righteousnesse of another hath blotted much Paper and stained yea spoyled all our good workes I should also speak something touching the necessitie of defiling that monster so Luther calls it and these gods before pointed at for if that be not done nothing is done and if that be done all is done if the Idols in the heart are cast out thence and defiled stocks and stones cannot stand before the eye they shall be defiled too but as the saying is this is all the labour this the worke indeed I can say but this to it in reference to Pauls words and Luthers after him Gal. 1.15 See Luther his excellent Exposition thereon When God is pleased what for my pharisaicall Religion or my blamelesse life in my conceit for my prayers fastings and good workes No much lesse then for my abominations my doting upon my Idols every thing my heart could delight in Is He pleased with this No how then For His merce grace alone to reveale His Sonne unto me When I shall turne indeed and indeed from Idols and my face from all my abominations then I am sure for so it hath beene and so it is with all the faithfull and true Penitents so they and so I shall loath my Gods and my selfe because I made them so Ezek. 6.9 20.43 Then my heart must defile his Idols and when the heart doth it then it is done But here the heart will stand out maintayning his strong holds while it hath a being in its selfe and upon his owne bottome he will maintaine his Idol as long as he can and maintaine war against him that would destroy it and take it away I goe on to make yet more manifest those thoughts of heart about this defiling worke which may yeeld us a good understanding of our Selves and of the Times and then I am at my Marke the White I aime at and would carry all unto SECT XIII The heart to maintaine its Idoll maintaines warre against him that would smite at it and defile the same He will not yeeld up his strong hold while he hath a being in himselfe TIme was when I thought I could reade another mans heart better then mine owne and others to be mad and my selfe a sober man I looked into the second Chapter of Exodus and found an Iraelite there I thought if there were a man in the world at that time mad and beside himselfe that was he Moses would have given him good counsell and have reformed him how doth he accept of such a kindnesse for truly he that seekes to reforme me does me the greatest kindnesse that can be imagined for he that would destroy my Idol would save my soule How doth that Israelite accept the kindnesse of his friend As we read Intendest thou to kill me Exod. 2.14 There we may observe how hee requited the loving kindnesse of a friend he counted reforming a killing it was a death to him to bee counselled and reformed he was not himselfe sure when he spake so and so I thought See now how I could judge another man to be mad who stands or falls to his owne Master there is no man if the Lords hand hath not beene upon his heart to tame it somewhat and bring it into order but is as stout and mad as was he nay more besides himselfe then was that Israelite because he may have a greater light to walke by than had that Israelite for he lived in Egypt we live in the Goshen of the world This then is the conclusion That the heart standing in its old posture and frame setled upon its owne bottome and principles stands as opposite to reformation or sound counsell I will take the former word all along as the two poles which the Astronomers call in English North and South or as are life and death And the demands of the one from the other are as contrary too and must be so And it is as impossible for man nay for all the men on the earth to make a good understanding betwixt these two Reformation and the Heart as to bring the North and the South together those two poles which stand at an eternall opposition or to make an agreement betwixt the Temple of God and Idolls fire and water life and death Jer. 17. my heart tells me and though he be the greatest imposture in the world yet you and I may beleeve him now as you will beleeve the words of a dying man for then hee is serious that reformation is a kinde of killing it is a mortification a crucifying the words sound like Latine more plainly it is a death it defiles my Idols it starves my gods you may say to him that will reforme you indeed nay if the heart be not over powred then you will say as the Israelite did intendest thou to kill me And hee will answer if hee meâ—nes to doe his office to purpose yes that he will he will kill thee if he can he hath a mind to it he will kill in me and thee that which we call selfe nay he will deale cruelly with us he will plucke away our gods which are as deare unto us as our right eye and arme This is a killing a death sure enough 1 King 22 Truely the heart is so contrary to it to reformation I meane as the bad King was to the honest Prophet one against foure hundred the heart hateth it and will oppose it while it hath a being in it selfe why for saith the heart Reformation intends no good concerning mee but evill though indeed it intends nothing but good to me For it would defile my Idols and starve my Gods but that is a death I can no more heare of it than Pilat could what truth was he asked the question Joh. 18.38 what is truth and turned his backe upon it not staying the answer and so did most contrary to truth so will the heart doe The heart may aske what is Reformation what is it to d file an Idoll But the heart will not abide the answer I would be understood in this point and that a child in understanding might conceive me thus If reformation comes towards the heart it seemes to march furiously like Jehu slashing and killing where it comes as if it would not spare any one Image or Image server It will cast downe all the Idolls before the eyes and cast out all the gods out of the heart Death seemeth to march along with it where it comes for it takes away all life from the course of the world wherein I walked All delight from the beggerly rudiments and old customes of the times wherein before I tooke pleasure it drawes forth my hand to remove the stumbling blocke before my eyes and commands my heart to defile all my Idolls there and that is a perfect death indeed I say a perfect death so farre as reformation is perfected and the heart flies from it as from death it cannot abide so much as to
hath heated his shins with another piece of the blocke he rosteth his meat and of the remainder he makes a god for he resolves to bow before it No man is such a foole as to bow before a lumpe of gold or a wooden stocke for then as he goes through Cheapside or through a Forrest he must bow at every step But the Craftsman comes that daring fellow the god-maker hee polisheth it according to his understanding then it is a god and then it followes they kisse the Calves I doe not thinke so no more then the Papists doe kisse their Idolls They bowed and did some reverence before it so they kissed them Now we have the description of an Idoll and it sufficeth Yes it sufficeth to perswade men that have reason and faith too but not sufficient being barely read and no more to perswade with unreasonable and wicked men and to deliver us from them therefore let us conclude with the prayer in that place 2 Thes 3.1,2 that the word of the Lord may have free course be glorified That is the ready way to be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men from the mischiefe of Idolls and Idoll makers David could not tell which of the twaine was the veriest stocke But let us well consider the judgement that followeth They made Idolls according to their owne understanding They kissed the Calves what if they did Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud as the early Dew as the Chaffe driven with a whir lewind and as the smoake out of the Chimney Hosea 13.3 Marke it good Reader as a morning cloud how quickly dispelled As an early dew how soone dryed up as the chaffe a little wind drives it a greater whirles it we know not whether as the Smoak how presently it vanisheth See the condition of Idolls and Idoll men and their burden from the Lord SECT X. Though the proofes cleare the Crosse to be an Idoll yet it must not downe they say because it is an ornament Their saying is weighed at the Sanctuary and found to be as light as vanitie The greatest Prophets and the best Kings defiled their Image and their Ornament both BUt now if they should grant us that the Crosse is an Idoll which they must doe if they grant a possibility that any knee ever hath in former time or ever may in after time bend before it Why yet they vvill never grant but that it may be an ornament for all that and therefore may stand to beautifie the place as it hath done There lyeth the pith of their reason It is an ornament therefore let it stand and let it be maintayned in a posture of defence Be it so but they shall never thrive with that Argument as much might have beene said for the Image in the 3. of Daniel without controversie a goodly Image and beautifying the place very much to the outward eye And as much for the Queene Mothers Idoll which notwithstanding her sonne out downe and stamped it vvhether under his feet or to powder I cannot tell but in an holy indignation he stamped it and burnt it at the brooke Kidron 2 Chro. 15.16 And more might be said why the Brazen-Serpent might be spared which yet we read was brake to peeces and must bee called by its Name plaine Brasse now and of no more use Much also might be said why the Chariots of the Sun might be spared for they were goodly Chariots and for beauty and outward excellency farre exceeding the Crosse or any one Crosse in the world and yet the good King burnt them with fire 2 King 23.11 Nay I doe verily beleeve the Calfe was a goodly peece of workmanship great cost bestowed upon it and doublesse though but a Calfe yet the most specious Calfe that ever was seene in the world for they turned their glory into it Psal 106.20 And why might not that bee suffered to stand for an ornament Moses will resolve that not by his word but by his hand Surely he saw reason good enough else he had not beene carried with such indignation against it as we read He burnt it in the fire Exod. 32.20 There was an end of a Molten-Calfe Nay not yet he ground it to powder Then it was small enough it could never be put together againe no but the people might have pittied the Dust thereof therefore he strewed it upon the water they should never see it again Yes but they might the water might cast it forth and leave some Ashes upon the sand Therefore he made the Children of Israel drinke of it now the nature of it was changed quite When Idolls are dealt withall then behold not a cutting downe onely but a stamping a burning an utter abolishing because the heart is so prone to Idolatrous worship Truely me thinkes if these men will slightly passe over what these good Kings did Asa and Hezekiah when they were dealing with Idols how they brake them to peeces and stamped them to powder yet they should regard what Moses did in such a case for that is most notable and he the greatest Prophet that ever was and faithfull in all the house his example should be observed and followed But notwithstanding these Men well never have done Reasoning and questioning I will take leave to put one question there is but one Answer to make to it therefore we cannot misse of it And the Answer will be to the shame of their owne faces and confusion of Idolls for ever The Question is Why might no man know where Moses Sepulcher was Deut. 34.8 The Answer must be for feare of an Idolatrous worship had the people knowne the place they would have worshipped the mould there and kissed his bones Hee was the greatest Prophet in the world and had the most honorable buriall that ever any man before or since that time for the Lord buried him The people who said to a molten Calfe h Exod. 32.4,5 They be thy gods and dedicated a feast to Jehovah the Calfe I meane doubtlesse they would have done as much to Moses body therefore there was such a contention about it i Jude 9. Did the Devill strive about a dead mans body for any love or delight in the same No the Devills ayme was to gaine the hearts of the people to set up an Idoll for himselfe there that was his ayme therefore he contended and he gaines much upon us this way by presentations to the eye Therefore hath he many reliques I know not what nor of whom but pretious things they say and with those toyes and knackes he takes the simple ones every day he hath also gloriousnesse of Altars infinite number of Images priestly ornaments very costly and divers fopperies about his service all to catch the affections of those who not receiving the truth in love are given up to beleeve lies Quest Now I can answer their question too why may not the Crosse be it an Image or as
heare of it but if it must heare of it and entertaine it too then the heart welcomes it as a man takes fire into his bosome indeed reformation comes into the world as the Lord Christ came to send fire on the earth It was so in all ages downeward to this day it will be so to the end of the world Luke 12.49 Behold Hee shall come saith the Lord. Who The Lord Christ what to doe To reforme His Church Mic. 3.1 He shall sit as a resiner and Purifier of Silver A gracious and a glorious worke how will it be entertained As a man welcomes fire and sword which must either purifie him or consume him who may abide the day of His comming and who shall stand when Hee appeares for He is like a refiners fire and like Fullers Sope. This refining worke is a searching worke and findes bad welcome in the world Looke we into the Church the Congregations there upon the Priest and his people how doe they fret at it though but one foot and comming towards them as if already cut to the very heart But I need not looke abroad nor unto others I will returne to my owne heart for there I can read all this SEGT. XIV If reformation be a defiling of Idols and the worke in hand then a man needs not goe into the Congregations to behold the cariage of the Priest and people there nor abroad to enquire what newes he may returne home to his owne heart and read the newes there I Can read the times now what newes is most stirring and and fittest to be enquired after and yet not move one step from the Idoll and my owne heart I can tell what is done in the great world by looking diligently what is done in my little world And the way I take must be this I must read Reformation and the processes thereof and what its demands are then I must reade in my owne heart how that stands towards it in its naturall posture And behold it stands in a posture of offence nay of defiance most contrary thereunto I will bring them I had almost said together but that is impossible to man to an interview that we may heare how they greet one the other what is demanded and what denyed betwixt them Thereby I shall make more then a conjecture what is done in the Kingdome what motions and contrariety of wills there Reformation tells me I must not walke according to the course of this world Ephe. 2.22 My heart makes answer that according to that course it will walke though it be according to the spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience Reformation saith I must forsake the beggerly Rudiments and old customes such as were in Queene Maries dayes the heart answers she will not forsake them they are her lovers she hankers after them and after them shee will goe Reformation tells me I must worship God according as Hee hath commanded I must not make a mingle mangle in Religion I must not serve God partly as Hee hath commanded partly according to my owne understanding I must not mate the wisedome of God with my foolish conceits my silly inventions The heart answers shee likes her owne way and would heare no more of that matter for she is setled and resolved to serve God her owne way and to maintaine that way till she dies Reformation tells me I must through down the Idolls before my eyes My heart is pretly flexible here so it be but a stocke or a stone God hath given me reason I must shew my selfe a man it were a shame to stumble in a Sun-shine at stocks and stones But Reformation is not contented with this It goes on commands me to give up my two Idolls my ease which I love so well The profit and glory of the world which I dote upon Me thinkes I finde my heart mad upon these Idols Jer. 50.38 now they are demanded of me and my two eyes sparkle with rage rather then I will part with them My Plate shall goe and which should be more pretious a good conscience also My ease is more then my Plate and my credit in the world my chiefest Jewell Reformation heares not it stands like an upright Judge as doth the stalke of a ballance It demands as once Moses did All All my gods how pleasing how serviceable to mine owne ends how desirable soever how deare or neare no matter I must yeeld them up and my strong holds there the house of my Images and guardians thereof with my Imaginations and every thing that exalteth it selfe 2 Cor. 20.4 The heart will sticke here nay it will die here before it will yeeld offer the heart faire heaven and eternall happinesse it will not yeeld offer it foule hell everlasting misery it will not yeeld up its Idoll he will not suffer it to be slaine before his strong holds shall bee given up before his reasonings can give or take satisfaction As the Lord said Jer. 22.29 O Earth earth earth heare the Word of the Lord. It cannot heare no more can the heart it is desperately wicked who shall make a good understanding betwixt him and reformation Of this in the close Now we have seene at what a distance the heart stands to heaven that patterne wee are to bee conformed unto how it fighteth to maintaine his Idols which hee will not part with till he dyes Then wee may easily gather by the unquiet motions within what is done without if there be such motions in one mans little world what motions will there be in Cities in Towns in a Kingdom when Reformation assaies to go through the same to defile the Idols there If men will fret and fume and doe more because stockes and stones are defiled what will they doe for the Idoll in the heart to maintaine that in a posture of defence If defiling of Idols in one mans heart cause such a shaking what a terrible shake will it be when the Earth shall no more cover her blood but the men there must yeeld up their Idols to the Moles and to the Batts Reformation will cast a spewing upon all our worldly glory it will defile the three gods of the world honours pleasures profits for which the heart will contend till it die then the most stirring newes is warres and Rumors of warres Saint James resolves it so whence comes warres and fightings amongst you even of the lusts which war in your members There they warre first then they breake forth in the world If we could open the records of all ages and then put Saint James his question we must also make his answer our owne winds the windes from within us make our Sea so tempestuous The counfell is good calme it with your Prayers and resolve to throw out your Idoll * Fluctus maris tuis precibus mitiga Hier. Ep. 45. ult But that worke will cause a mightie contention While there is