Deuteronomy 13

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XIII.—Provoking to God, and dangerous to men, is the sin of idolatry, with respect to the object or means of worship; yet sinners are much set upon it, and need to be held back by the greatest restraints. With what care, what zeal, what impartiality, ministers and magistrates ought therefore to oppose the very first appearances of it! No testimony, however strongly supported, is admissible against the revealed truths of God. No pretence of inspiration from God, no semblance of miracles, no tie of natural affection, ought to make us connive at the seducers. Though temptations be doubly bewitching which come through those whom we love, and hope of secrecy and security in sin is a great snare to lead men into it, yet let us remember that to conceal or protect such criminals is to render ourselves partakers in their crimes. If they are become obstinate in their evil way, they ought no longer to be reckoned as conscientiously mistaken persons, but as children of Belial, who are perfectly lost to all manner of virtue, and become nuisances and plagues to both church and state. If their quality or multitude protect them from human justice, the vengeance of God will shortly find them out; for all that depart from him shall surely perish. But, in our zeal for the pure worship of God, we must at once testify our detestation of idolatry or superstition, and plainly manifest that in our zeal we have no eye to promote our own carnal advantage. And whatever power magistrates may have from God to punish such evil-doers, for the preservation of the true religion where it is, they can shew no warrant for the exertion of force in the propagation of it