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Hos_8:11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
Ver. 11. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin] Because he hath multiplied altars against God’s express command, Lev_17:3-9 Deu_12:5-7 Jos_22:22-23 Jer_11:13; and that, to sin; as if it were on purpose to cross and provoke the Lord to anger by their superstitions and will worship, and to despite him with seeming honours (for displeasing service is double dishonour), therefore he shall have enough of it ere I have done with it. He shall be given up to a reprobate sense; that going on from one sin to another, he may fill up his measure, till wrath come upon him to the utmost.
“ Per quod quis peccat, per idem punitur et ipse. ”
Idolatry is sin with an accent, wickedness with a witness, 1Ki_15:30; 1Ki_15:34; 1Ki_16:2; 1Ki_12:30; 1Ki_13:34, and shall be punished accordingly; for so the Chaldee paraphraseth here; Because they have multiplied their altars for sin, the altars of their idols shall be their ruin. There is one Hebrew word for sin and punishment: sin hails hell at the very heels of it, as one saith wittily. Polanus upon this text hath these three profitable observations. First, that as in the Old Testament one only altar was set up by God’s command in the tabernacle and temple, so also in the New Testament we have no other altar but Christ, Heb_13:10. (Iren. lib. 4, contra Haeres, cap. 34.) Secondly, as the Israelites sinned in multiplying altars, so do the Papists most grievously, in that, not content with Christ and his satisfactory sacrifice alone, they set up other altars, and bring in other expiatory sacrifices. Thirdly, as the Israelites made many altars to sin, though they pretended good intention and devotion, so the Papists at this day multiply altars (even hundreds in some one church in Rome). to sin, though they falsely pretend their good retention therein, and the preservation and augmentation of God’s service.