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Vers. 8. Their land also was full of idols:* 1.1 they worshipped the workes of their owne hands, before that which their owne fingers had made.
HE repeates yt which he eare while touched concerning idolatrie; but more clearely. [ 1] And in the first place he sets downe the mat∣ter: afterwards [ 2] the vse, which in a manner is wont alwaies to follow thereupon. For it is a very rare thing to entertaine idols amongst vs; but we shall by and by abuse our selues with them.* 1.2 Because it is all one, as if a man should pile vp wood, and another should put fire to it: will there not bee a fire by and by? it is vnpossible it should bee otherwise, the fire is not more readie to burne the wood, then we are inclined to superstitions, and idolatrie. Therefore the word Elilim, which the Prophet here vseth, is very fitly imposed vpon the idols by the Hebrews: because they are things of nothing; and but vanitie. Nei∣ther is it to bee doubted, but the holy Ghost by this word would reproue the rage of men, who by meanes of such vanities thought to draw the neerer vnto God: as the Papists at this day; who to the end they might the more easily snare men with their idols: brag that they are lay mens bookes. But it is more safe for vs to giue credit to that which the holy Ghost speakes. The triall it selfe also shewes clearely what fruit the people gather by these bookes. For being deceiued by such grosse imaginations, they frame vnto them∣selues earthly and fleshly gods: of whom Ieremiah iustly saith, that the idoll is not one∣ly a vaine thing, but also a teacher of false∣hood and lies: Ier. 10.8.
We are further to note this description where the Prophet saith, that the people bow∣ed downe before the works of their owne hands. For what a blockishnes is it that men should not thinke it enough to worship wood and stone in stead of God, but should also attribute di∣uinitie to that which they haue framed; which yet they cannot giue to themselus! truely it is a monstrous thing that a stocke of base and contemptible wood should be by and by wor∣shipped as soone as a mortall man shall haue put his hand thereto: as if he had made it a God. But howsoeuer the Prophet speakes to the ancient people; we may notwithstanding applie the same thing to the Papists, who ac∣knowledge no maiestie of God, but in the works of their owne hands.
The repetition he addes, Which their fingers haue made: carries a great signification with it: the more plainely to shew their beastlie liues. Wee are also to marke the phrase of speech by which the outward gesture of ado∣ration is expressed, not that it is vnlawfull to bow the knee, or the head by way of ciuilitie, or humilitie: but because hee which bowes himselfe before an idoll, makes profession thereby of the seruice of God: whence it ap∣peares how childish a shift it is which the Pa∣pists haue gotten of that adoration, which they call dulia. Seeing here in the matter of Gods seruice; the Prophet generally con∣demnes all signe of reuerence whatsoeuer.