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1 Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece
of wood more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him.
3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the
waves;
5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit
their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved.
6 For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by thy hand
escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.
8 But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it;
and it, because, being corruptible, it was called god.
11 Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of
God they are become an abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet
of the unwise.
12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption
of life.
14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an
end.
15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away,
now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies
and sacrifices.
16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped
by the commandments of kings.
17 Whom men could not honour 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 honoured, 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 did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
19 For he, peradventure 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, which a little before
was but honoured.
21 And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe
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 revellings of strange
rites;
24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously,
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 kind, disorder in
marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear
themselves.
29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look
not to be hurt.