CAP .2. ;revelation ofthe Apocalypfe. 69 then they fhould, and (as it isufuall) (salting much themfelves in a High and common corruption of the times , theygave occafion to Chrift the haughty s Superintendent of the Church , tobeat variance with them, and at g Taft to avenge himfelfe offuch a (fate. And whoknoweth not how gently, and with what mealy mouthes, they that profeffed the truth in thefe times , did inveigh againft the RomifhTyranny ? Whereas they fhould have thundred out morevehemently, and have (pared for no fharpneífe of words : but we (hall finde that theAngell was wanting inperformance ofhis duty herein. But how is it then, that when as the whole f}ate of the Church was to farre out of'order, Chrift fhould have but a few things againfl the Angell? Marvellous is the tender mercy ofour god; they who have but a littlegiven, of them but a little is required. The greater corruption is ofthe times wee live in, the Life importunate is the LORD for full obe- dience : He doth not require fogreat and much ability and fufficien- cy ofaman that lyeth in darkneffe, as he doth of them , round about whom the Sun fhineth inhis cleare light. To eat 5fthings offered to Idols. That is, being prefent at the wor- (hip of Idols, fhould give any hónour to them: Otherwife ofany thing offered to Idolsfhouldbe fold in thefbambles, and the offence of force \Wake, brother hinder not, amanmight very well eat ofit, i Cor. 8. &c. But the Holy Ghoft feemeth of purpofe to fpeake rather of eatingofa thing offered to an Idoli, thenof worthipping an Image ; to Phew us the crafty and fubtile way that this Balaam tooke in inti- cing men to Idolatry. It feemethnot fo impious a thing, for men to eat offleshfacrificed to Idols, as to fall downe at the feet ofan Image, and to give adoration unto it. This Balaam therefore'fhould in- veagle men with as fmall and as goodly matters in Phew as he could : In words hee fhould detefl Idolls as much as any other, and fhould cry out, That this honour commanded by him to be gi- ven by them to holy Images, is farre from this impiety : with :which kinde of fpeeches hee fhould deceive the Pimple, and draw them into this fnare, which here the H O L Y G x o s T fpeak- eth of. 15. Even fo haft thou them. Here is the latter part of a u mili- mete, the former part is concealed. It fhould be fully thus. As once the Ifraelites had fuch as held the doétrine of Balaamm, fo thou haft tilofe that hold the Do6trine of the Nicolaitarrs. In (lead of this former part, he attributeth the. Doctrine of Balaam to theChasrch of Tergamus, becaufe it is proper to the Counterpaine of it; but L 3 fo
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