They were abominable as they loved

They were abominable as they loved.

Every man or woman is as he loves.

Thirdly, They were abominable as they loved. That which is here translated of the concrete, I find it may be as well translated of the abstract, They were abominable as their love: and so it's carried by interpreters, that is, they were abominable as their idols were that they did love, and their idols were called love in the abstract; as a man calls his wife, his love, so they called their idols their love, and they were abominable as their love was, that is, look how abominable Baal-Peor was, so abominable were they; so the Psalmist says, that, they that make idols, are like to them.

But fourthly, which I think is especially the scope of the Holy Ghost here, They were abominable as they love, (though the other may be taken in) this Scripture has reference to that that you read in (Numbers 25:1); there you find that the people of Israel by the wicked counsel of Balaam, when they could not be cursed, yet Balaam did counsel them that they should come and bring their daughters before them, and so to entice them to commit uncleanness with their daughters, and then they should entice them to idolatry, that was the wicked counsel of Balaam, they committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab; and they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. So They were abominable as they loved: that is, they being enticed to bodily uncleanness, by the Moabitish women, these drew them likewise to the worship of their idols. And so their loves to their whores was that which drew them to this wickedness.

They were abominable as they loved; that is, they setting their love upon these wicked women that did entice them to uncleanness, according to that love of theirs were they brought to the love of idolatry. Solomon's wives drew him to idolatry. And it's usual for people to be of that religion that those are that they love, if so be that their hearts be taken with any, if they love any it's usual for them to be of that religion that those are of that they love, according to their kindred, according to their friends, according to the stock that they marry in, so is their religion. Many that have been forward in ways of religion, and yet marry into a carnal stock that has no savor of religion, you shall find they will grow cold according to what their wives' dispositions are, according to what they love, so their religion either burns hotter or grows cooler; as it was usually laid upon Ahab for his wickedness, such a one was his wife: and so other kings, the daughter of Ahab was his wife, his religion was according as he loved. And my brethren, if those who are in a false way can draw whom they love to it, then certainly those that are in the truth should as well labor to draw those who they love to the embracement of the truth: wives that are naught will draw their husbands to that which they love, to idolatry, to false worship; Popish wives have drawn more husbands to their Popery, than godly wives (I fear) have drawn husbands to the truth; why should not gracious wives labor to draw their husbands to good by love, as well as wicked wives to draw them to wickedness by their love. And indeed those who would gain others to good must first gain their love. The women of Moab gained the love of the people of Israel, and so gained them to themselves in the matters of religion. So if you would do any good to people, first labor to gain their love; let women that have evil husbands that they would fain gain: how would you gain them? Not by reproachful speeches, but do you (though they be never so evil) walk lovingly towards them, that they may be convinced that your souls do love them, and so do you by your loving carriage gain their love, and that's the way to gain them to your God by that means. So divers of the women in the primitive times that had heathenish husbands, we have many stories of them, that by their gracious loving carriage to their heathen husbands they gained them to the truth of religion. And so ministers, if they would gain people to God, they must gain their love, so walk before them in such a gracious holy loving way towards them, as they may gain their love, and then they will gain their souls; if there be wrangling between minister and people, there's little hope that they will gain and do any good among that people, for people will do as they love very much. And so your neighbors and friends if you would gain them to God any way, gain their loves to you, for it's a mighty motive in matters of religion for people to do as they love. And thus much for this tenth verse.