For this we know, that no whoremonger nor unclean person.
Soul idolatry excludes men from heaven
There are thirteen acts of soul worship; and to give any one of them to anything besides the God of heaven is plain idolatry, and those idolaters that so give it.
1. Esteem. That which we most highly value we make our god; for estimation is an act of soul worship.
2. Mindfulness. That which we are most mindful of we make our god.
3. Intention. That which we most intend we make our god; for to be most intended is an act of worship due only to the true God; for He being the chief good, must be the last end.
4. Resolution. What we are most resolved for we worship as God.
5. Love. That, which we most love we worship as our god; for love is an act of soul worship. To love and to adore are sometimes both one. Love, whenever it is inordinate, is an idolatrous affection.
6. Trust. That which we most trust we make our god; for confidence and dependence is an act of worship which the Lord calls for as due only to Himself.
7. Fear. If you fear others more than Him, you give that worship to them which is due only to God.
8. Hope. That which we make our hope we worship as God; for hope is an act of worship. Those that make their own righteousness the foundation of their hope, they exalt it into the place of Christ, and honour it as God; and to honour anything as God is evident idolatry.
9. Desire. That which we most desire we worship as our god; for that which is chiefly desired is the chief good in his account who so desires it; and what he counts his chief good, that he makes his god.
10. Delight. That which we most delight and rejoice in, that we worship as God; for transcendent delight is an act of worship due only to God; and this affection, in its height and elevation, is called glorying.
11. Zeal. That for which we are more zealous we worship as our god; for such a zeal is an act of worship due only to God; therefore it is idolatrous to be more zealous for our own things than for the things of God.
12. Gratitude. That to which we are most grateful, that we worship as God; for gratitude is an act of worship.
13. When our care and industry is more for other things than for God. No man can serve two masters.
Argument
1. Such idolaters are not in covenant with God. It is the covenant of grace alone which gives right and title to the kingdom. Those that are not in covenant have no title to heaven; and those that have no right nor title to it, shall have no inheritance in it.
2. Such idolaters are not yet born again, are not yet converted; and without the new birth, no inheritance in the kingdom; those only are heirs of this kingdom who are born of God, who are born again. Try whether you be guilty of this soul idolatry or no.
And to stir you up to this examination, let me premise these two things, the danger and secrecy of this.
1. The danger. It is a sin will endanger your loss of heaven, make it exceeding difficult, or altogether impossible. If one should tell you of some mischievous person lurking in your house, with an intent to murder you, or set your house on fire, etc. The apostle tells you of something more mischievous; that which is more dangerous, and nearer to you; that which will endanger the loss of an inheritance, of a kingdom.
2. The secrecy of it calls for diligent search. Nothing more common or more concealed. (D. Clarkson, B. D.)
No inheritance for the unclean in God’s kingdom
1.That there is a kingdom of God. This notion implieth, on God’s part, His sovereign authority and right to command; and on our part, both duties and privileges.
2. There is no entrance into this kingdom but by coming into the kingdom of Christ.
3. The title or right to the privileges of Christ’s kingdom is by way of inheritance. “If a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal_4:7; and Rom_8:17), “If sons, then heirs, joint heirs with Christ.”
4. By the tenor of the Christian doctrine it plainly appeareth that whoredom and all uncleanness excludeth men from this inheritance.
It appeareth plainly by these particulars--
1. Because it is contrary to that covenant by which all enter into Christ’s kingdom.
2. Because of God’s express exclusion. Surely they are excluded from this inheritance whom God excludes and Christ excludes (1Co_6:9-10).
3. From the heinous nature of the sin. It is a sin of great atheism and great infidelity.
4. It is idolatry. Primary idolatry is when Divine honours are given to any creature. But howls whoredom and uncleanness idolatry? Because by it men are addicted to some base thing which they prefer before God. “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (2Ti_3:4-5). Because they have not that spirit that should fit them and make them meet for heaven.
6. This exclusion is so absolute and peremptory that it admits no exception but that of sincere repentance, which is both a change of heart and life. No other repentance is true but a quitting and leaving these sins before they leave us.
Three things are apt to deceive you.
1. Some trouble for these sins while you go on still to commit them.
2. The next thing that will deceive you is some faint resistance or striving against sin, but it groweth upon you.
3. That which will deceive you is a hope to cry God mercy upon your death beds; and so, after an impure life, men hope still to go to heaven. (T. Manton, D. D.)
