Thus we see what to think of the temper of these men. In lighter matters indeed we may enjoy our own private opinions in some things. As St Paul saith in lesser things, ' If any man be otherwise minded, God shall reveal it unto him,' Phil. iii. 15. But when he comes to the point of justification by Christ in God's worship, what saith he ? 'If any man be otherwise minded, God shall reveal it ? ' No. But ' if I, or an angel from heaven, teach otherwise, let him be accursed,' Gal. i. 8. Now, when men teach another doctrine and worship, joining with gross idolaters in that wor- ship, there we must be of Paul's spirit, ' If I, or an angel from heaven, teach otherwise, let him be accursed.' The Holy Ghost at fii-st appeared in the form and shape of a dove. Mat. iii. 16, which is a meek and mild creature, that hath no talons to hm-t with. Yet notwithstanding, at another time, he appeared in ' fiery tongues,' Acts ii. 3, to shew that the same Spiiit that in lesser things maintaineth peace and love, when it is set against any sin, especially against that sin of sins, idolatry, which brings God's vengeance upon kingdoms and states, and roots them out ; there the Holy Ghost must appear in fire. That element must be in the hearts of people against sin. That, though to persons that have their slips, and in lesser matters,
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 389
there must be the spirit of a clove, yet there must be in men the spirit of courage, indignation, abomination, and hatred unto the idolatry of the times, that we may say from our hearts with Ephraim, ' What have I now any more to do with idols ? '
Therefore, let us join with those that we shall live for ever with in heaven, and go in the best courses, and we shall never need to fear separation, nor want encouragements to well-doing. Thus shall we neither grieve nor be ashamed to say with Ephraim, ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?' At the length the kings of the earth, who adore the whore, they shall come and eat her \evj flesh. Rev. xvii. 16. So it will be the end of those that reign in other men's consciences, and in a manner will be accounted gods, that all which is gotten with wrong to God, shall be renounced with grief, shame, and detestation of the persons of those that make idols of others, and will be made idols in the hearts of others ; think- ing themselves not enough respected, unless they command the conscience. The end of such cannot be good. All this must end in loathing, shame, and detestation. ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?' said Ephi'aim ; and what have I now any more to do with such and such pro- faneness, hypocrisy, double-dealing, and the like ? shall such persons, thus sinful, say one day, with shame and horror of conscience. Wherefore, let us meet God betimes, and renounce our idols of all sorts, that God may come ' to hear us, observe us, and be as a green fir-tree unto us,' &c. Whereof, if God please, we shall hear more the next time.
THE TWELFTH SERMON.
Ephraim shall say. What have I any more to do with idols ? I have heard him and observed him, : I am like a green fir-tree : from me is thy fruit found.— llos. XIV. 8.
The' words, as we heard heretofore, are a gracious answer unto the prayer which God himself, by his Spu-it, had dictated to Ephraim : as likewise a reward of Ephraim's reformation. Aided by grace, Ephraim shall say, ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?' ' God will hear him and observe him, and be like a gi-een fir-tree unto him.' For, saith God, ' from me shall Ephraim's fruit be found.' Whereby we see, that whensoever God doth alter the soul by his gi-ace, there he also breeds divorce and divi- sion between it and all idolatry ; a disposition in some sort like himself, having those sympathies and antipathies he hath towards sin and goodness. Now, because God is a jealous God, and cannot abide idols ; therefore Ephraim, being sanctified by the Spirit of God, is minded as God is, ' Wliat have I any more to do with idols ?'
1. God hath framed the soul, that it may enjoy the chief good, and avoid the chief ill especially ; for petty goods and petty ills are not so behoveful. Yet notwithstanding, God will have us avoid all ill, and embrace all good, and he hath made the soul into an answerable condition. Therefore hath he planted aflections therein tending to good ; as love, and joy, and delight, especially made for the embracing of the main good, thereby to go out of itself, and close with that main chief good, in closing where^\'ith it may be happy.
390 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XII.
2. And then, to avoid the chief ill, sin and damnation, he hath planted affec- tions of aversation, abhorring, hatred, gi'ief, and the Uke. Thus hath he framed the soul for these main ends, without which affections the soul were as mare mortuum, that dead sea. The affections are the wings and the wind of the soul, that carry it unto all which it is carried unto. Especially, when the wind of God's Spirit blows upon it, then it is carried out of itself; for of itself it cannot love or hate as it should ; but God must raise the affections, and lay them down again. We have not the management of our hearts. Grace teacheth us to do all.