4. Mammon was the name of one of the Heathen gods, who was supposed to preside over riches. It is here understood of riches themselves; gold and silver, or in general, money: and by a common figure of speech, of all that may be purchased thereby; such as ease, honour, and sensual pleasure.
But what are we here to understand, by serving God? And what, by serving mammon?
We cannot serve God, unless we believe in him. This is the only true foundation of serving him. Therefore, the believing in God, as reconciling the world to himself thro’ Christ Jesus, the believing in him, as a loving, pardoning God, is the first great branch of his service.
And, thus to believe in God implies, to trust in him as our strength, without whom we can do nothing; who every moment endues us with power from on high, without which it is impossible to please him: as our help, our only help in time of trouble, who compasseth us about with songs of deliverance: as our shield, our defender, and the lifter up of our head above all our enemies that are round about us.
It implies, to trust in God as our happiness; as the center of spirits, the only rest of our souls;the only good who is adequate to all our capacities, and sufficient to satisfy all the desires he hath given us.
It implies (what is nearly allied to the other) to trust in God, as our end; to have an eye to him in all things; to use all things only as means of enjoying him: wheresoever we are, or whatsoever we do, to see him that is invisible, looking on us well-pleased, and refer all things to him in Christ Jesus.
5. Thus to believe, is the first thing we are to understand by serving God. The second is, To love him.
Now, to love God in the manner the scripture describes, in the manner God himself requires of us, and by requiring engages to work in us, is to love him as the one God: that is, with all our heart and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength: it is to desire God alone for his own sake; and nothing else, but with reference to him: to rejoice in God; to delight in the Lord; not only to seek but find happiness in him: to enjoy God as the chiefest among ten thousand: to rest in him, as our God and our all. In a word, to have such a possession of God, as makes us always happy.
6. A third thing we are to understand by serving God, is, To resemble or imitate him.
So the antient Father, Optimus Dei Cultus,imitari quem colis. It is the best worship or service of God, to imitate him you worship.