Wisdom — Chapter 14

Great madnes to invocate a woodden idol, more base & commonly more corruptible then the wood of a shippe.

Butthy prouidence, o WZ euen in the fea,and among the waues a moft {ure path , 4, fhewing thar thou art able to faue out of al things,yea(b) if ama goe tothe fea without art.5. Butthatthy workes might not be voyde of wifdom: for this caule alfo men commit their liues evento a litle wood, and pafling ouer the fea are deliuered by fhip. 6. Bur from the Eeginning alfo when the proud giants perifhed, the hope of the world flying toa fhip , rendered to the world feede of nariuitie, which was gouerned by thy had, 7,For( c)bleffed isthe wood, by the which (d ) iuftice is made,8, Butthe idol that is made by hands , curfed is-bothit, and he that made it: becaufe he indeed wrought it: and the fame being fraile,was called God. 9, Butto God the impious and his impietie are odious alike, 10, For that which is made, with him that made it, thal fuffer torments, 11, For this caufe alfo in the idol of the nations there fhal be no refpect : becaufe the creatures of God were made to hatred,and for tétationro thefoules of men,and for ainare tothe feete of the vnwife. 12. Forthe beginning (¢) of fornication is the deuifing ofidols:and the inuenting of them.isthe corruptid of lite.13, For neither werethey from the beginning , neither thal they be for euer, 14. For this vanitie of men came into the world: and therfore there is founda fhort end of thé,15,For “the father being forow ful with bitter mourning, made vnto himfelf the image of his fonne quickly taken away: and hitn, that then was.a dead man , now ( f ) he began to worliip as God >and appointed holie things and facrinces among his feruats,16.(g) Afterward by fucceffion of time , the wicked cuftom preuayling , this errour was kept as alaw, and things graucn were worthipped by the commande- ment of Tyrants, 17. Andthoie , whom openly men could not honour, for that they were far off,their figure being brought from a far,they made an cuident image of the King, whom they would honour : thar by their caretulnes they might honour as prefent,him that was abient, 18, And to AS, & Father , doth gouerne: becaufe thou haft giuen a way ey inication , & common ly more corrupti- ‘ble then the wood of a shippe. (6) Asthe Ifraelices went through the red fea. (c) The author} prophetically alludeth to the wood of the Crofie,on { which our Sa- uiour redee- med mankind. (d)Fromwhofe death procec- deth mans in- ftification. (e) Invention of Idols brotght men - to fpiritual for- corruption of manners, Cf) This firft idolatrie was only priuately). exercifed by the father and hisferuants at sheir mafters commandmét, by which occafion pub- like idola- Xx 2 the. ‘trie came into the world, twicked cuftom lin time preuai- ling. (2)The name Gop inthe proper fienif.. cation, cannot be gtuen to anie creature, (b) Mante © enormious crimes pro- ceede from idolatris. (i)Two forts of periurie: {wearing by falfe Gods, and {wearing yntruths, Caluin falfly chargeth this booke with erreur. Images of falfe Gods are rightly called idols. 206 ULE the worshipping of thefe the excellent diligéce alfo of the artificer,hol them forward,that were ignorant.19.For he willing to pleafe him thar entertained him , laboured. by his. art to fafhion the fimilitude in berrer fort, 20. And the multitude of men caried away by the beautie of the worke, him that alittle before had been honoured as anian , now they efteemed for a God.21.And this was the deceyuing of mans lite:becaufe mé feruing either affection,or Kings,gaue the name that is(g)not c6mu- nicable,to ftones.and wood.22.And it was not fufficient that they erred about the knowledge of God , bur alfo liuing in a great bartail ot igno- rance,fo manie and fo great euils they cal peace.23.For (}) either facrifi- cing their childré, or making abfcure facrifices,or hauing watches ful of madnes, 24.they now neither keepe life, ner mariage cleane,but one kil- leth an other by enuie,or playing the adulterer maketh him forowtul: 25, and al things are mingled together, bloud,manflat ghrer,theft and fiction, corruption and infidelitic,trouble and periurie,dif quieting of the good, 26.forgerfulnes of God,inquination cf foules, immutation of natiuitie, inconttancie of mariage,dif{corder of adulterie,and vnchafines, 27, For the worfhip of idols not to be named, isthe caufe of aleuil, and the be- ginning andend, 28. For either when they reloyce, they are madde: or certes prophecie falfe things,or line vniuftly,or quickly forfweare them- felues.29, For whilesthey truft in idols, which are without foule, fwea- ring amiffe they hope not to be-hurt,30. (+) Two euilthings therfore fhal happen to them worthily, becaufe they haue thought euil of God, attend- ing to idols,and hauefworne vniuftly , in guile contemning iuftice, 31. For itis notthe power ofthem that are {worne by , but the punifhment ofthem that finne goeth alwayes through thetrangredfion of the vninft,

The author prophetically alludeth to the wood of the Crosse, on which our Saviour redeemed mankind.

The author prophetically alludeth to the wood of the Crosse, on which our Saviour redeemed mankind. From whose death proceedeth mans iustification.

From whose death proceedeth mans iustification.

Invention of Idols brought spiritual fornication, & corruption of manners.

The father made vnto himself the image of his sonne. Caluin here falsly chargeth this booke with errour.

The name God in the proper signification, can not be given to anie creature. Manie enormious crimes proceede from idolatrie.

Two sorts of periurie: swearing by false Gods, and swearing vntruths.