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I. INWARD IDOLATRY (Ezekiel 14:7) is —

1. Covetousness (Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5). A covetous man —

(1)  Minds his riches more than God.

(2)  Takes more pains for them (Matthew 6:24).

(3)  Loves them better (1 Timothy 6:10).

(4)  Fears to lose them (Acts 19:25).

(5)  Puts his trust in them (Luke 12:18, 19; 1 Timothy 6:17).

(6)  Makes them his chiefest good (Luke 18:19).

(7)  Sacrifices both body and soul for them (Matthew 16:26).

2. Carnal pleasures (Philippians 3:19). A voluptuous man —

(1)  Loves pleasure more than God (2 Timothy 3:4).

(2)  Takes more delight in them (Romans 8:5, 6).

(3)  Takes more pains for them (Romans 16:18).

3. Popular applause (John 12:43). The ambitious man

(1)  Desires his own honour more than God's.

(2)  Prizes it more (Daniel 4:30).

(3)  Is more troubled at the loss of it than of God's favour (2 Samuel 17:23).

4. Sin, especially beloved sin, which —

(1)  You prefer before God.

(2)  Will not part with for His sake.

(3)  Venture more for than for God.

5. Satan.

(1)  You prefer him to God (John 8:44).

(2)  Are more pleased with his works than God's.

II. WHENCE PROCEEDS THIS INWARD IDOLATRY? From —

1. Ignorance in the mind.

2. Perverseness in the will.

3. Disorder in the affections.

III. HOW DOES IT APPEAR THAT THIS IS PLAIN IDOLATRY?

1. Others worship idols with their bodies, we with our souls.

2. These give the principal part of Divine worship to these things.

3. These things alienate our minds from God (Ephesians 2:12).

(Bp. Beveridge.)

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KJV: Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

WEB: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.