A Body of Practical Divinity

Use 2. of Caution. If there be but one God, then let us take heed of setting up more Gods then one. Psal. 16.4. Their sorrows shall be multiplied, that hasten after another God: their Drink-offerings of Blood will I not offer, nor take up their Names into my lips. God is a jealous God, and he will not endure that we should have other Gods. 'Tis easy to commit Idolatry with the Creature. 1. Some make a God of Pleasure, 2. Tim. 3.4. [Greek or Hebrew], Lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God. Whatever we love more then God, we make a God. 2. Others make Money their God. The Covetous Man worships the Image of Gold, therefore is called an Idolater, Eph. 5.5. that which a Man trusts to, he makes his God, but he makes the wedge of Gold his Hope. He makes Money his Creator, Redeemer, Comforter. 'Tis his Creator; if he hath Money, then he thinks he is made. It is his Redeemer; if he be in danger, he trusts in his Money to redeem him out. It is his Comforter; if at any time he be sad, the golden Harp drives away the Evil Spirit. So that Money is his God; God made Man of the Dust of the Earth, and Man makes a God of the Dust of the Earth. 3. Another makes a God of his Child, sets his Child in God's room, and so provokes God to take it away. If you lean too hard upon a Glass, it will break; many break their Children, by leaning too hard upon them. 4. Others make a God of their Belly, Phil. 3.19. Whose God is their Belly. Clemens Alexandrinus writes of a Fish that hath its heart in its Belly; an Emblem of Epicures, their Heart is in their Belly; they mind nothing but indulging the Sensual Appetite; they do sacrificare lari, their Belly is their God, and to this they pour Drink-offerings: Thus Men make many Gods. The Apostle names the wicked Man's Trinity, 1 John 2.16. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life. The lust of the flesh, Pleasure; the lust of the eye, Money; Pride of Life, Honour. O take heed of this! whatever you Deify besides God, will prove a Bramble, and Fire will come out of this Bramble, and devour you, Judges 9.15.