The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 172

into idolatry of this kind through the use in worship of pictures and statues designed to represent the Saviour. But the essence of idolatry is giving to another the Jove and reveronco and devotion which 11ro rightly dne to God alone. Many make an idol of riches. Money ie thoir crod, and they devote all their powers and opportunities to the c_ager pursuit of it. "C~vetousocss ... is idolatry-''. Others wo:ship pleas11re. They live but for o.musement, nnd endeavour to enbordmate everythmg to their personal gratifico.tion. And others mako honour, or fame, or power, their god. We m:i.y make an idol of some beloved relative or friend-wife, husband, or child. Or, and this is in some respects worst of all, a man may make a god of himself-may think first and chiefly of himself, study his own interests and happiness, and love himself supremely. It has been well s11id, "Wooden idols a.re easily a.voided, but take heed of the idols of gold. It is no difficult matter to keep from dead idols, but tfl.ke heed that thou worship not the living ones, and especially thyself; for as soon as thou a.rrogatest to thyself either honour, or praise, or knowledge, or power, thou settest thyself in the place of God, and he has declared that he' will not give his glory to another.'" .And this sin offers the greatest dishonour and wrong a.ad insult to God. 2. The danger of the sin to be guarded against. 'l'his may be seen from the following considerations. (1) The worship of anything less than God cannot satisfy our spiritual nature. God has ma.de us for himself, and our soul~ cannot rest until they rest in him. (2) The worship of anything less than God dwarfs and degrades man's spiritual nature. The exercise of real worship transforms the worshipper into likeness to the object worshipped; e.g. the idolatry of riches will gradually mould man into a. grovelling, grasping miser; of power, into a ruthless, despotic tyrant, etc. (3) The worship of anything less than God will lead to bitter disappointment and irretrievable loss. Sooner or later, the idolater will be awakened from his delusions, and then he will find that his god is a poor sham, and that, as for himself, he has'' forsaken the Fountain of living waters, and hewed him out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." And how terrible is death to the idolater I Death may take from him the wife whom he loves more than he loves God, or the child, etc. And when he dies he must leave his idols behind him-his money, etc. "vVe brought nothing into the world, neither can we carry anything out." "When he dieth he shall carry nothing a.way ; his glory shall not descend after him.'' And then will a.rise the bitter cry," Ye have taken away my gods; and what have I more?" 3. The method of guarding against this sin. The most effective preservative against idolatry is growing fidelity to God. He who assiduously cultivates reverent attachment and hearty devotion to him cannot fall into idolatry. "'l'he Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with a.II thy strength." "Thou shalt have no other gods before me.'' "Little children, keep yourselves from idols.''-W. J. Vers. 1-12.-Faith and the Divine testimony. I. ·FAITH. 1. A commonfaith with a common life is the foundation of brotherly love. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.'' A general aspect is given to the truth. Given a person who (according to what John has formerly taught) believes that Jesus is the Christ, it can be said of him that he is begotten of God, i.e. is the subject of a Divine life. It is implied, but not expressed, that a child of God loves the Author of his life. 'l'his love is extended to him that shares with him the same Divine life. 'l'here is thus created a brotherhood, with a common source of life and a common stream of life. And shall not all who have a common origin and common movements love one another? 2. The reality of brotherly love is proved by the activity of obedience. "Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and do his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.'' Thero is here personal appli- cation of t!-io truth. When can we say that we lovo the childreu of God? The answer given is (the converse being also true), when we love God. Have we some real love to God? then inseparable from that is love to his chil<lrcn. For along with love to God goes the doing of his commandments, under which is included love to the children of God. 'l'his is tha lava of God in its working, that we ara careful about doing the com- mo.ndments of God. If 11, child has a sincere love to his parents, and knows that they  liO THE FIRST EPISTLE GENER.AL OF JOIIN, [en, v. 1-21,