Thus we ought to temper ourselves, and to work in ourselves as much as may be, a sound hatred to all sin, not only of the second table, but of the first also. The church here saith, ' "What have I any more to do with idols ? ' Now I hate all vain inventions. And think not, with Gallio, that this belongeth not to us ; if we be magistrates, and called to do it, to stand for the cause of the church and true religion.
' What have I any more to do with idols ? '
The last thing to be observed from Ephraim's manner of expressing his indignation is —
Obs. That uhere love is not ivell contracted and begun, it will not hold to the end, but will end in eternal hatred.
The serpent and Eve* had some poor acquaintance together, as the issue proved. What did it end in ? ' The seed of the woman shall break the serpent's head,' Gen. iii. 15. This association and acquaintance ended in everlasting war and breach. So all covenants, leagues, and associations with those we should not join with, can never soderf handsomely together, but wiU end in everlasting hatred. ^\Tiat a strict league was in former times betwixt Ephraim and idols ! But when Ephraim's eyes are opened to see his idols devils, he detests and loathes all abominations, and is of another mind. ' What have I any more to do with idols ? ' He abomi- nates them, as the word importeth.
Let us therefore beware with whom we join in intimate league. For what makes miserable so much, as the renting I of the affections from that they were strongly placed on 7 when love is rent from the thing beloved ? If we place our affections, for some by-respects, upon wicked persons, this
* Printed ' Hevah.'— G. t That is, 'solder.'— G. J That is, ' rending.'— G.
876 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. ' [SeEMON X.
will cause so much the more torment and indignation against ourselves, that were so foolish to suffer our affections to enter so deeply where they should not. Those that glory in their league with antichrist, and wonder at the beast, Rev. xvii. 8, seq., thinking him a demi-god : will this be alway so ? Oh, no ; when God opens the eyes of any of his people, they shall hate them for ever. So wicked persons, that now are led on to this and that wicked course : shall this be always so ? Woe to thee, if it be ! But the time may come that thou shalt say, ' What have I any more to do with idols,' or with such an one's acquaintance ? I cannot endure to look on him : he tainted me, and misled me, and tempted me. Now we must be two, part we must, and I would we had never met together. Therefore, before we place our affections on any, consider who they be, whether we be likely to live with them for ever or not ; whether there be any evidence of grace in them. If not, let them be two to us. For whatsoever vanity is in the things or persons we love, if we belong to God, we must be separate from them, unless we will be damned. Therefore we must be wise to prevent the danger betimes. Ephraim might have known before the danger of idolatry, had he been wise and prudent ; but it is well he knows it now at length, which causeth him so to abominate idols. ' What have I any more to do with idols ?' Thus much is spoken, because of the lukewarmuess and cold temper, neutrality and halting of a great many in the world, having so many sinful combinations and associations one with another, as if these things were not material.
Now, let men consider what a disposition this is, and how it stands with that disposition which must be in those that are members of Christ, and look for heaven. Let a Christian always remember what he is, and what he hopes for, and this will put him in a right temper. 1. What he is : a king, and an heir of heaven, &c. After which he should reason with good Nehemiah, ' Shall such a man as I fly ? ' shall such a man as I do this ? I am redeemed from my sins, and advanced to be a king to rule over my lusts, to be an heir of heaven and eternal happiness in the world to come, to reign with Christ ; and shall I do thus and thus ? Doth this stand with my new temper, this sin, this filthiness, this base action and thoughts that I am tempted to and encumbered with ? Shall such a man as I follow these base actions, waj^s, and companions ? Con- sider we this well, and then it will breed Ephraim's resolution, • What have I any more to do with this base lust ? ' What hath it to do with me, or I with it ? Is this and this action befitting a king, and an heir of heaven, and a new creatm-e ? And if a man be in authority, then let him consider what Mordecai said to Esther, ' What if thou be called to the kingdom for such a purpose ?' Esther iv. 14. What if thou be called to this place or dignity for this purpose, to reform such and such abuses ? Think with thyself, not only in particular what thou art, but in thy place, what if thou be called to reform such abuses : such unsound doctrines ; to stand for God and for the truth. This will breed this resolute indignation of Ephraim in us, ' What have I any more to do with idols '? ' All which is for the manner of Ephraim's indignation : a strong negation of an abominated thmg. ' What have I any more to do,' &c. The next, which is the substance and matter abominated — idolatry — must be reserved for gome other time.