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¶The .xii. Chapter. That God is seuerally discerned from idols, that he may be only and wholly worshipped.
WE saied in the beginning that the knowledge of God standeth not in bare speculacion, but draweth with it the worshipping of him, and by the way we touched how he is rightly worshipped, which point shalbe in other places more largely to be set forth. Nowe I doe but shortlye repete, that so oft as the Scripture affirmeth that there is but one God, it striueth not for the bare name of God, but withall commaundeth this, that whatsoeuer belongeth to the godhead bee not geuen to any other. Wherby also appeareth what pure religion doeth differ from supersticion. Eusebeia, in Greke signifieth as much as true worship, because alway euen the blinde themselues groping in darke∣nesse haue founde that this rule ought to be holden, that God bee not vnorderly worshipped.* 1.1 The name of religion although Cicero truelye and wel deriueth from relegere, to recorde, or gather vp together: yet is the reason that he assigneth enforced and far fet, that good worshippers did often recorde and diligently wey what was the trueth. I rather thinke that that name is set as a contrary to wandring liberte, because the greater part of the world vnaduisedly taketh holde of that whyche they first mete withall, and flieth aboute hether and thether: but true godlinesse, to the ende it may stande in stedfaste state, Religit, that is to say doth gather vp it selfe together within her bondes. Like as I think supersticion to haue her name herof, that not being contented with the maner and order prescribed she heapeth vp together a supersluous nō∣ber of vaine thinges. But to leaue the wordes it hath alway ben agre∣ed by consent of all ages, that religion is with false errors corrupted & peruerted. Wherupon we gather that it is a very fonde color which the supersticious do pretende, whē with vndiscrete zele we geue our selues leaue to do al thinges. And although this confession sounde in the mou∣thes of al mē: yet herein a shamefull ignoraunce bewraieth it selfe, that neither they cleaue to the one God, nor haue any regarde of order in ye worshipping of him, as we haue already shewed. But god, to claime his own right vnto himselfe, crieth out that he is ielous, and that he wil be a seuere reuenger if he be mingled with any fained god. And then he setteth forth the lawful maner of worshipping, to holde mankinde in o∣bedience. He conteineth both these pointes in his law, whē first he bin∣deth the faithful vnto hymselfe that he only may be theyr lawemaker: and then he prescribeth a rule wherby to be worshipped after his owne minde. Of the law, because the vses and endes therof are many, I wyl entreate in place fit for it. Now I only touch this point, that therby mē are bridled that they run not out of the way to wrong worshippynges. Now as I first said, we must holde in mind, that if al that euer proper∣ly belōgeth to godhead do not rest in God alone, he is spoiled of his ho∣nor, & his worship broken. And heremust we somwhat he defully marke