[409] Lactant. c. 40.
That the opinion of pleasing God by sacrificing their children sprang from Abraham’s offering of Isaac, seemeth very probable, and is intimated by R. Solomon, who bringeth in God speaking concerning Moloch after this manner: I never commanded that they should offer up their sons for an oblation, and I never spake it unto any of my Prophets:[410] and when I spake to Abraham to sacrifice his son, it entred not into my heart that he should sacrifice him, but to make known his righteousness, Yea Porphyry[411] treating of Saturn, (who seemeth to have been this very Moloch) saith, that the Phœnicians called him Israel, and that he had by Anobreth one only son called Jeud in the Phœnician language, (no doubt from the Hebrew Jechid, signifying an only begotten, and applied to Isaac, Gen. 22. 2.) which he offered upon an Altar purposely prepared. Who seeth not the History of Abraham and Sarah under the names of Israel and Anobreth? and the immolation of Isaac under the name of Jeud? and the original of this Son-sacrificing Divinity, to have been the unwarrantable imitation of Abraham?
[410] Solomon Iarchi Jer. 7. 31.
[411] Euseb. præpar. Evang. l. 1. c. 7, p. 17.
But what! Was the Sun worshipped Idolatrously, no otherwise? Yes, except I am deceived, we find another manner of worship described by Amos, Chap. 5. 26. But ye have born the Tabernacle of your Moloch, and Chiun your Images, the star of your God, which ye made to your selves. This translation I prefer before others. First, because the Hebrew word[412] signifieth a Tabernacle. Secondly, it is rendred the Tabernacle of Moloch, not Siccuth your King, by the Seventy. Thirdly, it is so repeated by Saint Stephen[413] Act. 7. 43. Ye took up the Tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your God Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them.
[412] ונשאתם את סכות מלככם
[413] Καί ἀνελάβετε τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ Μολὸχ, καὶ τὸ ἄστρον τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν ῥαιφὰν τοὺς τύπους οὓς ἐποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς.
Three things are to be enquired for the understanding of this parrallel. First, what the bearing or taking up of this Tabernacle is. Secondly, what Idol was pointed out by these names of Chiun and Remphan. Thirdly, what is meant by the star of this God.
The taking up of this Tabernacle denoteth their worship which they exhibited unto their Idol, by carrying him up and down in Tabernacles and Pageants, after a solemn manner of procession: By the Romans this solemnity was termed pompa, and the Tent or Pageant in which the Idol was carried, Thensa, according to that, Thensa Deorum vehiculum. This kind of Idolatry may seem to have had its original among the Heathens from an unwarrantable imitation of Moses’s Tabernacle, which was nothing else but a portable Temple[414] to be carried from place to place, as need required. For it cannot be denied, but that many superstitions were derived unto the Heathens from the true worship of God, which he himself had prescribed unto his people. Thus, as God had his Tabernacle, Priests, Altars, and Sacrifices, so the devil had his Tabernacles, Priests, Altars and Sacrifices. As God had his Fire ever burning upon the Altar, so had the devil his fire preserved burning by those Vestal Votaries. As God had his Propitiatory or Mercy seat:[415] so had the devil his Sacros tripodas, his Oracles, from which he would speak unto them that served him. This solemn procession was performed by the Romans in the honour of the Sun.[416] It was performed by the Israelites in honour of their Moloch, who formerly was interpreted, the Sun. To add unto the pomp and state of this solemnity, both the Romans and the Israelites caused great Horses and Chariots to be led up and down. Horses were consecrated to the Sun by the Romans, and their Cirque place was sometimes called τὸ ἱππικὸν, and ἱπποδρόμιον, an Horse-race.[417] And that Chariots was commonly used in those pompous shewes is evident.[418] Concerning the people of Judah, doth not the like practice plainly appear? 2 Kings 23. Josiah did put down the Horses given to the Sun, and the Chariots of the Sun. This kind of Idolatrous worshipping the Sun seemeth to have had its beginning from the Persians, who also accounted Horses holy to the Sun:[419] And the Persian King, when he would shew himself in great state, caused an exceeding great Horse to be led up and down, the which was called Equus solis.
[414] οὐδὲν ναοῦ μεταφερομένου διέφερεν. Joseph. Ant.