he cannot be seen. Dent. iv. 12., " But saw I no similitude, only ye heard a voice." QiiOii invisihile est, ptn(/i von potest, Aimbr. God cannot be pictured out by any finger; you . cannot ])icture the soul being a spirit, much less God, Isa. xl. 18., " To whom then will ye liken God?" The papists say, they worship God by the image; which hatli a great absurdity in it, for if it be ab- surd to bow down to the picture of a king, when the king himself is present, then much more to bow down to the image of God, when God himself is present, Jer. xxiii. 21. What is the popish religion, but a biuidle of ridiculous ceremonies ? Their wax, flowers, pLves, of/niis Dei, cream and oil, beads, crucifixes, — what arc these but Satan's policy to dress up a carnal wor- ship, fitted to carnal minds ? O Avhat cause have we to bless God, for deliverinof us from popery ! It was a mercy to be deli- vered from the Sj)anish invasion and the powder-treason; but a far greater to be delivered from the popish religion, which Avould have made God give us a bill of divorce.
Use 2d. If it be a great blessing to be delivered from Egypt, ])()])ish idolatry ; then it shews their sin and folly, who, being brought out of Egypt, are willing to return into Egypt again ; having put oif the yoke of Rome, would fain put it on agaiii. The apostle saith, " Flee from idolatry," 1 Cor. X. 11. But these rather flee to idolatry; herein we are like the people of Israel, who, notwithstanding all the idolatry and tyranny of Egypt, yet longed to go back to Egypt, Numb. xiv. 4., " Let us make a captain and let us return into Egypt." But how shall they go back into Egypt? How shall they have food in the wilderness? AN'ill (iod rain d<)wn manna any more uj)ou such rebels? How will they get over the red sea ? Will (iod divide the water again by miracle, for such as leave his service, and go into idolatrous Egypt ? Yet say they. Let us make a captain. And are there not such spirits amongst us, who say, " Let us make a captain, and go b.ick to the Romish Egypt again ?" And if we do, what shall we get by it ? I am afraid the leeks and onions of Egypt will make us sick. Do we ever think, if we drink in the
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cup of fornication, we shall drink in the cup of salvation? O that any should so forfeit their reason, as to enslave them- selves to thft see of Rome ! That they should be willing to hold a candle to a mass-priest, and bow down to a strange god ! Let us not say we will make a cap- tain ; but rather say as Ephraim, Hos. xiv. 8., " \Miat have I to do any more with idols?"
Use M. If it be a mercy to be brought out of Eg)'pt, then it is not desirable or safe to plant one's self in an idolatrous place where it may be a capital crime to be seen with a Bible in one's hand. Some for se- cular gain thrust themselves among idola- ters, and think there is no danger to live where Satan's seat is : but do you pray God would not lead you into temptation, and do you lead yourselves. You are in great dan- ger of being polluted ; it is hard to be as the fish, which keeps fresh in salt waters. A man cannot dwell among the blacka- moors, but he will be discoloured; you will sooner be corrupted by idolaters, than they will be converted by you ; Joseph got no good by living in an idolatrous court ; he did not teach Pharaoh to pray, but Pha- raoh taught him to swear, Ps. cvi. 35., they " were mingled among the heathen, aiul served their ido's." I fear this hath been the undoing of many; tliey have seated themselves amongst ick»laters, for advanc- ing their trade, and at hist have not only traded with them in their commodities, but in their religion.
line A'th. Is it a mercy to be brought out of the land of Egypt, — places which are defiled, and where sin reigns? then it re- proaches such parents as shew little love to the souls of their children, whether it be in putting them out to service, or matching them. — 1. In ])utting them out to service : their care is chiefly for their bodies, that they may be provided for, but care not what becomes of their souls ; their souls are in Egypt, in houses where there is drinking, swearing, sabbath-breaking, aiul where God's name is every day dishonoured. — 2. In matching their children, they look only at money, 2 Cor. vi. 14., " Be not ye une- qually yoked :" if their children be ecpially yoked for estate, they care not whether they