idolatry is found in putting the creature in place of the Creator. If he shall be punished who worships a snake, shall he escape God's displeasure who worships yellow dust, called gold, or sinful pleasures, or the breath of worms, uttered in applause? It is very true that some forms of idolatry are more gross and shocking to the sensibilities of men than others. But in the gorgeous ceremony or in the secret observance of idolatrous rites, God may be as justly offended as in the most shameless and bloody practices.

There are two entirely different classes of objects, toward which we may practise idolatry, open or secret. We may desire the wages of unrighteousness, and be greedy of filthy lucre. That is all sinful from beginning to end. That, which God has absolutely forbidden, in all cases and at all times, is then lusted after. Or, we may be guilty of idolatry by an inordinate affection to lawful gains, and wealth obtained by means which men esteem honourable. An idol may, therefore, be something which we love, although we are forbidden to love it at all; or, it may be something which it is lawful to love in moderation, but which we love excessively. In either case, we set up some object before our affections in a way which draws our hearts from God. Whenever we esteem, or honour, or love, or fear, or serve, or obey, or confide in any person, or thing, or opinion, more than in God, or in any way that interferes with our duty to God, then we are guilty of idolatry. To whatever, or to whomsoever we yield obedience, we are servants unto that which we obey. Rom. vi. 16. When we put so high a value upon our ease, or houses, or lands, or husband, or wife, or children, or parents, or stations,

or offices, or public favour, as that we pine away in rebellion against God at their loss, we do, by our conduct, cry out as Micah, "Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I more?" All things that perish in the using are dangerous to our souls, when, in apprehending our loss of them, we hold our remaining mercies, the promises of the gospel, and the adorable Trinity, as of little value to us. The same is true when we are ready to make use of unlawful or doubtful means for regaining what we have lost.

Much idolatry is committed by unduly setting our affections on the things of this world. The Bible is explicit in stating that the covetous man is an idolater, Eph. v. 5; and that covetousness is idolatry, Col. iii. 5. It further teaches that this love of the world cannot co-exist with true piety. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John ii. 15, 16. This love of the world sometimes breaks out in atrocious wickedness, as when it leads to theft, or forgery, or murder. So intent was Ahab on Naboth's vineyard that he would not rest till the dogs licked up his blood. Demas apostatized from Christianity, that he might secure the gains of idolatry in a heathen temple. Again, this love of the world greatly weakens our courage, and diminishes our zeal, and makes us languid in the service of God. This is the prevailing sin of multitudes in Christian countries. It often happens that even good men are not "valiant for the truth." Jer. ix. 3. Then their course of conduct

4

concerning the interests of religion is vacillating, and they do not exert all the authority with which they are invested to put down wickedness. Thus Eli said to his sons, "It is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress." 1 Sam. ii. 24. But he "restrained them not." This love of the world, uncured and unrepented of, will work the ruin of any soul. It is as true that the covetous shall not be saved, as that fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, sodomites, thieves, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners shall be excluded from the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 9. Wealth may cause the wicked to be envied by fools, courted by sycophants, and applauded by the multitude; but all his gains will not help him in the day of wrath. They cannot cure a pain of body, nor relieve a pang of mind. In death, so far from comforting him, his wealth often adds terrors to the event. And in judgment and eternity all his earthly possessions will be but as fuel to kindle the fires of Tophet. For the riches of the wicked shall eat their flesh as it were fire. They have heaped treasure together against the last day. James v. 3. Sometimes idolatry assumes the form of trust in something besides God. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses," Ps. xx. 7; some make "gold their hope, or say to the fine gold, "Thou art my confidence,' Job xxxi. 24; some "have pleasure in the legs of a man," Ps. cxlvii. 10; some expect to be "saved by the multitude of an host," Ps. xxxiii. 16; some in sickness "seek not to the Lord, but to the physicians," 2 Chron. xvi. 12; some expect ease and quiet and a happy life through the "much goods which they have laid up for many years," Luke xii. 19; some, despair

ing of help from God, betake themselves to those that have familiar spirits," 1 Sam. xxviii. 7-14. All these practise a form of idolatry. They put a creature in the place of God. They rely upon means and instruments instead of the almighty agent. Let none trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God. "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he accounted of?" Isa. ii. 22.

It is no less idolatry to be greatly afraid of man, or of the power of any creature. Our business is to sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be our fear, and let him be our dread. Isa. viii. 13. It is as true now, as in former days, that "the fear of man bringeth a snare." Prov. xxix. 25. We cannot expect to please God and do our duty until we can say, "I will not be afraid what man can do unto me;" "The Lord is my strength; of whom shall I be afraid?" Ps. xxvii. 1. "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about." Ps. iii. 6. So that if we suffer for righteousness' sake, we may count ourselves happy. Let us never be afraid of the terror of man, neither be troubled. 1 Pet. iii. 14. What sad work the fear of man made among some who believed on Christ, and yet did not own him, may be learned from John xii. 42, 43. Even Peter, who truly loved him, and who seems to have been habitually intrepid, was more than once led into great errors by his fear of man. Mark xiv. 66-72; Gal. ii. 11–13.

Sometimes men give themselves up to a service, which is practical idolatry. When we seek to please men, we are not the servants of Christ. Gal. i. 10. When we expect to be able to serve both God and

mammon, we miserably deceive ourselves. Cares and engagements, which so engross our time as to leave none for God's service, which make such demands upon our exertions as to leave us unfitted for devotions public and private, which fill us with excessive solicitude and carry us away far from the paths of simple and earnest piety, do make us idolaters.

The objects of practical idolatry are many, and wholly undeserving of our warm affection. When a man goes forth, crying, "Who will show us any good? Ps. iv. 6, he is a candidate for shame, and is on the high road to idolatry. When one is devoted to his appetite, he is already an idolater. Phil. iii. 19. When a man believes that the chief end of his existence is to provide the means of gratifying the appetites of himself and his dependents, and is content with a portion in this life, if he and his can be filled. with God's hid treasure, he is already an undone man. Ps. xvii. 14. Repentance alone can rescue him from an eternal overthrow.. When we set an undue value upon our own bodily endowments, as strength, beauty, or agility; or upon our mental faculties, as memory, imagination, reason, wit, or judgment; or on our acquirements, as skill, learning, or eloquence, then we make idols of these things. When Herod received the gross flatteries of the people, and gloried in his eloquence, he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. When the daughters of Zion were haughty, and walked with stretched-forth necks and wanton - eyes, walking and mincing as they went, they were but preparing themselves for the day of evil, when the Lord should take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments, and untold calamities should be