CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. Is God the only true God, then observe the first Commandment,¹ Let us have no other Gods besides him; for not only the Heathen that worships Stock and Stone, is an Idolater, but every Christian that puts this hope and confidence in any creature, that placeth the chiefest of his affections and desires otherwise then on God, he is a spiritual Idolater. Thus covetousness is called Idolatry, Col. 3.5. Charge them that are rich, that they trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God, saith Paul, 1 Tim. 6.17. If I have made gold my hope, saith Job, chap. 31.24. There is no earthly covetous man that placeth his affections and trust in wealth, but he renounceth the only true God, and yet how hard is it to have wealth, and not to put confidence in it; for whereas our Evangelist saith, It's as hard for a rich man to be saved, as a Camel to go through the eye of a needle, another saith, for a rich man that trusts in his riches: Take heed then of this subtle spiritual sin; Is thy heart inwardly supported? Do thy spirits rise because of thy wealth? this is Idolatry. So likewise the voluptuous man, he maketh his pleasures, his lusts, a God; Whose belly is their God, Phil. 3.9. Yea no godly man can with such hearty affections and joy constantly serve God, as the voluptuous ⟨p. 94⟩man doth his lusts; so that whatsoever a mans heart doth inordinately run out upon, that creature he loveth more then God, this makes him an Idolater: As he said of Baal, Why halt ye between two, If God be God serve him? If Baal be God serve him? So we may say, Why halt ye between God and the creature? If God be the only true God, let him have the only true love and joy of thy soul? If riches and lusts be God, then let them have all thy heart.

2. Is God the only true God, then observe the first Commandment,¹