86t. [ontemplatiom. LIB. V. Calt'e for agod,mu{Hacnfice Calves and Rams ,and Bullocks umo the True God : A He that con!i:crared a day to the Idol, ishimfelfe confecrarcd to him, which was difhonouredby the Idol.The ~rofefl: ofall fins cannot prejudice the oalling ofGod; Yea, asrhehghtls befl: fecne 1n darknelfe, the mercy of God1s mofl: magnified in our unworthindfe. Whac a difference God pucsbecweene perfons and fins! while fo many rhoufand Iftaeliccs were flaine, chat had fl:omackfully delired the Idol; <..A4ron thatinweaknelfe condefcended, is both pardoned the fad, and afterwards ladenwith honour from God.Lerno man take heart to lin,from mercy:He that<an purpofeto fin upon the knowledge ofGods mercy,in the remiflion ofinfirmities, prefumes,and makes himfolfa lviltitll oftender. It is no comfort to the wilfull that there is remiflion to the weal< and penitent. · B The eare-rings are pluckc off:£gyptian jewels are fit for an Idolatrous ufe. This verygold was contagious. It had beene better the Ifraelites had never borrowed thofcornamcms, then thac they fhould pay them back eo the Idolatry of their firll owners. What collrhe luperllirious Ifraelites are content to be at forrhis ltwd devotion ! The riches and pnde oftheir outward habire,are they willing to parr with, to their moltengod; as glad to have theireares-barethatthey mi~ht fill theireyes. No gold is too deare,for cheir Idol; each man is content to fpolle his wives and children of that whe~eof they fpoyled the £gyptians. Where are thofe worldlings,that cannot abide to be at any coil for their Religion; which couldbe content to doe God chargdeffe fervice~ Thefevery Ifraelites thatwere ready eo give gold, not out of their purfes, but from their very eares to c mif-dCvotion,fh:tll once condemnethem. 0 Sacriledge fucceeding to Superllition! ofoid chey were ready to give gold to the falfe ferviceof God; we, to takeaway goldfromthemie ~ How doewe fee menprodigall to their lulls and ambitions, and we.hatenot to be niggardsto God~ . 'This gold~ now grown to ~C~lfe;Letno manthink that form cameforth cafually ou~ofthemel~ed eare-rings:"!h,is fh~pe w_as intended by the Ifraelites,and perfected by Aum:tliey brought thls god 10 the1r heartswith themourofA!gypt,and now they fer it up in their eyos.Still doth £gypt hurt them:Servitude was the leaf\: evi\1 thatlCrael receives from £gypt ; forthat fent them llill to the true God, but thisidolarrous e~mpleled them to afalfe. The very fight ofevill is dangerous : and it is hard forrhe hearr not to run into thofe fins,to which theeye and eare is in- D ured :Notout oflove,but cullome,we fall into fome offences. The Ifraelites wrought fo long in rhe furnaces ofthe £gyptians brick,that they havebrought fon'h • molten Calfe. The blackCalfe with the white fpots, which they faw worflJipped in £gypt, hilth llollen their hearts: And they, which before wotJld havebeen a~ the£gy~tian ftdh-p~ts,would now ~eat their devotions.How many have fallen Into a faOuon <;>ff:vean?g, fcoffinl\, dnnkmg! out of the ufuall pract1c;e ofothers; as thofethat live 10 an 11! ayre,:u:e mfeded w1thd1feafes! Aman may paffe chorow £thiopiaunchanged: buthe cannot dwell there,and not be difcoloured. •· ·-Their fin W':ls bad enough,let notour uncharitablenelfe make it worfe: :No n;an may think they have f<> put off' humanity,and fenfe,with their Religion, as to dunk E that·Calf• a god1or that this !doll,which they faw yefl:erday made,did bring them out.of£gypt,rhree moneths agoe. This IVere_to make them more be~lls then that Calf«,Which this ln;tage reprefemed: Or 1fthey fhould have been fomfenfate, can we t.hink rhot J!Aron could be thus defperately mad~ TI10 Imageand the Holy-day weroboth to one Deity: Tomorrow utht Holy-d•y of the Lordyo11r God. Invas the Twe God they meantto worfh1p in the Ca!fe:andyet at befl: this Idolatry is ~Jamefull. It is no marvdl if this foule fin feeke pretences ; yet no excufecan h1dc the ' fhame offucha f.1ee.Cnds jealoufieis not fl:irred only by the rivalityofafalfe god; but ofa falfe worfhip:nothingis more dangerous then to minrGods femces 10 our owne brJine. ' Godfends down Mofls to remedy this fin. He could as ealilyhave prevented, as redreffed _
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