May 11

Flee from idolatry.—I COR. x, 14.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.—COL. iii, 2.

The dearest idol I have known,

Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from Thy throne,

And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,

Calm and serene my frame;

So purer light shall mark the road

That leads me to the Lamb.

WILLIAM COWPER.

The too ardent love or self-willed desire of power, or wealth, or credit in the world is (an Apostle has assured us) idolatry. Now, among the words or synonyms for idols in the Hebrew language, there is one that in its primary sense signifies troubles (Tegi- rim), other two that signifies terrors (Miphletzeth and Emim). And so it is certainly. All our idols prove so to us. They fill us with nothing but anguish and troubles, with cares and fears, that are good for nothing but to be fit punishments of the folly out of which they arise.

ROBERT LEIGHTON.

Idolatry is not only an accounting or worshiping that for God which is not God, but it is also a worship- ing the true God in a way unsuitable to His nature, and particularly by the mediation of images and cor- porcal resemblances.

DR. SOUTH.