Pagan Religion

Chapter II

On the Origin and Progress of Pagan Religion.

1. On the distinction between gross and subtle idolatry.
2. Gross idolatry originated before the Great Flood.
3. From the Fall of Man and the loss of the divine image.
4. Among the Cainites The descendants of Cain, often associated in early modern theology with the origin of worldly vices..
5. In the time of Enos The grandson of Adam; some traditions suggest idolatry began in his days through the misuse of the divine name..
6. As also among the Holy Fathers before the Flood.
7. All pagan gods are said to have sprung from the first world before the Flood.
8. After the Flood, idolatry began again through the building of the Tower of Babylon.

9. Among Nimrod, otherwise called Bel.
10. And the Holy Fathers after the Flood.
11. The first inhabitants of this land planted the pagan faith here.
12. At what time this occurred.
13. Odin Original: "Othin." reformed the pagan faith in this land.
14. Whether all pagan gods have their origin in Scandinavia (Scania) Original: "Schandinavien (Schonen)." The author uses Scania as a representative name for the whole Nordic region.?
15. Whether the German and Danish peoples learned their idolatry from the Swedes?

Idolatry is of two kinds: a gross and a subtle idolatry. Gross idolatry is that which errs regarding the Person of GOD, where creatures are elevated to the throne of God and honored as divine instead of the one true God. Thus, the pagans deified the stars, deceased heroes, and evil spirits, and worshiped them as gods. This entire work deals with this gross idolatry of the pagans. Dr. Hunnius Aegidius Hunnius (1550–1603), a prominent Lutheran theologian known for his defense of orthodoxy. reckons the worship of deceased saints in the Papacy Original: "Pabstthumb." A common term used by Protestant writers of this era to refer to the Roman Catholic Church. as gross idolatry.

Subtle idolatry is that which errs in the service of God; while the one true GOD is indeed acknowledged, He is not honored and served as He commanded in His Word, according to Matthew 15:9. This occurs in the Papacy, where one wishes to honor and serve God through holy images. Likewise, it is a subtle idolatry when one prays and sings, confesses and takes communion with the mouth, while the heart remains unbelieving and unrepentant, as in Matthew 15:8. Similarly