Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

6 676 That?eorldly thing -are the catefes ofidelatrie. For when worldlings excefTuelie dote vpon the world and worldly vanities, they ere& them for their idols in thefhrines of their hearts,and giue into them diuine worfhip. And in this iamcs 4'4 regard,the Apoflle lames talleth worldlings adulterers,and a- dultereffes, becaufe they commit this fpirituallwhoredomwith the things of theworld, adoring, lóuing and trufling in them, more then inGod himfelfe. The which finne is committed by worldlings,either properly and groffely,when as theyworfhip idols ofzold and filuer; án example whereof wee hase in the Ifraelites,of whom iris faid,that as they abounded in thefe rich Hof.ioaa.. gifts of gold and filuer;, fo they multiplied their images : or as . theybe hiredwith this wages ofiniquitie, to commitidolatrie withthefeabominable idols made with hands, chufing'rather to fall down before them,and adorethem with diuineworlhip, then they will bedepriued oftheir worldly profit andaduan- Mst9.1r. tagc. An example wherofwe haue in Demetriass,who'worfhip- ped the idoli Diaaa,aud ragingly perlécuted the Apofile,Panl, not fomuch for loueto the image,orhatred to the Apoliles per - fon or doìrine, ás becaufe his idolatrie was aduantageable to. him,and brought in with it earthly gaine and profit. Or elfe worldlings commit this idolatrie more improperly and couert- ly,whenthey difplace God out of the temple of their hearts, and in find ofhim let vptheir idols of the world and worldlie vanities,byfettingtheir affeetionswholly vpon them; in which refpe&this maybe fidy called,the idolatry of the hart and affe- &ion,as the former was the idolatrie of- the mind and judge- ment. And this idolatrie is committed by worldly men, when as they loue there earthly vanities more then God himfelfe, ta- king more care and paines both in getting and keeping them, and being more afraid of forgoing them, and more grieuedfor lofing them, then for the enjoying or lofngof Gods fauour in this life,. and his glorious and ioyful'prefence in the lifeto cotre. So allo when they put their truPt and confidencein thefe worldly things,for the furnifhing of themwith things which theydelre, and for the freeing and deliuering them from all dangers; for howfocuerthefe are rotten props to refs vpon,and weake helpes in time of nced,yet fo willingare. men by nature, in the pride and fenfualitie of their hearts to leaue their depen alaacie upon Godaand to depend vpon thetnfelues, and vifible meaner,