No instance can be adduced of such homage being accepted, or of good resulting from such worship.  Yea, it hath commonly been followed with the severest marks of the divine resentment.  Witness the evils which came upon Israel when they made the golden calf, to help their devotions.  Witness those which fell on the family and kingdom of Jeroboam, when he forsook the appointed worship of God, and the ministry of the Levites whom God had appointed to wait at the altar.  Jeroboam did not introduce the worship of Baal, or the other heathen gods.  This was done afterwards by the influence of Jezebel.  He only appointed other places of worship, beside that which God had chosen, and consecrated others to minister who had not the attachments of the Levites to the house of David and city of Zion, and made images to help the devotion of his people; and lo! his family perish; a brand of infamy is set on his name; and because his people walk in his ways, they are finally “broken and cease to be a people!”

The divine resentment of attempts to change the ordinances of God, or make innovations in his worship even where they seem to have been done out of concern for his honor, is left on record in his word.  Saul once offered sacrifice.  The necessity of his affairs seemed to require it.  He professed to have done it with reluctance, but to have thought it his duty—­“I said the Philistines will come down upon me, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord:  I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.”  But Saul was not of the family of Aaron, to whom the right of sacrificing solely appertained by divine appointment.  Hence instead of conciliating the divine favor, his officious zeal offended heaven—­for that act of disobedience he was threatened with deposition; and a repetition of attempting to improve on divine orders, in sparing the best cattle of Amelek to sacrifice unto the Lord, confirmed the sentence, * placed another on the throne, and led to the ruin of the rebellious prince.  Uzzah only put forth his hand to steady the trembling ark, and was struck dead for his rashness, beside the ark of God. +

* 1 Samuel xiii. 1-14, xv. 15-13. + 2 Samuel vi. 6, 7.

Some spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit, have made changes in the divine institutions, and attempted improvements upon them, since the commencement of the gospel day.  This hath been a leading trait of character in the chiefs of the Romish church.  Many of the heads of that communion have signalized themselves in this way.  And some of their alterations have operated to impress what was thought to be religion, as hath been observed.  Another way in which they have manifested the same disposition hath been the multiplying of holy days.  Under various pretences, nearly half the days in the year have been consecrated to religion, by order of those gods on earth.  Some real, and many fictitious saints, have days consecrated to their memory.