306 THE SIN OP IDOLATRY. 



LIB. v. Indians, to be the same wherewith hee hath deceived the 

 Greekes and Romans, and other ancient Gentiles, giving 

 them to vnderstand that these notable creatures, the Sunne 

 Moone, Starres, and Elements, had power and authoritie to 

 doe good or harme to men. And although God hath created 

 all these things for the vse of man, yet hath man so much 

 forgotte himselfe as to rise vp against him. Moreover, he 

 hath imbased himselfe to creatures that are inferiour vnto 

 himselfe, worshiping and calling vpon their workes, for 

 saking his Creator. As the Wise man saieth well in these 



Sap. xiii. wordes, &quot; All men are vaine and abused that have not the 

 knowledge of God, seeing they could not know him, that is, 

 by the things that seemed good vnto them : and although 

 they have beheld his workes, yet have they not attained to 

 know the author and maker thereof, but they have beleeved 

 that the fire, winde, swift aire, the course of the starres, 

 great rivers, with Sunne and Moone, were Gods and 

 governours of the world; and being in love with the beautie 

 of these things, they thought they should esteeme them as 

 Gods.&quot; It is reason they should consider how much more 

 faire the Creator is, seeing that he is the Author of beauties 

 and makes all things. Moreover, if they admire the power 

 and effects of these things, thereby they may vnderstand 

 how much more mightie hee is that gave them their being, 

 - for by the beautie and greatnes of the creatures, they may 

 iudge what the Maker is. Hitherto are the wordes of the 

 Booke of Wisdome, from whence we may draw a good and 

 strong argument, to overthrow the Idolatrie of Infidells, 

 w r ho seeke rather to serve the creature then the Creator, as 



Rom. i. the Apostle doth iustly reprehend them. But for as much 

 as this is not of our present subiect, and that it hath been 

 sufficiently treated of in the Sermons written against the 

 errors of the Indians, it shall bee sufficient now to -shew 

 that they did worship the great God, and their vaine and 

 lying gods all of one fashion ; for their manor to praj^ to 



