ians / and also to sytte down in the Idols feaste. They
did add plausible expositions / that an Idoll was nothinge /
bycause Godd was not represented by the Idoll / that ther is but
one Godd / the same our true and euerlastinge Godd: Wherof it
folowed that the Idoll was nothinge / that is to say a thinge of
no valure or a very vanitie / that it could hurt no bodie / and
that the very meate offered vnto the Idoll was a thinge of
nothinge / that it did defile no man. But Paule with many wordes
doth confute that folery. 1. Cor. cap. 8. 9. and 10. In this
tenth chapter amonge other thinges he gatherith of the nature of
the supper of the lord that a man maye not bothe be partaker of
the supper of the lorde and of the table of Idols / and saith:
Ye can not drincke of the cup of the lorde / and of the cup of
deuils. Ye can not be partakers of the lordes table / and of the
table of deuiles. Either do we prouoke the lorde? Are we stronger
then he? Also the Apostles of Christe and elders of the churche
of Hierusalem in that same greate and notable councell of
Hierusalem / which of all that euer were was most holy and of
most auctoritie / did playnly forbidd the Gentils / which were
conuerted to Christe / thos meates offered to Idols. Yea and the
lord Iesus hymself in the boke of the Reuelacion doth greuusly
accuse and condemne them which do eate meate offered vnto Idols.
This may ye se in the epistles of the churche of Pergamos and
Thiatira.
[[Apocal. 2.]]
In the furst he saithe: But I haue a few thinges againste the /
bicause thow hast there them that maintaine the doctrine of
Balaam which taughte in balacke to put occacion of synne before
the children of Israel / that they shuld eate of meates dedicate
vnto Idolls and committ fornication / and so furth. I thincke
here neadith not many wordes to shew wherfor I haue alledged
thies sayinges of meates offered vnto Idolls: for all the godly
do plainly see / that by like reason all diuine seruice that is
vnholy / or contrary to Godds worde / with what colour so euer
they be stayned / are forbidden and condemned. They see that all
such expositions are put awaye / by which theise fearefull men /
and such as do loue the worlde and worldly pompe to mutch / do
leade themselues away from the right tracke / that they shuld not
sincerely confes Christe.
[[The Conclusion and adhortation to fre confession.]]
All they which be godly do both see and perceyue that they which
do
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