For from Israel was it.*
That is,
Their Idolatry was from themselves: It was hard to get them off from their Idolatrous worship, for it was from themselves. Other people worshiped Idolatrous Images, as being deceived, either made to beleeve that they came from their gods;* as that wise Town-Cleark of Ephesus, in his grave, sage speech, Acts, 19. 35. saith, their Image came down from Jupiter, or else they were such as were brought from the Temples of other People, whose Original they knew not. But saith God, My People are more sottish than any, for from Israel themselves doth come these their Ima∣ges that they do worship, they have set them up them∣selves, they know that the other day they were but pieces of wood, overlaid with Gold and Silver; for their Calves they were such kind of Idols as Israel invented themselves,* they were not the same as some think with the Egyptian Apis, that Idol, for that was bigger, it was rather a Bul∣lock, and it was a live one, and with several spots and di∣vers things wherein it differed from the Calves that IsraelPage 30 worshiped, so that the Calves of Israels worship, it was their own invention. Hence there is these Notes:
First,* That none are so sottish in wicked waies as Apostates. Israel was more sottish than any people.
And Secondly,*To be devisers and inventors of evil, and espe∣cially of any thing in the Worship of God, of false worship, it is a great aggravation of ones sin; Those that are the first inventers and devisers of wickedness, and especially of any false worship, they are most wicked and abominable before God. It was from themselves.
Thirdly,*What comes from our selves we will stick much to in the Worship of God. For this is given as a reason why they could not be brought off from that false worship; It was from themselves: And hereby men shew that they honor their own Fancies and own Wills above the Will of God, and the Mind of God: We will a great deal more easily part with the Worship of God, that comes from God, than with Worship that comes from our selves.
