all evil/ as the apostle speaks, and the darling sin of the nation, God is so provoked by it that he first smites, and then hides himself, as one that in displeasure, having left one to the evil and harsh usage of some other, withdraweth himself out of the way, and having shut him- self up in his closet, will not be seen or spoken with. A worldly man makes the world his god. Covetousness is flat idolatry : Col. iii. 5, ' Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth ; fornica- tion, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetous- ness, which is idolatry.' Now though it be true that w^hatever a man loves most and best, that is his god, be it his belly or his back ; yet, in a special manner, covetousness is idolatry, so as no other sin is, Phil. iii. 19 ; Isa. iii. 16-25. Three things especially make a god ; First, our judgment, when we esteem it in our serious thoughts to be our chiefest good, and that in which we place our, happiness. Now the covetous man looks upon the riches of the world as his heaven, his happiness, his great all. Pope Sylvester placed so much happiness in riches, that, to enjoy the popedom for seven years, he sold his soul to the devil. The people of Constantinople placed so much of their happiness in riches, and were so excessively covetous, that they were buying and selling in their shops, even three days after the Turks were within the walls of the city, and that was the reason that the streets run down with the blood of them, their wives, and children. Secondly, our confidence. That is a homage which makes a god, when we place our trust in anything make it our rock, our fortress, our all-sufficient good. This the covetous man doth, ' He saith to the wedge of gold, thou art my confidence,' Job xxi. 34. The rich man's heart dances about his golden calf, saying to his ' wedge of gold, thou art my confidence ;' and yet his wedge of gold shall prove but as Achan's wedge, a wedge to cleave his soul in sunder, and, as that Babylonish garment, to be his winding-sheet. Josh. vii. 21 to end. ' The rich man's wealth is his strong city,' Prov. x. 15 ; 1 Tim. vi. 27. Covetous persons do really think themselves simply the better and the safer for theii" hoards and heaps of riches ; but they may one day find themselves greatly mistaken. Famous is that story of Croesus among the heathens. 1 He was a great king, and tumbled up and down in his gold and silver ; and Solon, that wise man of Greece, coming into his country, he desired to speak with him, and when lie saw him, after Solon had seen and viewed all his wealth and glory, he asked him whom he thought to be the hal^piest man in the world, imagining that Solon would have said Croesus. But Solon answered, I think Tellus was the most happy man. Tellus, saith he ; why Tellus ? Because, said Solon, though he was poor, yet he was a good man, and content with that which he had ; and having governed the common- wealth well, and brought up his child honestly and religiously, he died honourably. Well, then, said Croesus, but who dost thou think the second happy man in the world ? I think, said he, those two brothers that, instead of horses, drew their mother in a chariot to the temple. Whereupon, said Crcesus, what thinkest thou of me ? I think, says he, thou art a very rich man ; but a man may be happy though he be poor, and a man may be unhappy though he be rich, for he may lose
WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THEIR GREATEST TROUBLES. 577
all bis liches before be die ; and tberefore, Aiite ohitum nemo, dc, I tbink none truly bappy but be tbat lives well and dies well. Wbere- upon tbat wise man Solon was dismissed tbe court witb neglect. But afterward tbis Croesus, making war against Cyrus, be was overcome by Cyrus ; and being taken captive, be was laid upon a pile of wood to be burned to deatb, tben lying on tbe pile of wood be cried out and said, 0 Solon ! Solon ! Solon ! Cyrus inquiring wbat be meant, be answered, Tbis Solon was a wise man of Greece, tbat told me tbat bappiness did not consist in ricbes, for tbey migbt all be lost, and a ricb man migbt die miserable ; wbose words, said be, I tben neglected, but now I find true ; and tberefore now I cry out, 0 Solon, Solon, Solon ! Let us now tell tbe covetous man, tbe worldly man, tbat bis bappiness lies not in ricbes, tbougb be looks upon bis ricbes as bis strong city ; be won't mind us, be won't regard. Ob but tbere is a time a-coming wberein tbe worldling will cry out, 0 Solon, Solon, Solon ! Thirdly, Our service. Mat. vi. 24. Tbat is a bomage wbicb makes a god. Wben we devote all our pains, labour, and ser- vice to it, be it tbis or tbat, tbat makes a god. Now tbe covetous man, bis beart is most upon tbe world, bis tbougbts are most upon tbe world, bis affections are most upon tbe world, and bis discourse is most about tbe world. He tbat batb bis mind taken up witb tbe world, and cbiefly deligbted witb tbe world's music, be batb also bis tongue tuned to tbe same key, and taketb bis joy and comfort in speaking of notbing else but tbe world and worldly tbings. If tbe world be in tbe beart, it will break out at tbe lips. A worldly-minded man speaketb of notbing but worldly tbings. ' Tbey are of tbe world, tberefore tbey speak of tbe world,' Jobn iv. 5. Tbe water risetb not above tbe fountain. Out of tbe warebouse tbe sbop is fur- nisbed. Tbe love of tbis world makes men forget God, neglect Cbrist, sligbt ordinances, refuse beaven, despise boliness, and oils tbe tongue for worldly discourses, Mat. xix. 21, 22. Ab tbe time, tbe tbougbts, the strength, tbe spirits, tbe words tbat are spent upon tbe world, and tbe tbings of tbe world, whilst sinners' souls lie a-bleeding, and eternity is posting on upon them 1 I have read of a griping usurer, who was always best when be was most in talking of the world. Being near his end, be was much pressed to make bis will. At last be was overcome, and tben he dictates to tbe scrivener after this manner : — First, I bequeath my own soul to the devil, for being so greedy of the muck of this world ; item, next I give my wife's soul to the devil, for persuading me to this course of life ; item, I give the parson of our parish's soul to the devil, because he did not shew me the danger I lived in, nor reprove me for it. Ob, tbe danger of making the world our god, when we come to die and to make up our accounts witb God ! Now when men make tbe world their god, and set up their riches, pleasures, and profits in the place of God, no wonder if God withdraws his presence from them ; and therefore, as ever you would retain tbe gracious presence of God with you, take heed of a covetous spirit, a worldly spirit. But,
[10.] Tentbly and lastly. As ever you would enjoy the gracious pre- sence of God witb you in your greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, take heed of a cross, froward, and inflexible spirit
578 THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD