A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

5 The fifth way of committing this Idolatry is by service, when a man is brought under the power of any thing; so whatever a man s •rveth this way is an Idol, every predominant, every person or humour that a man setteth himself thus to please is an •dol: in this respect it is said men cannot serve two Masters, God and Mammon; and if we yet serve men, we are not the servants of Christ, Gal. 1.10. This may be known 1. By what men are most excessively taken up with, and most careful to fulfil and accomplish. ⟨p. 35⟩2. By looking to what it is for which they will take most pains that they may attain it. 3. By what getteth most of their time and labour. 4. By what overswayeth, and overcometh, or overaweth them most, so that they cannot resist it, though it thrust by duties to God; and when they are never so taken up with Gods service, but it indisposeth them when ever they come to immediate worship; it is an evident token that such a thing is the mans Idol.

These be the most ordinary ways how men fall in this sin of Idolatry: it were hard to speak of all the several Idols which may be loved, feared, rested on too much, and so put in God's room: I shall instance in a few.

The first is the World, this is the great Clay-Idol that both covetous and voluptuous men hunt after, crying, Who will sh •w us any good? Psal. 4.6. By this thousands are kept in bondage, and turned head-long: An ex ••ssive desire to have the World's Goods, and to have by these a name in the Earth, is many a mans Idol.