The law unsealed

In practical Idolatry we are to distinguish betwixt the letting out of our affections upon simply sinful objects, and the letting them out excessively upon lawful objects. Thus men are guilty of Idolatry with sinful objects, when they love and covet another mans House, Wife, or Goods, when things unlawful and forbidden have the heart. Again, men are guilty of Idolatry in making lawful objects Idols; as when by excess or inordinateness of love to their own Means, Wife, House, &c. they put them in Gods room, as Nebuchadnezzar did with Babylon, Dan. 4. 30. So then, in the former sense, men make their lusts or sins. whatever they be, their Idols, Gluttons that serve their appetite, Drunkards their drunkenness, make their Bellies and Appetite their Idol; for to whatever men yield themselves to obey, they are servants unto that which they obey, Rom. 6. 16. An Idol is something excessively esteemed of, and Idolatry is the transferring of Gods due, outwardly or inwardly, to what is not God, whether we esteem it God or not.

We shall first speak of practical Heart-Idolatry, especially when lawful things are made Idols, which is the most subtle kind of Idolatry, and that which men most ordinarily fall into: And it may be cleared these five ways, by all which, men give that which is due to God unto Creatures. There are five things that are incontrovertibly due to God, to wit, 1. Estimation and honour above all. 2. Love with all the heart. 3. Confidence and trust. 4. Fear and reverence. 5. Service and obedience.

We shall first speak of practical Heart-Idolatry, especially when lawful things are made Idols, which is the most subtil kind of Idolatry, and that which men most ordinarily fall into: And it may be cleared these five wayes, by all which, men give that which is due to God unto Creatures. There are five things that are incontrovertibly due to God, to wit, 1. Estimation and honour above all. 2. Love with all the heart. 3. Confidence and trust. 4. Fear and reverence. 5. Service and obedience.