17
whom men could not honor in presence, because they dwelt far off. They took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honored, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent as if he were present.
18
Also, the singular diligence of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
19
For he, perhaps willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
20
And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, who a little before was but honored as a man.
21
And this was an occasion to deceive the world; for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, ascribed unto stones and stocks the incommunicable Name.
22
Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.
23
For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revelings with strange rites,
24
they kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled, but either one slew another traitorously, or grieved him by adultery,
25
so that there reigned in all men, without exception, blood, manslaughter, theft and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
26
disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of sex, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
27
For the worshiping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end of all evil.