Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

6 676 That?eorldly thing-are the catefes ofidelatrie. For when worldlings excefTuelie dote vpon the world and worldlyvanities, they ere& them for their idols in thefhrines oftheir hearts,and giue into them diuine worfhip. And in this iamcs 4'4 regard,theApoflle lames talleth worldlings adulterers,and a- dultereffes, becaufe they commit this fpirituallwhoredomwith the thingsof theworld, adoring, lóuing andtrufling in them, more then inGodhimfelfe. The which finne is committed by worldlings,either properly and groffely,when as theyworfhip idols ofzoldand filuer; án example whereofwee hase in the Ifraelites,ofwhom iris faid,that as they abounded in thefe rich Hof.ioaa.. giftsofgold and filuer;, fo they multiplied their images : or as . theybe hiredwith this wagesofiniquitie, to commitidolatrie withthefeabominable idols made with hands, chufing'rather to fall down before them,and adorethem with diuineworlhip, then they will bedepriued oftheir worldlyprofit andaduan- Mst9.1r. tagc. An examplewherofwe haue in Demetriass,who'worfhip- ped the idoli Diaaa,aud raginglyperlécuted the Apofile,Panl, not fomuch for loueto the image,orhatred to the Apolilesper- fon or doìrine,ásbecaufe his idolatrie was aduantageable to. him,andbrought in with it earthly gaineandprofit. Or elfe worldlings commit this idolatrie moreimproperly and couert- ly,whenthey difplace God outof the temple oftheirhearts, and in findofhim let vptheir idols ofthe worldand worldlie vanities,byfettingtheir affeetionswholly vpon them; inwhich refpe&this maybe fidy called,the idolatryofthe hart andaffe- &ion,as the former was the idolatrie of-the mind and judge- ment. And this idolatrie is committedby worldlymen, when as they loue there earthly vanities more thenGodhimfelfe, ta- kingmore care andpainesboth in gettingand keeping them, and beingmoreafraidofforgoing them, and more grieuedfor lofing them, then for the enjoying or lofngofGods fauour in this life,. and his glorious and ioyful'prefence in the lifeto cotre. So allo when theyput theirtruPt and confidencein thefe worldly things,for the furnifhingof themwith thingswhich theydelre, and for the freeing and deliuering themfrom all dangers; for howfocuerthefe are rotten props to refsvpon,and weakehelpes in time ofnced,yet fowillingare.menby nature, in thepride and fenfualitieoftheir hearts toleaue theirdepen alaacieuponGodaand to depend vpon thetnfelues, and vifible meaner,

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