tains, rivers, and seas; virtues and vices } peace and war; the particular periods of time; the different ages and circumstances of life; and the various implements of agriculture, all had their tutelary deities. In fact, the whole universe seemed to swarm with these airy nothings. Fear had its votaries; modesty and silence had their altars; calumny and imprudence were also deified: nay, stables, dunghills, and sewers, had their guardian gods.* Thus the true God was forgotten and his glory given either to mere creatures, or to objects of mere imagination. This gross idolatry has spread over the nations. We have many vestiges of it in our own land. The names of our days, and of some of our months, were given by idolaters. Sunday was dedicated to the sun; Monday to

⚫. Nor presided over night, sleep, and dreams: Saturn over time and agriculture: Cybele over the earth: Aurora over the morning: Janus over the year, bounds of cities, gates, &c. Atlas over the starry heavens: Jupiter or Jove over god's and men, but especially over thunder: Juno over women, marriage, and child-birth: Neptune over the sea, and horsemanship: Ceres over the harvest: Apollo over light, medicine, music, and archery: Diana over woods, forests, and hunting: Mars over battles, discord, and tumults: Minerva or Pallas over sciences, arts, and war: Mercury or Hermes over merchants, commerce, rhetoric, and oratory: Vulcan over the forge and mechanic arts: Venus over love and pleasure: Bacchus over mirth and wine: and Pan over shepherds, groves, and pastoral life. See Walker's Geo.

the moon; Tuesday to Tuesca; Wednesday to Woden; Thursday to Thor; Friday to Freya; and Saturday to Saturn. We may also rank with gross idolatry the Romish worship of angels, saints, images, and relics; for it is as abominable in every respect as pagan idolatry. That corrupt church has long copied the ignorant and bewildered heathens; and, perhaps, if the protestants had not stood forth, the champions of truth, all Europe would at this day have been as much devoted to gross idolatry as heathen Rome.

1

2. Refined idolatry is the substitution of any thing, in our affections, in the place of God. Now we come a little nearer home; and perhaps we may find idolaters amongst professing christians. A covetous man is called an idolater, because riches are supreme in his affections. Gluttons and drunkards may be called idolaters, because they serve their bellies more than God. The first and greatest command is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;" and, therefore, to love the creature more than him is idolatry. Complete happiness should be sought in God; but if we seek it in the creature we are idolaters. Man, who is weak and feeble, wants help and support from God; but when he depends upon, and trusts in any other being,

Z

he makes that being his idol. God requires our highest praise; but, alas, how often do we praise ourselves and other men with idolatrous praises! We may idolize a husband, a wife, a child, a friend; we may idolize our houses, our lands, our gold and silver; or we may idolize ourselves. Whatever stands in the place of God is an idol; whatever we love most is our God. The world abounds with the rich bounties of an indulgent providence, and all these good things may be loved, used, and enjoyed in moderation; but the heart must be given to God: "My son, give me thy heart." Recollect, then, if you give your hearts to others, you are idolaters. Reproach not the ignorant heathens for their superstitious worship; but examine your own hearts and your own ways. Men are never without a god; for if they have not the true God, they always have false gods. Let us carefully examine this remark; it may open our eyes to see many of those sins and follies which have been hidden from our view. Perhaps we shall see that instead of the one true God, we have had many false gods; and that the true God, whom we have forgotten, might justly cast us out of his presence for ever and ever.

II. URGE THE CAUTION CONTAINED IN

OUR TEXT.

Many reasons may be assigned why christians, above all others, should keep themselves from idols. They have superior light; they have seen and felt the folly of idolatry; they have tasted the pleasures of a pure spiritual worship; they have superior privileges; and they have better hopes than other men. If they fall into idolatry, even the most refined, they give up the light which has shone upon their understandings, the grace which has influenced their hearts, and all their hopes of future blessedness. O beware! Let not the world seduce you by its bewitching charms: let not' Satan deceive you by his subtle wiles: let not your own hearts betray you. God is now supreme in your affections, and resolve that he shall be so to all eternity. To this end

1. Meditate frequently upon the greatness, the glory, and the all-sufficiency of the true God. You will then see more clearly, the propriety of his claims to your highest regards. The better you know him, the more you will desire to enjoy him as your God. He possesses all you can want either in this world or in the next; and you will prove him to be a full, satisfying, and everlasting portion.

2. Often reflect upon the folly of idolatry. What are those idols which men worship? How insufficient to supply their wants, to protect them in danger, and to direct their steps through this dark world! What can the world do for men? What can these worthless gods do for immortal spirits? Riches are uncertain, carnal pleasures soon cloy, and a sting is left behind which torments the guilty soul.

3. Think seriously of the difficulties which men plunge themselves into, by departing from the living God. How can they expect the blessings of heaven, while they deny the God of heaven, and withhold from him that worship and service which he requires? Which of their idols can rescue them when he appears in judgment?

"Con

sider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver."

4. Keep far from idolaters. Never deem that man your friend who is an enemy to your God. Bad example is powerful; but let it be your constant care to keep as far from danger as possible. When duty compels you to mix with men who are without God, you may humbly claim the watchful and protecting care of God; but there is not a possibility of escaping the fatal snares of worldly company, if we voluntarily run into it.