Verse 5

VER. 5.

Your Calf, O Samaria, has cast you off.

YOUR Calf, O Samaria. He calls the idol a calf by way of contempt. But why is it called the Calf of Samaria? It was not set up in Samaria: there are two calves only that we read of, and yet here it is called the Calf of Samaria. The reason is this; that Samaria was the chief city, and because the calf was by the power and riches, and countenance of the chief city of the land maintained, therefore it is called the Calf of Samaria. Where that is corrupted, the whole land will quickly be corrupted, and where that stands right it goes well with the whole land: that is the reason why the adversaries seek to corrupt and overthrow our chief city. As all did depend upon what Samaria did, therefore the corruption of false worship is attributed to Samaria, it is your Calf, O Samaria. And therefore if God had not moved the hearts of the people of this city, but we had brought Popery in, it might have been said, it was the Popery of London: and whereas on the other side, if God please to work their spirits right to go on to the end, the children not yet born may have cause to bless this city, and say, This is the Reformation that we may bless London for.