The True Christians T est, Part 2 · Meditation 38
MEDITAT. XXXVIII. From the Conſideration of the Nature of the Love of the World, Idolatrous and Adulterous.
HAving briefly conſidered what the World is, and what Love is, I will now put them together, and a little conſider what Worldly Love is. And indeed I cannot think of any thing abominable, but I find it to be that. Methinks I hear the Pathetical words of the bleſſed one, fou…g in my ears, Oh do not that abominable thing that I hate (Jer. 44. 4.) It ſeems that all ſin is abominable and hated of Gods Soul: But if one thing may be ſaid to be more abominable than another, I doubt not but Predominant Worldly Love, is the moſt abominable of all things; as having in it the nature of all thoſe things, which are of all ſober Judges accounted moſt abominable. I will confine my ſelf to five or ſix of the worſt that I can think of. And here I will begin this black Roll with Idolatry.
This is confeſt by all Chriſtians to be an abominable thing, inſomuch that that very part of the Chriſtian World which we moſt ſuſpect of it, are as ſtudious to excuſe it, as they are bold to commit it: And there is a great deal of reaſon why all men profeſſing the knowledge of the true God, ſhould abominate Idolatry, when they hear him in his Word ſo paſſionately charging the World againſt it, ſo terribly threatning the Commiſſion of it, and read what lamentable Devaſtations he made amongſt the Jews becauſe of it; which the Prophet excuſes by a ſtrange expreſſion, The Lord could no longer bear, becauſe of their Idolatry, Jer. 44. 22. But as abominable as it is, the Love of the World is in it. What the Apoſtle ſays of one Branch of it, by the ſame Argument, that Covetouſneſs is Idolatry; Pride and Senſuality are no better. The higheſt Act of Worſhip is Love, conſequently, he that loves the praiſe of Men, more than the praiſe of God, that is a lover of Pleaſures more than of God, is a down right Idolater. Gold and Silver need not to be made into Images, to be objects of admiration: He that loves and delights, and truſts in them chiefly, has given the Worſhip peculiar to God to them, and made them his God already. Idols may be, and commonly are ſet up, as properly in the Heart as in Houſes, Ezek. 14. 3. and Idolatry as well committed, by the inclinations of the Will, as by the bending of the Knee. There cannot be more palpable Idolatry in the world, than making that a God to ones ſelf, which is none: Is not the Senſualiſt an Idolater in the moſt proper ſpeech, whoſe Belly is his God, as the Apoſtle phraſeth it. By the like propriety of ſpeech, one may ſay of the proud Gallant, that he makes his Back his God; nay an Horſe, an Hawk, or an Hound, may be as truly an Idol to a Chriſtian, as a Calf is to an Egyptian.
A ſecond abominable thing that I think of, is Adul…ry. Whatever favourable Opinion this Wicked and Wanton Age has entertain'd of this Vice, I'm ſure the Holy God accounts it abominable, and ordained in his Common-wealth of the Jews, that the Adulterors ſhould be ſtoned to Death. Such is the Opinion that God has of Adultery, that he moſt uſually by his Prophets compares that incomparable ſin of Idolatry to it, and calls it going a Whoring after other Gods. It muſt needs be a foul pattern by which that Monſter of Idolatry is drawn.
And is not the love of the World Adultery? Is not the heart of Man as much dedicate and due to God, as any Mans Wife is peculiar to him. Do Men juſtly complain of great wrong done to them, and may not God as juſtly complain of the alienation of Hearts? May not God reaſonably be offended that ſuch a vile thing as Mundanes ſhould be his Rival, and defile the Heart of Man; which he eſteems his greateſt Jewel. It's plain by the judgement of the great Searcher of Hearts, that ſhe that luſts after another Man, more than her own Husband, is a Whore, and has already committed Adultery with him in her Heart. It muſt needs be, that the Soul that luſts after and cleaves to any Object more than to God (to whom Souls are moſt nearly related, and to whom they are moſt firmly bound) is abominably Unchaſt and Adulterous in her loves. Souls have no way of playing the Whore but by miſ-loving: and by how much the meaner the Object of their love is, ſo much the groffer and more ſhameful their Adultery. So that the Soul Proſtituting it ſelf to the World, is not only Adulterous but indeed Sodomitical in this Conjuction. For tis all one with lying down before a Beaſt, which is forbidden by the law, abhorr'd of Nature, and damned by the gentile Theology, under the Fable of Paſiphae and her Bull, and their Monſtrous off ſpring, the Minotaur, Vencr is Monument a nefandae.