Selected quad for the lemma: honour_n
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A75990
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A sermon preached Decemb. 16. 1654. At the funerall of Mr Andrevv Pern, preacher of the Word of God at Wilby in Northampton-shire. By Samuel Ainsworth rector of Kelmarsh.
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Ainsworth, Samuel.
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1655
(1655)
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Wing A817; Thomason E487_3; ESTC R205454
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34,106
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48
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respect rather than too little Acts. 10.25 How much favour and kindness did the Shunamite and her husband manifest to the Prophet Elisha 2 King 4.8 the Galatians esteemed Paul as an Angel of God and received him as Christ Jesus Gal. 4.14 Fourthly Wicked men have been ready to reverence and to respect the faithfull Messengers and Ministers of God How highly did Nebuchadnezzar honour the Prophet Daniel Chap. 2.46 47. Darius also did not a little respect and prize him Naaman the Syrian shewed much reverence to the Prophet Elisha Herod reverenced John Baptist Mar. 6.20 and the Barbarians bestowed upon Paul and his company many honours we see then that both by the confession of God and man there is an honour due from all sorts of people to Gods faithfull Messengers and Ministers Uses First It serves to reprove those who make it their work and trade to revile and reproach the faithfull Messengers and Ministers of God looke upon them with scorne and contempt count them as the off-scouring of all things and rakehell it selfe for base termes and names to cast upon them persons truly religious in former times were known by their love to and esteeme of godly and consciencious Ministers but now scorne and contempt of godly and consciencious Ministers is the practice of those who would be thought and stile themselves to be the Saints and religious ones what the Apostle spake concerning that wisdome which was attended with envy and strife that it was earthly sensuall and devillish so we may say of that Religion which puts men upon rayling against and reproving the Messengers and servants of the Lord that it is earthly sensuall and devillish a Religion of the devills setting up and not of Gods appointing Michael disputing with the devill about the body of Moses dared not to bring a rayling accusation against him you know men full of fierceness and bitterness against dignities whether in State or Church whatever formes they may have are called clouds without water raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame wandring stars to whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever Never were Gods Embassadors more slighted and despised than in these daies but let such despisers know that God takes the scornes and contempts cast upon them as cast upon himselfe and though he is patient and long-suffering yet will find a time to be avenged of all such Rabshekahs Luk. 10.16 No sin hastens the execution of Gods judgements upon a State sooner than this sin 2 Cron. 36.16 we read of some who never prospered after they set themselves to oppose Gods Messengers and Ministers 2 Chron. 16.12 Chap. 24.25 Chap. 25.16 Chap. 26.18 Secondly Is there an honour due from all sorts of people to Gods faithfull Messengers and Ministers let us not rob Gods Messengers and Ministers of that honour which is their due they are worthy of double honour saith the Apostle the honour of reverence and the honour of maintenance let us not be so unworthy as to deny it them in honouring of them we honour God as in despising of them we despise God though Israel play the harlot yet let not Judah offend though the vile ones of the world slight and scorne faithfull Preachers and Pastors yet let not those who professe the Gospell tread in their steps but walke according to what the Gospell injoynes in this particular 1 Thes 5.11 by slighting of us you hurt your selves more than you wrong us our salvation is furthered not hindered by your scornes these light afflictions worke for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory but your salvation is much hindered by slighting and contemning of us that doctrine and message will be the lesse regarded by you which we bring from our Lord Master to you call we upon you to render us that honour which is our due and your duty in reference to our selves only or for our own comfort and encouragement No certainly but for your benefit and advantage also you will get but little good by your Ministers labours so long as you have low and despicable conceits of their persons take heed therefore of this sin of the times slight not those whom God commands you to honour hate not those whom God would have you love Be not worse than Joash If any shall say Joash had good reason to observe and honour Elisha for he was a Prophet were our Ministers Prophets and able to do as Elisha did we were to blame should we not expresse all warrantable reverence unto them As for those who make this objection let them heare what our Saviour spake Mat. 11.11 Fourthly Let me speake a word or two to you my brethren and my selfe Let us do nothing that may deprive us of that honour which belongs unto us so let us walke so humbly so inoffensively so holily so exemplarily in every good word and worke that we may keep up the tottering honour both of our Office and Persons Let us make it our businesse to honour God by laying out our selves to encrease his Kingdome by a faithfull performance of those duties which God calls for at our hands in our places by being patterns of faith and patience meeknesse and selfe deniall contempt of the world and heavenly mindednesse and God will honour us good men will honour us yea God can make our worst enemies to honour us We now come to the last doctrine which may be gathered from the second title of honour which this King gave unto Elisha he calls him the Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof he acknowledged that all Israel were as much if not more beholden to the Prophet for their defence and safety as to their Chariots and horsemen from hence we may observe thus much Doctrine That Gods faithfull Ministers are a great defence to the nation and people where they live what Joash said concerning Elisha the same did Elisha speak concerning Elijah so that we have not this testimony only from the mouth or a wicked Prince but also from the mouth of a holy Prophet 2 Kings 2.12 2 Chron. 11.13 17. Chap. 13.9 10. Chap. 31.21 Reasons First Because they make it their worke to suppresse and beat down sin which makes a nation naked and weake and exposeth it to all manner of judgements God is the defence of every nation whilest he is with a people they need not feare but sin will drive God away it will deprive a people of their defence Numb 14.9 Now Ministers by preaching against and opposing of sin take a course to keep God present still amongst a people Secondly The prayers of Gods faithfull Ministers are very prevalent with God both for the continuance of mercies and the keeping off of judgments Moses his prayer did as much good as Joshuahs sword when the people of Israel encountred with Amaleck The house of Abimelech was in great danger of ruine but upon Abrahams prayer God spared it Gen. 20.7 How often was God ready