Some men (the Psalmist calls them fools) say, There is no God. Ps. xiv. 1.

Others seem to fancy he is such an one as themselves. Ps. 1. 21.

Some men have denied the doctrine of the Trinity, that there are three persons in the one God.

Others have denied the divinity of Christ. 2 Pet. ii. 1. And others again have denied the influences of the Spirit. Heb. x. 29.

Many have thought God to be all mercy.

And others have imagined him to be all justice.

Too many worship God with their lips, while their hearts are far from him; or they pray to God without expecting to be heard only through the intercession of Jesus Christ.

Whereas we can know nothing of God, except as he is revealed to us in the face of Jesus Christ.

Some have denied the way of salvation by faith in Christ. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. 2 Cor. v. 19.

In short, men, following their own vain imaginations, and refusing to be guided by the light of revelation, have formed the strangest and most absurd notions of the Supreme Being. But if we attend to the discoveries made of him in the Bible, we shall be in no danger of forming wrong conceptions of him. His character and attributes are there clearly and fully described and illustrated. Moses describes him as

Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. Exod. xv. 11.

He proclaimed his name to Moses, as

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Exod. xxxiv. 6.

His attributes have been considered before, (see Chapter VI.) and may be divided into

Natural-which consist in his being Eternal, Infinite, Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent.

Negative-which refer to him as Unchangeable, Invisible, Unsearchable, Irresistible, and Unequalled.

Moral-which reveal him to us as Holy, Just, Good,

Merciful, True, Long-suffering, Jealous, Wise, Faithful, and as "Love."

How precious is such a God to the_good_man ! How terrible must he be to the wicked! Indeed, they cannot but see that such a God must be against them, and therefore they endeavour to deceive themselves as to his character and attributes, saying,

I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. Deut. xxix. 19.

How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High? Ps. lxxiii. 11.

Men dislike the holy character and spiritual worship of the true God, and therefore set up for themselves such gods as suit their own taste, and ascribe to them the glory of the divine attributes, and seek from them those blessings which God alone can give. Thus idolatry entered the world, and soon became general. In many countries, at this day, the natives worship the sun, moon, and stars, and bow down to idols, the works of men's hands. The Jews were much given to idolatry.

According to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah. Jer. xi. 13.

Besides the golden calves, (2 Kings x. 29,) we read in the Scriptures of many other gods among the heathen nations.

Baalberith, Judg. viii. 33. Baalim, Judg. x. 10. Dagon, 1 Sam. v. 7. Ashtoreth Milcom, 1 Kings xi. 5. Molech Chemosh, 1 Kings xi. 7. Baal-zebub, 2 Kings i. 2. Rimmon, 2 Kings v. 18. Succoth-benoth, 2 Kings xvii. 30. Nergal, Ashima, 2 Kings xvii. 30.. Nibhaz, Tartak, 2 Kings xvii. 31. Adrammelech, 2 Kings xvii. 31. Anammelech, 2 Kings xvii. 31. Nisroch, Isa. xxxvii. 38. Bel, Nebo, Isa. xlvi. 1. Queen of Heaven, Jer. xliv. 17. Merodach, Jer. 1. 2. Tammuz, Ezek. viii. 14. Baal-peor, Hos. ix. 13. Host of Heaven, Acts vii. 42. Remphan, Acts vii. 43. Jupiter, Mercurius, Acts xiv. 12. Mars, Acts xvii. 22. Diana, Acts xix. 34.

I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another: neither my praise to graven images. Isa. xlii. 8. How thankful ought we to be that we know the true God! Our ancestors were once idolaters, like the rest of the ignorant heathen.

But now, in Christ Jesus, ye, who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph. ii. 13.

Bless God for your present advantages, and be anxious to extend them by means of Missionary and Bible Societies, &c. to those who do not yet enjoy them.

This commandment forbids our loving any being more than, or in comparison with, God, so as to be induced to act contrary to his command, in order to please ourselves or others; to avoid the displeasure of our fellow creatures; or to prevent some inconvenience to ourselves. God alone is an object deserving our love; and he only is able to satisfy our capacity of happiness. Yet

The Proud Man makes an idol of self; and

God resisteth the proud. 1 Pet. v. 5.

The Revengeful invades God's prerogative, who says, To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. Deut. xxxii. 35. Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord. Rom. xii. 19. Vengeance belongeth unto me: I will recompense, saith the Lord. Heb. x. 30.

The Covetous Man makes a God of his wealth. Covetousness, which is idolatry. Eph. v. 5. Col. iii. 5.

This is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches. Ps. lii. 7.

The Sensual Man makes a God of his appetites. Whose god is their belly. Phil. iii. 19.

Men shall be lovers of their own selves. 2 Tim. iii. 2.

Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. 2 Tim. iii. 4. Parents idolize their children, and the same sort of idolatry prevails in various relations of life. Men in various ways

Worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. Rom.i. 25 They forsake the fountain of living waters, and hew them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Jer. ii. 13. Asking counsel or information from persons pretending to be witches, and to have dealings with "familiar spirits.' Lev. xx. 6.

Inordinate love of things below is idolatry.

Love not the world, neither the things of the world. 1 John ii. 15. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matt. vi. 24.

We serve mammon when our thoughts are so taken up with worldly concerns, that we neglect our duty to God. What does this Commandment require of us?

1. To know God, i. e. to make ourselves acquainted with the divine character as revealed in the Seriptures. And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father, &c. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9.

Acquaint now thyself with him. Job xxii. 21.

Let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me. Jer. ix. 24.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord. Hos. vi. 3.

Search the Scriptures;-they are they which testify of me. John v. 39.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. John xiii. 17.

This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God. John xvii. 3.

8.

Some have not the knowledge of God. 1 Cor. xv. 34. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. iv. 6. Taking vengeance on them that know not God. 2 Thess. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John ii. 3, 4.

2. In consequence of this knowledge, we are "to believe

in him."

Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 2 Chron. xx. 20. Repent and believe the gospel. Mark i. 15.

Lord, I believe: help thou my unbelief. Mark ix. 24. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark xvi. 16.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. John iii. 36. He that believeth on me, believeth on him that sent me. John xii. 44.

Ye believe in God, believe also in me. John xiv. 1.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Acts xvi. 31.

Whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed.

ix. 33.

Rom.

With the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Rom. x. 10. Faith, which worketh by love. Gal. v. 6.

We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Heb. x. 39.

Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb. xi. 6.

The reason why God is not believed in, is, that he is not known.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believ ed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Rom. x. 14.

What does this Commandment further require of us? 3. "To fear him."

All men fear God; the wicked with a slavish fear, the consequence of guilt; the good with a filial fear, consisting of a holy affection or gracious habit wrought in the soul by God, whereby it is inclined and enabled to obey his commandments.

O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me, &c. Deut v. 29.

That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord thy God. Deut. xxviii. 58.

There is no fear of God before his eyes. Ps. xxxvi. 1. Rom iii. 18.

Let him be your fear. Isa. viii. 13.

I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear him which hath power to cast into hell. Matt. x. 28. Luke xii. 5.

4. "To love the Lord with all my heart, and with all my mind, and with all my soul, and with all my strength." Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, &c. Deut. vi. 5. Matt. xxii. 37. Mark xii. 30. Luke x. 27.

What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, &c.

Deut. x. 12.

Take diligent heed-to love the Lord your God. Josh. xxii. 5. O love the Lord, all ye his saints. Ps. xxxi. 23.

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. This is the love of God, that we

1 John v. 3.

Keep yourselves in the love of God.

Why should we love God?

God is love. 1 John iv. 16.

keep his commandments.

Jude 21.

We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John iv. 19.

Of the love which he bore to us, even while we were yet sinners, he has given us a most astonishing and affecting proof.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John iii. 16.

Make the best return you are able to your Heavenly Father for this his unspeakable gift, and pray, "that you may perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his holy

name.

5. "To put my whole trust in him."

Put your trust in the Lord. Ps. iv. 5.

He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Ps. xxxii. 10.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Prov. iii. 5.

Trust ye in the Lord for ever. Isa. xxvi. 4.

Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Isa. 1. 10.

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, &c., and whose heart departeth from the Lord.-Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, &c. Jer. xvii. 5-8.

6. To submit to him as our highest Lord.

It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good. 1 Sam. iii. 18.

Behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 2 Sam. xv. 26.