iVe'r..22,23,24. the.Epïfile to the Romanes. 37 through the pride and conceit of their own witty and Cubtle inventions and I di(ceptations,they fell into (trange opi- i cor.8. ç. nions and inventions concerning God; others . doubting of it ; others coyning a plurality of Gods, whom Conte would have to be corporeal!, others incorpo- reall: the Remains ere &itag and numbring m oft lewd and àboininable men (as 2'iontulur, Simon Magma, &c. )' into the regillers and ranke of Gods : the fEgyp tians doing worfe then they, accepting B-affs ; as Oxen, Cats, Rats, Geefe, Birds, Crocodiles, yea Onions and Lakes for Gods, putting to death filch as killed any of thefe : withall, they a- fcri bed to God corrupt worfhip, think - ing to appeafe him by gorgeous Sacri- fices, deviled by themfelves ; by dainty Bangtaets,fttmptuous Playes, and good - see n &.,4: lySpetFtacles; robbing him of his pro- xi, 2,15 vidence, withdrawing from him the scil to o government offublunary and inferiour bodies, as being too bale for God to meddle with; appointing reprefenra- dons of him, unbefeeming his Maje- fly and glory : pretending, they mall come to God by Images, as CO Kings by Courtiers. In all which the Apoftle faith, they proved [Paine] both becaufe they there deceived of their opinion, neither obtained the end they aimed at. For whereas they thought (by finch their deep and wife inventions) to have procured Gods favour alto, to enjoy his bleffings, and efcape calamities, and to gaine nnto themfelves an opinion of great wifedome , they met with the quite contrary. For,tlaey offended God, purchafed many temporali plagues, and fpirituall too; and at laft, were wrapt in eteruall deliru&ion, becaufe (like fooks) which had their under - (landings darkned, they preferred their own vanities before truth,fhadowes be- tore fubftance, Idols before the true God; like Children, which het more by a rattle or a toy, then by Treafatre, Gold, and Silver, and filch precious things. From which wee may learne, whatiffue and fucceffe tnay,bee looked for, of all humane inventions in Gods ferviee, and what they will prove at length, who frame their opinions and worlhipof God not according to that truth feated in the heart by God, and alining in his workes, or after the pre- fcript of his word. All Hach will not onely bee frultrate of their expectation, and finde that all their glorious wife- dome, is but tneere blindneßé, foolilh neffe, and darkneffe : but will incurre the high difplealùre of Almighty God, and pull on their own heads his heavy vengeance, as there Idolatrous Gentiles did. An happy thing were it for Pa pills, and all other fùperftitious per- flans, which forfaking the fare direlti- ons of God, follow their owne per - verfe reafönings, and trail upon God Will worfhips and good intentions (as they bee called) to take warning in time by the harmes which came unto the Heathens, for their rafh godlele prefumpeion in this kind , whereof more (hall bee laid in the fubfequent Verfes. DIAnoava XIII. Verfes 23 23, 24. When they-profejd thentfflves to bee wife they became facile:. For they turned the glory of the irtcorrttptib'le God, into the fimilitude of the Image of a corruptible man, and of Birds, and of fourefooted beaffs, and of creeping things. Wherefore a f God gave them up to their hearts lu ff,unto uncleanne f f è,to defile their ovine bodies between themfe!.ues. áIM. Ow is Chit Text tyed and la linked in With the loft ? by what orderly flops dotb Paul go forward? Sta,. Here is a new anticipation, or fore - ftalling of a privy objection : the obieílion not expreffed; bat underltood, is this. O Paul, why doe you arcade the Heathenilh people of foolifhneffe and darkneffe of rnindc ; do you not know that they took themfelves to bee wife, and had afame among men for great wifedome, yea and had the name (their teachers I meane) of Philofophers,that is, perlons ffgdious,and lovers of wife- dome ? The Romans had their Cato, Aa.7.'22.' E And
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