Neither be ye idolaters . . . and rose up to play. Viz, when the Hebrews fashioned and worshipped the golden calf they closed their idolatrous festivities with a banquet. Thus they ate of the victims offered to their idol, that they might, after the manner of the Egyptians, celebrate the worship of this new food of theirs with a banquet and games, Hence it is said, "They rose up to play," i.e, to dance and sing. For Moses ( Exodus 32:19), when he descended, a little time afterwards, from the mount, saw them dancing. This was the custom of the Gentiles after their sacrifices, and these games were frequently of a most obscene character. Hence the Rabbins and Tertullian (de Jej. contra Psychicos) interpret this play of the Jews of fornication and uncleannes. They celebrated, too, public games, which, Tertullian says, were forbidden to Christians, as being held in honour of idols, and on the same level, therefore, as things offered to idols (SeeTert. de Spectac.). But presently the wrath o...
Do you see how Paul even calls the Israelites idolaters? He says it first, and then gives examples to support his contention. He also gives us the reason for their idolatry, which is gluttony.
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, 'the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.'
Do you hear how he even calls them idolaters? here indeed making the declaration, but afterwards bringing the proof. And he assigned the cause too wherefore they ran to those tables; and this was gluttony. Wherefore having said, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, and having added, nor be idolaters, he names the cause of such transgression; and this was gluttony. For the people sat down, says he, to eat and to drink, and he adds the end thereof, they rose up to play. For even as they, says he, from sensuality passed into idolatry; so there is a fear lest ye also may fall from the one into the other. Do you see how he signifies that these, perfect men forsooth, were more imperfect than the others whom they censured? Not in this respect only, their not bearing with their brethren throughout, but also in that the one sin from ignorance, b...
Which consecrated for itself the likeness of a calf, and not of a man, fell short of incurring the guilt of idolatry.
And when the gold out of the necklaces of the women and the rings of the men had been wholly smelted by fire, and there had come forth a calf-like head, to this figment Israel with one consent (abandoning God) gave honour, saying, "These are the gods who brought us from the land of Egypt.".
Will his antagonist make me better disposed to him? Should I now commit the same sins as the people, shall I have to suffer the same penalties, or not?.
Y whereby things divine are, handled; whether (it be not) with a mind much more vigorous, with a heart much more alive, than when that whole habitation of our interior man, stuffed with meats, inundated with wines, fermenting for the purpose of excremental secretion, is already being turned into a premeditatory of privies, (a premeditatory) where, plainly, nothing is so proximately super sequent as the savouring of lasciviousness. "T...
