An Expoßtion upon Chap.'. S IL. To abhorre and abandon loch filthy tufts, not only becaufe they defile our bodies, which ai e the members of Chrift, the Temples of theHoly Ghott, bought with a great price; and are alto fin s againft the body, r . Cor.62; 8. but be- caufe they are the punifhment of Idola- try. This is the Cockatrice which hatcheth luth a pefliferous ,brood , as the punifhment of uncleane tufts. DIALOGUE XLIII. Verte 25. Wnicb turned the truth of God into a lie,and worfhipped the Creature, forfal. ng the Creator, who io to bee b'effed for ever, Amen. T MO T na us.' V VHat it the Ape ftlei method here, how doth he proceed in thte matter? S t L. As before in 23 24. fo now again he openeth the Fountaine of that impurity in defiling themfelves, and in- juftice toward their Neighbour; to wit, their impiety toward God,and proplia- nation of hisworfhip, which was the very root and mother of filch abomina- ble children and branches,as filthy tufts and unjuft anions be. That which hee called the changing of his glory, in werfe 23. now he tcarmeth the turning of his truth, that is, thole true princi- ples touching Gods eternal! power and Godhead, engrafted in their minds;and that which before he named the image or likeneffe of a corruj tibie man,is here named [talfity or a lye]becaufe it repre- fents him faltly,and afcribeth to him a lying kind of worfhip:for God will not be either pourtraited by an Image, or ferved in an Image, or by or before one. All fuch worfhip howfoever it bee by Idolaters intended and dircaed unto God, yet it is not fo accepted of God, neither indeed is it given to him at all, but unto Idols,as Paul teacheth , i Cor. 50. 19,20. therefore it is better tranfla- ted ( they ferved the Creature, patting by,or forfaking the Creator) then thus (more then tie Creator: )but if we read it more,or rather, then it is like to that in Iohn3. 19. and Luke 10. 54. Thus ye have both the connexion of this Text with the fornier,and the interpretation of the ph rafes therein in Tome part. Ti M. What is the drift ofthis Verfe, at what mama dotb it ayme ? S r L. Firff,to prove(as he did before, verfe 23. ) that the Gentiles,howfoever they knewthe Lawof Mature, touching the worfhip of the true God , yet did violate and tranfgreffe it by their Ido- latry. Secondly, to lay out the luftice of God, in bringing upon them that heavypunifhment, mentioned verfe 24. whereof their grofte Idolatry was the true and proper cattle, n M. Tell us now what is the fnni of this Merle? S r L. It is a lively defeription of Idolatry , which is a changing of the true God into a lye,and worfhipping of the Creature, to the contempt of the Creator. T r sa.What it meant by the truthof God? S z L. The God who is true, as be- fore, verfe 23. the glory of God, being put for the God who is fill of glory and Majefly : fo here the [Truth of God ] is put for themoll trueGod,and finch true notions as men have naturally in them concerning the nature of God. T 1 M. How is the true God defaced by an Image made ofhim? S I L. Firft , becaufe when God I is reprefented by an Image, fome- thingis attributed and given to him, which hee is not; as that lice fhould bee vifsble, finite, comprehenfible , mortal], corruptible,earthl y. Second] y, that is denied him , and taken away from hint, which in truth is his owne; namely,his eternity, immenfity, Invifi- bleneffe,immortality. So every Image of God,is a falle and lying reprefentati- on. T 1 M. Wherefore is an Imagecased a Lye by our Apo ff le? S I L. Firlt, becaufe from Idols was taken away that which they were , for they were no more counted wood and flone,though in truth they flill were fo. Secondly, that wasyeelded to them by Idolaters,whish they were not;as natne- ly
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