which ſays, This is thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt; they (or at leaſt ſome of them) intended to worſhip the true God in this falſe manner: Hence the Feaſt is not proclaim'd to the Golden Calf, but to Jehovah.
93. Suppoſe there be truth in Dr. Hammond's Notion, that the Golden Calf in the Wilderneſs was made in the Figure of a Cherub, (after appointed to be in the Tabernacle, Exod. 25.18. and of which, he ſays, Aaron might then have ſome intimation) compare Ezek. 1.10. with 10.14. yet could not Iſrael be ſo notoriouſly ſtupid as to believe, that either the Golden Cherub or Calf wrought all thoſe wonders in Aegypt, and brought them thence.
94. And Jeroboam made the ſame pretence in his Calves, the ſame Phraſe being uſed, 1 Kin. 12.28. [Behold! thy Gods, O Iſrael, which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt.] meaning a repreſentation of the true God of Iſrael, as if he drew them not to worſhip any other God, than the God of their Fathers, which brought them (as his Redeemed People) out of the Aegyptian Bondage, for by this Title God deſcribes himſelf, Exod. 20.2. Ezek. 20.5, 6. Lev. 19.36. Amos 2.10.
95. And as Iſrael learnt this abomination among the Aegyptians, (among whom they had ſo long lived) and where the Idol Apis was worſhiped in the ſhape of an Oxe; and Thus, 'tis ſaid of Iſrael, they changed their glory, (to wit, their God that redeemed them out of Aegypt) into the ſimilitude of an Ox that eateth Graſs, Pſal 106.19, 20. So Jeroboam brought his Calf-making from Aegypt too, where he had lately lived, 1 Kin.. 11.40.
96. Although thoſe worſhippers of the Calves (both in Aaron and Jeroboam's time) probably pretended, that they did not worſhip the Calf, but God in the Calf; (as did alſo Jehu, 2 Kin. 10.16, 29. In having zeal for the Lord, yet adhering to Jeroboam's Calves) their worſhip being not (as ſome excuſe it) by any means terminative in the Creature before their eyes; yet are they expreſly called Idolaters, 1 Cor. 10.7.
97. And though the Idolatry of Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, was indeed of a deeper dye than the Idolatry of Jeroboam, becauſe it was againſt greater means and mercies; the Ten Tribes under Jeroboam, had not upon their hearts ſuch a freſh taſt of Deliverance from Aegypt, they had not the pillar of Glory, nor the Tabernacle of Gods Preſence; they had not a Moſes that was faithful in all the houſe of God, only Prieſts of the baſeſt of the People, 1 Kin 13, 33. yet the Idolatry of Rome is worſe th… that in the Wilderneſs.
98. The Iſraelites in the Wilderneſs gave the Glory of Chriſt (who dwelt in a Cloud and Pillar) unto a Calf or Cherub, but theſe Idolaters of the Church of Rome, give the Glory of Chriſt; (when he is dwelling in our Fleſh and glorified in Heaven) to a Creature which they worſhip as God indeed, giving it to their Crucifixes, Agnus Dei, &c. ſo there is a greater abomination. In this Idolatry, than in the Idolatry of former times.
99. The Lord makes a compariſon betwixt Aholah and Aholibah, Ezek. 2….4, 5, 11.(c)foreign A Tent. Aholah had indeed played the Harlot, v. 5 … (d)foreign My Tent in her. Hebr.Aholibah was more corrupted than ſhe, … So if we compare Aholah the Jewiſh Churc… with Aholibah the Romiſh Church, that ſays [Gods Tent is in me] as the word ſignifies in the Hebrew; we ſhall find her the greater Harlot of the two.
100. Thus we ſee the plea of the Romiſh Church for her worſhipping God in Images, (from the Iſraelites worſhipping God in the Calves) falls to the ground, and to worſhip God in, at, or before an Image is Idolatry; 'tis a worſhipping of the true God in a falſe manner: For 1. Such binds Gods Preſence and Influence of Grace to ſuch places as God never bound his preſence, &c. unto. 2. There is neither precept nor promiſe for it. 3. 'Tis expreſly forbidden, Deut. 4.16, 17, 18, 19.
101. And though they ſay we intend not to worſhip the Image, but God in the Image; this is not a ſufficient ſalvo, for the Iſraelites worſhiped not the Calf but God in the Calf, yet are they ſaid to worſhip the Molten Calf, and to ſacrifice unto it in Gods account. Exod. 32.8. God writes up ſin where they write up ſervice, and 'tis no matter what their meaning is in their worſhip, ſo long as God abhors the manner of their worſhip.
102. The Heathens in their Idolatry had ſuch a meaning as this, (as Arnobius contra gentes lib. 6. tells us) Deos per ſimulachra veneramur, juſt ſaying as the Papiſts ſay at this day; The Athenians and other Gentiles worſhiped the true God, Act. 17.23. yet by falſe mediums and meanings; and if this worſhipping the true God falſely be not Idolatry, there hath been little in the World.
103. Oecumenius tells us, that the whole Inſcription upon the Altar mentioned, Act. 17.23. was foreign, which intimates that beſides Penates or houſhold Gods, for whom they had foreign or devout Adorations; they had alſo Gods of Aſia, Europe, and Lybia, which they religiouſly worſhipped: Yet the ultimate end of their adorations, was to the true God whom yet they knew not, dwelling in thick darkneſs, 1 Kin. 8.12. Hereby Paul takes occaſion to inform them, that the worſhip of the true God conſiſted not in thoſe made Gods, the work of mens hands, but in Spirit and Truth, John 4.22, 23.
104. But to leave the Idolatry of the Gentiles, I have conſulted Joſephus about that of the Jews in the days of Jeroboam, who ſays that Jeroboam worſhiped God in his Calves, yet was he eſteemed an Idolater:(c)Joſephus Antiqu. lib. 8. cap. 3, 4. He brings in Jeroboam ſpeaking thus, [God is in all places, in my two Temples at Dan and Bethel, as well as in Solomon's Temple at Jeruſalem; therefore I have Conſecrated two Golden Calves in thoſe two places, to the end that ye may adore God.] He doth not ſay, [Adore my Calves.]
105. Yet when Jeroboam's Wife went to the Prophet about their ſick Son; the Prophet (as Joſephus ſays) bids her tell Jeroboam from God, that he ſhould be rooted up for honouring his new Gods, and his people ſhould be carried Captive for adoring thoſe Gods that he had forged: But more plainly and fully, 1 Kings 14.9. Thou haſt made thee other Gods, [not repreſentations of God] though he accounted them ſo, yet God did not ſo account of them, but was provoked to anger by them; for no ſin provokes God more to anger than Idolatry.
106. Whereas the Romaniſts plead, they do but worſhip God before their Images, as Iſrael worſhiped God before the Ark; I anſwer, Iſrael had an expreſs Command from God to worſhip before the Ark, and they had a promiſe alſo, that their Perſons and Prayers ſhould be accepted there: When the Church of Rome ſhall produce ſuch a Precept and ſuch a Promiſe for their worſhipping God before an Image, I ſhall then believe that▪ ſhe is not herein guilty of Idolatry.
107 The Church of Rome indeed covers her Idolatry, with Coverings but not of Gods Spirit, Iſa. 30.1. rather with ſuch Cobweb Coverings as that of the Harlot Phaedra; who committing lewdneſs with Hypolitus, proteſted ſhe embraced her Husband Theſeus in him, whom Hypolitus ſo nerely reſembled. As this proteſtation of Phaedra's would not free her from the guilt of Adultery, no more will the proteſtation of the Whore of Rome (ſaying ſhe embraces the Perſon whom the Image nerely reſembles, while ſhe commits lewdneſs with the Image it ſelf) free her from the guilt of Idolatry.
(f)Biſhop Wren abandoning Scots Covenant, pag. 20.Biſhop Wren hath a good Notion; ſaying, Every thing that is not the Covenant of God, is Baal; let them nick name it what they will 'tis an Idol, and all the worſhip they give it is flat Idolatry, no better than the worſhiping of Baal: That worſhip which is not found in the word or Covenant of God, is Baal worſhip (in his account) no better than Idolatry; the Romaniſts be halters 'twixt God and Baal.
109. They that halt do incline their Bodies now one way and now another, the Romaniſts (as thoſe Idolatrous Iſraelites 1 Kin. 18.21.) halt in their worſhip 'twixt God and their Images, inclining their minds now one way, and now another; to worſhip two Gods is a ſin againſt the firſt Commandment, but to mix the means of Gods worſhip is a ſin againſt the ſecond.
110. That was a mixed Religion in 2 Kin. 17.28, 32, and 34. 'Tis ſaid there, that thoſe Idolaters feared the Lord, and alſo that they feared not the Lord, v. 25. becauſe though they worſhiped the true God, yet not according to his Law, v. 38. (as(g)Biſhop Wren, pag. 31. Abandoning of Covenant. Biſhop Wren in libro ſupra dicto, pag. 31. ſays) they thruſt into their new model of Religion whatſoever pleaſed themſelves, ſo 'tis accounted no fear at all: They worſhiped the true God and their own Gods too, there was right worſhip of the true God, but it was mixed with tricks of their own.
111. That Mongrel Generation feared the Lord, (to wit) acknowledged Jehovah to be a God, and did offer ſome ſlight ſervices and ſacrifices to him; yet 'tis ſaid they ſerved their own Gods too, v. 33. called Graven Images, v. 41. Their Adrammelech which ſignfies [a glorious King] yet made in the ſhape of an horſe; and their Anammeleck (or afflicting King] in the form of a Mule: Satan was glorious in their eſteem, yet afflicted them in the burning of their Sons to him.
112. Thoſe old Samaritans were halters betwixt two opinions: They would ſwear by the Lord, and ſwear by Malcham too, Zeph. 1.5. They would conſecrate themſelves as by Oath to the ſervice of God; and yet they would worſhip Malcham alſo, that Idol of the Ammonites (otherwiſe called Molech.) 1 Kin. 11.7. and 2 Kin. 23.10, 13. and Jer. 49.3. This is a joyning light and darkneſs, or God and Belial together, 2 Cor. 6.14, 15.
113. Thoſe worſhippers of Malcham would not utterly renounce the true God, yet would they ſet up Rivals with him to ſhare of his honour which he will not give to another, God cannot admit of any Corrivals: They mixed Gods worſhip with their Idolatry, or they worſhipped God in this Idolatrous way: as the Iſraelites did, ſo the Papiſts do; that divides worſhip, ſome to God and ſome to their Images they ſwear by God and by their Saints too, they pray to God and to their Saints alſo, committing themſelves to them (together with God) as to Patrons of their protection.
114. Hereby the Church of Rome diſcovers her ſelf not to be the true Mother of the Child, viz. [Truth or Worſhip] becauſe ſhe is for dividing it; but God accounts it an abomination when any part of his Worſhip is imparted to Idols or Images; God will have all or none at all, and all Will-worſhip (deviſed out of mans brain) whereby men warp either to the Right Hand or to the Left from Gods preſcribed Will, the Lord abhors.
115. The Juſt and Jealous God hateth and plagueth all Lukewarmneſs and Neutrality in Religion, all dough-baked Duties or mixtures of Religion, a mingling of the Cup of the Lord with the Cup of Devils, 1 Cor. 10.21. The Religion of the houſe of Micah mixed Gods worſhip ſhip with the Devils, Judg. 17.5. The Ephod (reſembling that of the High-Prieſts) for the true worſhip of God, and the(h)The Teraphim was the Image of a mans head wrung from the Body, ſalted and ſpiced; and under the Tongue ſpake the Unclean Spirit: The King of Babylon had his Teraphim to conſult with, Ezek. 21.21. or Images. Teraphim (or Images in mans ſhape to divine by) for the worſhip of the Devil.
116. It was not lawful to mix Judaiſm with Gentiliſm, Lev. 19.27. Ye ſhall not round the corners of your heads, nor make any cutting in your fleſh for the dead, &c. Theſe were the Ceremonies of the Heathen, therefore the Lord prohibits his people from the obſervation of them, Such a practice had the Aegyptian Prieſts, who worſhiped the Idols (Iſis and Anuhis) ſhaving round their heads, or (as others ſay) had their Crowns ſhaven, as the Popiſh Prieſts have at this day.
117. Thus the Religion of the Gergaſites was a mixt Religion, who learned many things of the Heathen, as to eat Swines fleſh, (hence we read of herds of Swine (which the Jews abhorred) in their Country) and not to circumciſe, &c. And ſuch is the Religion of the Ebionites, who obſerve (both) the Jewiſh and the Chriſtian Sabbath.
118. Neither is it lawful to mingle Judaiſm with Chriſtianiſm, as the Galatians did, who would obſerve the Ceremonies of the Law in times of the Goſpel: Thoſe Ceremonies were in their own time mortales, in Chriſts time (after he had ſaid conſummatum eſt) they were mortal, but in following times they were mortiferae, and a denying of Chriſts coming in the fleſh; for if the ſubſtance be come, thoſe ſhadows muſt vaniſh away; yet thoſe Galatians joyned a dead Law, the Law of Ceremonies, with a living Goſpel.
119. The Church of Rome is the ſpeckled Bird that hath mingled Ceremonies with Goſpel worſhip above all that went before her, and ſurely Religion is paſt the Meridian in that Church, where ſhe can hardly be ſeen for the length of her own ſhadow: The ſhadows of her Evening have been long a ſtretching out, and her day is going away, Jerem. 6.4.(i)Fuller, Abel Redivivus, pag. 72. Eraſmus in his time found Doctrine turn'd into Sophiſtry, and Diſcipline into Ceremony.
120. The Romiſh Church hath ſowed divers ſeeds in Gods Vineyard, ſhe hath plowed with an Ox and an Aſs in Gods Husbandry, She hath worn Linſey-woolſey Garments in the Temple of God, contrary to Levit. 19.19. She hath ſet up Dagon with the Ark of God; and though the Apoſtle forbid foreign, to play the huckfter with the word and worſhip of God; 2 Cor. 2.17. yet hath ſhe adulterated both.
121. Her Baſtard Devotion ought not to be admitted (as Co-partner) with the true worſhip of God, for 'tis oppoſite to the Nature of God, to wit, his Unity, Soveraignty, and Al-ſufficiency; as if there were more Gods than he, more hearers of Prayer, more pardoners of Sin, and more Saviours from trouble than he: And 'tis oppoſite alſo to the Nature of Religion, which is called a Bond; (the Reubenites, may not build another Altar without warrant, Joſh. 22.10.) 'tis a ſpiritual marriage, ſo muſt be chaſt or God will be jealous, 2 Cor. 11.2.
122. But the Romiſh Church hath played the Harlot, and in the Revelation is called the great Whore, with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication; and who knows not but that by ſpiritual Fornication, is always in holy Scripture underſtood Idolatry: And though indeed ſome of the Fathers ſay, Antichriſt ſhall be an hater of Idolatry, they muſt mean only Paganiſh Idolatry; for his worſhipping a piece of Paſte for Chriſt &c. is as abominable Idolatry as Paganiſm was.
123. That place in Dan. 11.38. literally meant of Antiochus, but Analogically agrees to Antichriſt; Junius and Tremel. reads it thus. [As for the God of Forces, he (to wit, Antiochus,) ſhall, in his Seat, worſhip with Gold, Silver, &c. a God which his Fathers knew not. Thus the Pope hath ſet up a new God in the Church,(k)To their breaden God they aſcribe power to forgive ſins, to protect from evil, and to bring to Heaven. namely a piece of bread in the Maſs, which none of the Apoſtles knew, and dedicates Gold &c. to it, yea burns all that will not bow to it.
124. 'Tis true the Romaniſts have found out ſundry fine ſhifts to clear themſelves of this Idolatry, as their abſolute and reſpective Adoration, and their objectum quod and objectum quo: Abſolute Adoration is when the worſhip is terminated in the Creature, as objectum quod Adorationis, and the worſhip is limited to the Creature; Reſpective Adoration is this, when worſhip is given to dead and ſenſeleſs things for the Examplar's ſake.
125. Then the Exemplar or Pattern is the objectum quo, and the dead ſenſeleſs thing or Portraiture is the objectum quod; that is, they adore the Portraiture for the Patterns ſake, the dead and ſenſeleſs thing for the ſake of it which is its Exemplar: As when homage is done to the Viceroy for the King, the Viceroy is the objectum quod, and the King is the objectum quo; thus the moſt modeſt of the Papiſts of old, made but their Image objectum quod Adorationis, and God himſelf objectum quo.
126. But now they go further, and maintain that Images are not only to be worſhiped accidentally or improperly, but alſo by themſelves and properly; ſo that they end and terminate their worſhip as they are conſidered in themſelves, and not only as they are Pourtraitures of the Pattern repreſented;(l)Gregor. di Valen. diſput. 6. quaſt. 11. punct. 6. and Greg de Val. ſaith, that the ſame worſhip which is due to God, is due to the Image too, which he calls co…d…ratio or conjunct-worſhip.
127. Plutarch tells us of Syſigambis (Darius's Mother) coming before Alexander the Great, and miſtaking Haepheſtion for Alexander, ſhe fell down before Haepheſtion; but perceiving her miſtake ſhe began to bluſh; but Alexander ſaid to her, Be not aſhamed, Non errâſti, Mater, nam Hephaeſtion eſt etiam Alexander(m)Thou art not miſtaken, Mother, for Hephaeſtion is alſo Alexander. But if a Papiſt, falling down before an Image, and miſtaking the Image for Chriſt himſelf; Chriſt will not ſay to him, Be not aſhamed, thou art not miſtaken, this Image is alſo Chriſt; for Chriſt is more jealous of his honour than ſo, and will not give it to any Creature(n)Iſa. 48.11.
128. It is therefore the ſafeſt to come out from this Idolatrous Babylon, ſeeing the great God calls us (even the Lord Almighty,) 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. and Rev. 18.4. leſt beſide the infection of Sin, we partake alſo of the infliction of Puniſhment; for they that ſin together, are moſt like to ſuffer together:
Eſto procul Româ qui cupis eſſe pius.
Indeed ſuch as go only to ſee Rome, (though they be not really for Rome) are conſtrained by force to uncover the head and bow the Knee at Maſs, &c. which is not only too much connivence, but even Adoration it ſelf; therefore be not there leſt God be angry, and ye partake of her Plagues.
129. Separation from Rome is a commanded duty, [not only in heart but in body too] for fundamental Errors are found in her; yea this groſs Idolatry for which ſhe is to be deſtroyed, Revel. 14.8. [Becauſe ſhe hath made all Nations drink of the Wine of her Fornication.] Idolatry is called Wine, becauſe 'tis ſweet to corrupt Nature and ſoon intoxicating; and 'tis ſpiritual Fornication (as it is a going a whoring from God) not liberal, for Rome is a City or Church with whom the Kings cannot commit liberal Fornication.
130. Whoever drinks of the Wine of her Fornication, ſhall be ſure to drink of the Wine of Gods Indignation, Revel. 18.8, 10. Therefore, Little Children, keep your ſelves from theſe Idols, and from this Idolatry; leſt the Lord render you Wine for Wine, 1 John ….21. The Apoſtle adviſeth to avoid all Image-worſhip, and not only palpable Idolatry, but all dealing with Idols: We ſhould keep our ſelves, at leaſt negatively from them, (as thoſe ſeven thouſand in Iſrael, that would not how the Knee to Baal) if not poſitively by a publick profeſſion of our utter deteſtation of them, as Daniel and his three Companions did.
131. Idolatry hath many curſed(o)The Qualities of Idolatry. Qualities in it, for which it ought to be abhorred: As(p)1. 'Tis a bewitching Sin. 1. 'Tis a bewitching Sin; ſo 'tis compared to an intoxicating Cup: For as Whores give enchanted Cups to their Lovers, to make them commit Fornication with them; ſo hath the Whore of Babylon bewitched the Nations with her ſpiced Cup of damnable Idolatry: And how did the Idolatry of Micab's houſe bewitch the whole Tribe of Dan? Judg. 18.36.
132. It is(q)2. A Covenant-breaking Sin. 2. a Covenant-breaking Sin: It breaks that holy Marriage-Covenant betwixt Chriſt and his Church; he being a Jealous God will not ſuffer his Spouſe to go a whoring after other Gods; but would have her a chaſt Virgin preſented to him and preſerved for him: [Abide for me and I will abide for thee, Hoſ. 3.3.] like the Turtle-Dove (offered in Sacrifice) She muſt have but one Mate: Thus Idolaters be called Adulterers, Jam. 4.4. and ſeeing Idolatry is a breaking the Covenant of God, how ſtupidly blind was Micah that ſaid the Lord would do him good for it, Judg. 17.13. Their ſorrows are multiplied that haſten after other Gods, Pſal. 116.4.
133. And(r)3. a deteſtable Sin. 3. 'Tis an abominable Sin, deteſtable in the Eyes of God: he calls it the abominable thing which he hates. Jerem. 44.4. and when the Scripture ſpeaks of Idolls, it calls them Abominations, as the Abomination of the Moabites and of the Ammonites, and Jupiter Olympius (or the ſpread-Eagle) ſet up in the Temple, was called [foreign] the Abomination of Deſolation Math. 24.15. I have ſeen an horrible thing, (ſays God) Hoſe. 6.10. A thing to be ſtarted from and trembled at.
134. God hateth Sin worſe than the Devil, for he hates the Devil for Sin's ſake, not Sin for the Devils ſake: but of all kinds of Sin, the Sin of Idolatry is moſt odious to God, becauſe in it, the Devil ſets up himſelf in the place of God, and requires Men (as once he did Chriſt himſelf) to fall down and worſhip him Deut. 32.17. 1. Cor. 10.20. Rev. 9.20. Yea 'tis peccatum laeſae majeſtatis, not only a common Tranſgreſſion, or petty Treaſon, but tis high Treaſon againſt the King of Kings; as Rebells, diſclaiming their King and ſet up an Uſurper in his ſtead, commit the higheſt Treaſon: So do Idolaters in diſclaiming God and ſetting up an Idol in his place.
135. Yea 4. Beſides many other curſed Qualities, It is(ſ)Tis a Land-deſtroying Sin. a Land deſtroying Sin: it brought deſolation upon Iſrael and made their Land to ſpew them out. The Jews ſay at this Day, that in all their Puniſhments which they ſtill undergo, there is an Ounce of the golden Calſ (which they made in the Wilderneſs) given them. This Iniquity ſhall be Romes rain, ſhe hath fallen culpably by Idolatry; and ſhe ſhall fall penally by an utter Deſolation: In one Hour is ſhe made Deſolate for her Idolatry. Revel. 18.3.19.
136. The Lord ſetteth his Attribute of Jealouſie before the Church in the ſecond Commandment, to warn her, that ſhe abſtain from all Idolatry (both abſolute and relative, mediate or ultimate) becauſe a Jealous God will Conſtrue it all to be no leſs then ſpiritual Adultery: and Jealouſie is a ſtrong Paſſion, the moſt ſublime Indignation is in it, a diſpleaſure that is hotter than Nebuchadnezzar's fiery Furnace. Dan. 3.19. Jealouſie is cruel as the Grave Cant. 8.6. The Grave ſpareth no Man, and there is no Redemption from it. So nothing will ſatisfie a Jealous Husband, a Jealous God, but deſtruction
137 As it is a dangerous thing to meet a Bear that is robbed of her Whelps, Prov. 17.12. Or the Revenger of Blood, while his Heart is hot with Fury. Deut. 19.6. So it is to meet a jealous Man in his Rage: [Jealouſie is the Rage of a Man: therefore he will not ſpare in the Day of Vengeance, he will not regard any Ranſom; neither will he reſt content, though thou giveſt many Gifts.] Prov. 6.34.35. Saith Solomon.
138. Thus we have the(t)5. Quality, A God-enraging Sin. 5. quality of Idolatry, 'tis a God enraging Sin, as 'tis one of the higheſt Tranſgreſſions: God is angry for the breach of any Commandment, but he rages with Jealouſie at the breach of the Second Commandment, when his Worſhip is corrupted and his Glory is given to the Creatures: Lovers of Idols are haters of God, I am. 4.4. Exod. 20.5. and God will plague ſuch to the third and fourth Generation: Wherefore, little Children, keep your ſelves from Idols.