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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.
2
For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.
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But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe
path in the waves;
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Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art.
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.
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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.
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For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
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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.
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For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
10
For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
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.
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For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
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For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly
to an end.
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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.
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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.
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Whommen 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.
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Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more
superstition.
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For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the
resemblance of the best fashion.
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And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little
before was but honoured.
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KJV Bible