Alexandrinus writes of a Fish that hath its Heart in its Belly An Emblem of Epicures their Heart is in their Belly they do Sacrificare lari their Belly is their God and to this God they pour Drink-Offerings The Lord allows what is fitting for the Recruit of Nature Deut. 11.15 I will send grass that thou maist eat and be full But to mind nothing but the indulging the Appetite is Idolatry Whose God is their Belly What pity is it that the Soul that Princely part which sways the Scepter of Reason and is akin to Angels should be enslaved to the Brutish part 4. If we love a Child more than God we make a God of it How many are guilty in this kind They think more of their Children and delight more in them than in God They grieve more for the loss of their First-born than for the loss of their first Love This is to make an Idol of a Child and to set it in Gods room Thus God is oft provoked to take away our Children If we love the Jewel more than him that gave it God will take away the Jewel that our love may return to him again Use 1. It Reproaches such as have other Gods and so renounce the true God 1. Such as set up Idols Ier. 2.28 According to the number of thy Cities are thy Gods O Israel Hos. 12.11 Their Altars are as heaps in the Furrows of the Field 2. Such as seek to Familiar Spirits This is a Sin condemned by the Law of God Deut. 18.11 There shall not be found among you any that consult with Familiar Spirits It is ordinary if People have lost any of their Goods they send to Wizards and Soothsayers to know how they may come by their Goods again What is this but for People to make a God of the Devil by consulting with him and putting their Trust in him What! because you have lost your Goods will you lose your Souls too 2 Kings 1.6 So is it not because you think there is not a God in Heaven that you ask Council of the Devil If any be guilty be humbled Use 2. It sounds a Retreat in our Ears let it call us off from the Idolizing any Creature and renouncing other Gods Let us cleave to the true God and his Service If we go away from God we know not where to mend our selves 1. It is honourable serving of the true God Servire Deo est regnare It is more Honour to serve God than to have Kings serve us 2. Serving the true God is Delightful Isa. 56.7 I will make them joyful in my House of Prayer God oft displays the Banner of his Love in an Ordinance and pours in the Oyl of Gladness into the Heart All Gods Ways are Pleasantness his Paths are strowed with Roses Prov. 3.17 3. Serving the true God is beneficial they have great Vails here the hidden Manna inward Peace and a great Reward to come They that serve God shall have a Kingdom when they dye Luke 12.32 and shall wear a Crown made of the Flowers of Paradise 1 Pet. 5.4 To serve the true God is our true Interest God hath twisted his Glory and our Salvation together He bids us believe and why That we may be saved Therefore renouncing all others let us cleave to the true God 2. You have covenanted to serve the true Iehovah renouncing all others When one hath entred into Covenant with his Master and the Indentures are drawn and sealed then he cannot go back but must serve out his time We have covenanted in Baptism to take the Lord for our God renouncing all others And renewed this Covenant in the Lords-Supper and shall we not keep our Solemn Vow and Covenant We cannot go away from God without the highest Perjury Heb. 10.38 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If any Man draw back as a Soldier that steals away from his Colours my Soul shall have no pleasure I will pour Viols of wrath on him make my Arrows drunk with blood 3. None ever had cause to repent of cleaving to God and his Service Some have repented that they have made a God of the World Cardinal Woolsey said Had I served God as Faithfully as I have served my King he would not have left me thus None ever complained of serving God it was both their Comfort and Crown on Death-Bed Of the Commandments Exod. 20.4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image c. IN the First Commandment is forbidden the worshipping a False God in this the worshipping the true God in a false manner 1. Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image this forbids not the making an Image for Civil use Mat. 22.20 Whose is this Image and Superscription they say unto him Caesars But the Commandment forbids setting up an Image for Religious Use or Worship 2. Nor the likeness of any thing c. All Ideas Pourtraitures Shapes Images of God whether by Effigies or Pictures are here forbidden Deut. 4.15 Take heed lest ye corrupt your Selves and make the Similitude of any Figure God is to be adored in the heart not painted to the Eye 3. Thou shalt not bow down to them The intent of making Images and Pictures is to worship them No sooner was Nebuchadnezzars Golden Image set up but all the People fell down and worshipped it Dan. 3.7 Therefore God forbids the prostrating our selves before an Idol So then the thing prohibited in this Commandment is Image-worship To set up an Image to represent God is a debasing of the Deity 't is below God If one should make the Images of Snakes or Spiders saying he did it to represent his Prince would not the Prince take this in high disdain What greater disparagement to God than to represent the infinite God by that which is finite the Living God by that which is without Life and the Maker of all by a thing which is made 1. To make a true Image of God is impossible God is a Spiritual Essence Iohn 4.24 And being a Spirit he is invisible Deut. 4.15 Ye saw no Similitude on the Day the Lord spake with you out of the midst of the Fire How can any paint the Deity Can they make an Image of that which they never saw Quod invisibile est pingi non potest Ambr. Ye saw no Similitude It is impossible to make a Picture of the Soul or to paint the Angels because they are of a Spiritual Nature much less then can we paint God by an Image who is an Infinite Increate Spirit 2. To worship God by an Image is both absurd and unlawful I. It is absurd and irrational for First The Workman is better than the Work Heb. 3.3 He who buildeth the House hath more Honour than the House if the Workman be better than the Work and none bows to the Workman how absurd then is it to bow to the work of his Hands Secondly Is it not an absurd thing to bow down to the Kings Picture when
one with God our Nature is enobled above the Angelical Nature Christ taking our flesh hath made us nearer to himself than the Angels The Angels are his Friends Believers are flesh of his flesh his Members Eph. 5.30 and cap. 1.23 And the same Glory which is put upon Christ's Humane Nature shall be put upon Believers CHRIST's EXALTATION Phil. 2.9 Wherefore GOD also hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name c. BEfore we have spoken of Christ's Humiliation now of his Exaltation Before you saw the Sun of Righteousness in the Eclipse now you shall see it coming out of the Eclipse and shining in its full Splendour and Glory Wherefore God hath highly exalted him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Super-exaltavit Ambr. Above all Exaltation Quest. XVIII Wherein consists Christ's Exaltation Resp. In his rising from the Dead his ascending into Heaven and sitting at the right Hand of God the Father c. Quest. In what sence God hath exalted Christ Resp. Not in respect of Christ's Godhead for that cannot be exalted higher then it is as in Christ's Humiliation the Godhead was not lower so in his Exaltation the Godhead is not higher But Christ is exalted as a Mediator his Humane Nature is exalted Quest. How many ways is Christ exalted Resp. Five ways God hath exalted Christ 1. In his Titles 2. In his Office 3. In his Ascension 4. In his Session at God's right Hand 5. In constituting him Judge of the World First Title 1. God hath exalted Christ in his Titles 1. He is exalted to be a Lord Act. 19.17 The name of the Lord Iesus was magnified He is a Lord in respect of his Soveraignty he is Lord over Angels and Men Matth. 28.18 All power is given to him Christ hath three Keys in his Hand the Key of the Grave to open the Graves of Men at the Resurrection the Key of Heaven to open the Kingdom of Heaven to whom he will the Key of Hell Rev. 1.18 to lock up the Damned in that fiery Prison To this LORD all Knees must bow Phil. 2.10 That at the name of Iesus every knee should bow Name is put here for Person To that holy thing JESUS to the Scepter of that Divine Person every knee shall bow Bowing is put for Subjection all must be subdued to him as Sons or Captives submit to him as to their Lord or Judge Kiss the Son Psal. 2.12 With a Kiss of Love and Loyalty We must not only cast ourselves into Christ's Arms to be saved by him but we must cast ourselves at his Feet to serve him Second Title Christ is exalted to be a Prince Dan. 12.1 There shall stand up Michael the great prince Some think it was a created Angel but it was Angelus Foederis Christ the Angel of the Covenant He is a great Prince Rev. 1.5 The prince of the kings of the earth They hold their Crowns by immediate Tenure from him His Throne is above the Stars he hath Angels and Archangels for his Attendance Thus he is exalted in his Titles of Honour 2. God hath exalted Christ in his Office He hath honoured him to be Salvator Mundi The Saviour of the World Act. 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a saviour It was a great Honour to Moses to be a Temporal Saviour but what is it to be the Saviour of Souls Christ is call'd the Horn of Salvation Luke 1.69 He saves from sin Matth. 1.21 From Wrath 1 Thess. 1.10 To save is a Flower belongs only to his Crown Acts 4.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neither is there salvation in any other What an Honour is this to Christ How doth this make Heaven ring of the Saints Praises they sing Halelujahs to Christ their Saviour Rev. 5.9 They sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud 3. God hath exalted Christ in his Ascention If he be ascended then he is exalted Austin saith Some were of Opinion that Christ's Body ascended into the Orb and Circle of the Sun So the Hermians But the Scripture is plain he ascended into Heaven Luke 24.51 And Eph. 4.10 Far above all heavens Ergo above the Firmament He is ascended into the highest part of the Empyraean Heaven which Paul calls the third Heaven Concerning Christ's Ascension two things 1. The manner of Christ's Ascension 1. Christ being to ascend blessed his Disciples Luke 24.50 He lift up his hands and blessed them and while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven Christ did not leave his Disciples Houses and Lands but he left them his Blessing 2. Christ ascended as a Conqueror in a way of Triumph Psal. 68.18 Thou hast led captivity captive c. He triumph'd over Sin Hell and Death and Christ's Triumph is a Believer's Triumph Christ hath conquered Sin and Hell for every Believer 3. The Fruit of Christ's Ascension Christ's Ascension to Heaven causeth the Descention of the Holy Spirit into our Hearts Eph. 4.8 When he ascended up on high he gave gifts to men Christ having ascended up in the Clouds as his Triumphant Chariot gives the Gift of his Spirit to us As a King at his Coronation bestows Gifts liberally to his Favourites 4. God hath exalted Christ in his Session at God's right hand Mark 16.19 After the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God Eph. 1.20 He raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand far above all principality and power and every name that is named Quest. What is meant by Christ's sitting at God's right hand Resp. To speak properly God hath no right Hand or left for being a Spirit he is void of all bodily parts but it is a borrowed Speech a Metaphor taken from the manner of Kings who were wont to advance their Favourites next to their own Persons and set them at their right Hand Solomon caused a Seat to be set for the Queen his Mother and placed her at his right hand 2 Kin. 2.19 So for Christ to sit at the right Hand of God is to be in the next place to God the Father in Dignity and Honour The Humane Nature of Christ being personally united to the Divine is now set down in a Royal Throne in Heaven and adored even of Angels By Vertue of the Personal Union of Christ's Humane Nature with the Divine there is a Communication of all that Glory from the Deity to Christ as his Humane Nature is capable of Not that the Manhood of Christ is advanced to an Equality with the Godhead but the Divine Nature being joyned with the Humane the Humane Nature is wonderfully Glorified though not Deified Christ as Mediator is filled with all Majesty and Honour beyond the Comprehension of the highest Order of Angels Descendit Christus quo inferius non
are more than conquerours How are Gods Children more than Conquerours Because they conquer without loss and because they are crowned after death which other Conquerours are not 15. If God be our Father he will now and then send us some tokens of his Love Gods Children live far from home and meet sometimes with coarse usage from the unkind World therefore God to encourage his Children sends them sometimes tokens and pledges of his Love What are these He gives them a return of Prayer there is a token of Love he quickens and enlargeth their Hearts in Duty there is a token of Love he gives them the first fruits of his Spirit which are Love-tokens Rom. 8.23 As God gives the wicked the first fruits of Hell horrour of Conscience and Despair so he gives his Children the first fruits of his Spirit Joy and Peace which are foretasts of Glory Some of Gods Children having received these tokens of Love from their Heavenly Father have been so transported that they have dyed for Joy as the Glass oft breaks with the strength of the Wine put into it 16. If God be our Father he will indulge and spare us Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him Gods sparing his Children imports this his clemency towards them he doth not punish them as he might Psal. 103.10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins We oft do that which merits Wrath grieve Gods Spirit relapse into Sin God passeth by much and spares us God did not spare his Natural Son Rom. 8.32 yet he will spare his Adopted Sons God threatned Ephraim to make him as the Chaff driven with the Whirlwind but he soon repented Hos. 13.4 Yet I am the Lord thy God ver 10. I will be thy King Here God spared him as a Father spares his Son Israel oft provoked God with their complaints but God used clemency towards them he oft answered their murmurings with Mercies here he spared them as a Father spares his Son 17. If God be our Father he will put Honour and Renown upon us at the last day 1. He will clear the innocency of his Children Gods Children in this Life are strangely misrepresented to the World they are loaded with invectives they are called factious seditious Elijah the troubler of Israel Luther was called the trumpet of Rebellion Athanasius was accused to the Emperor Constantine to be the raiser of Tumults the Primitive Christians were accused to be infanticidii incestus rei killers of their Children guilty of Incest as Tertullian St. Paul reported to be a pestilent person Acts 24.5 Famous Wickliff called the Idol of the Hereticks and that he dyed drunk If Satan cannot defile Gods Children he will disgrace them if he cannot strike his fiery darts into their Conscience he will put a dead fly into their Name but God will one day clear his Childrens innocency he will roll away their reproach As God will make a Resurrection of Bodies so of Names Isa. 25.8 The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away God will be the Saints compurgator Psal. 37.6 He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light The Night casts its dark mantle upon the most beautiful Flowers but the light comes in the Morning and dispells the darkness and every Flower appears in its orient brightness so the wicked may by misreports darken the honour and repute of the Saints but God will dispel this darkness and cause their Names to shine forth He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light As God did stand up for the honour of Moses when Aaron and Miriam went about to eclipse his Fame Numb 12.8 Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses So will God say one day to the wicked wherefore were not ye afraid to defame and traduce my Children They having my Image upon them how durst ye abuse my Picture At last Gods Children shall come forth out of all their calumnies as a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68.13 2. God will make an open and honourable recital of all their good deeds As the Sins of the Wicked shall be openly mentioned to their eternal infamy and confusion so all the good deeds of the Saints shall be openly mentioned and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 Every Prayer made with melting eyes every good service every work of Charity shall be openly declared before Men and Angels Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink naked and ye clothed me Thus God will set a Trophy of Honour upon all his Children at the last day Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 18. If God be our Father he will settle good land of inheritance upon us 1 Pet. 1.4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus who hath begotten us again to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled A Father may be fallen to decay and have nothing to leave his Son but his Blessing but God will settle an Inheritance on his Children and an Inheritance no less than a Kingdom Luke 17.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom This Kingdom is more Glorious and Magnificent than any Earthly Kingdom it is set out by Pearls and precious Stones the richest Jewels Rev 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the World to this Kingdom The Coasts of Pearl the Islands of Spices the Rocks of Diamonds In this Heavenly Kingdom is that which is satisfying unparallel'd Beauty Rivers of Pleasure and this for ever Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Heavens eminency is its permanency and this Kingdom Gods Children shall enter into immediately after Death There is a sudden transition and passage from Death to Glory 2 Cor. 5.9 Absent from the body present with the Lord. Gods Children shall not stay long for their Inheritance it is but winking and they shall see God How may this comfort Gods Children who perhaps are low in the World your Father in Heaven will settle a Kingdom upon you at death such a Kingdom as eye hath not seen he will give you a Crown not of Gold but Glory he will give you white Robes lined with Immortality It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom 19. If God be our Father it is Comfort 1. In case of loss of Relations Hast thou lost a Father yet if thou art a Believer thou art no Orphan thou hast an Heavenly Father a Father that never dyes 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality 2. It is comfort in case of Death God is thy Father and at Death thou art going to thy Father Well might Paul say Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is your friend that will carry you home to your Father
the Angelical this is to reflect dishonour upon the Lord of Glory We must give equal honour to the Son as to the Father we must believe Christs Deity he is the picture of his Fathers Glory Heb. 1.3 If the Godhead be in Christ he must needs be God but the Godhead shines in him Col. 2.9 In whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Ergo he is God How could these Divine Titles be given to Christ Omnipotency Heb. 1.3 Ubiquity Mat. 28.20 a power of sealing Pardons Mat. 9.6 coequality with God the Father both in power and dignity Iohn 5.21 23. how I say could these Titles of Honour be ascribed to Christ if he were not crowned with the Deity When we believe Christs Godhead and build our hope of Salvation on the Corner-stone of his Merit When we see neither the Righteousness of the Law or of Angels can justifie but we fly to Christs Blood as to the Altar of Refuge this is an honouring and sanctifying Gods name God never thinks his name to be hallowed unless his Son be honoured 13. We hallow Gods Name by standing up for his Truths Much of Gods Glory lyes in his Truths Gods Truths are his Oracles God intrusts us with his Truths as a treasure We have not a richer Jewel to trust God with than our Souls nor God hath not a greater Jewel to trust us with than his Truths Gods Truths set forth his Glory now when we are zealous Advocates for Gods Truth this is an honour done to Gods name Athanasius was called the Bulwark of Truth he stood up in the defence of Gods Truths against the Arrians and so was a Pillar in the Temple of God better have Truth without Peace than Peace without Truth It concerns the Sons of Sihon to stand up for the great Doctrines of the Gospel the Doctrine of the Trinity the Hypostatical Union Justification by Faith the Saints perseverance We are bid to contend earnestly Iude 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to strive as in an agony for the Faith that is the Doctrine of Faith This contending for the Truth brings great revenues into Heavens exchequer this is an hallowing of Gods name Contend for the Truth Some can contend for Ceremonies but not for the Truth We should count him unwise that contends more for a box of Counters than for his box of Evidences 14. We hallow and sanctifie Gods name by making as many Proselites as we can to him by all holy expedients Counsel Prayer Example we endeavour the Salvation of others How did Monica St. Austins Mother labour for his Conversion she had sorer pangs in travail for his new birth than for his natural birth 't is an hallowing Gods name when we diffuse the sweet savour of Godliness and propagate Religion to others when not only we our selves honour God but are instruments to make others honour him Certainly when the heart is seasoned with Grace there will be an endeavour to season others Gods Glory is dear to a Saint as his own Salvation and that this Glory may be promoted he endeavours the conversion of Souls every Convert is a Member added to Christ Let us thus hallow Gods name by labouring to advance piety in others especially let us endeavour that those who are nearly related to us or are under our roof should honour God Iosh. 24.15 As for me and my house we will serve the Lord Let us make our houses Bethels places where Gods name is called upon Col. 4.15 Salute Nymphas and the church that is in his house Let the Parent endeavour that his Children may honour God and the Master that his Servants honour him read the Word drop holy Instruction perfume your Houses with Prayer the Iewes had Sacrifices in their Family as well as in the Tabernacle Exod. 12.3 this is an hallowing Gods name when we make proselites to him and endeavour that all under our charge should honour and sanctifie his name 15. We hallow Gods name when we prefer the honour of Gods name before the dearest things 1. We prefer the honour of Gods name before our own credit The Saints of old have for the honour of God been willing to endure reproach Psal. 69.7 For thy sake I have born reproach David cared not what reproach he suffered so Gods name might not suffer The Prophet Elijah was called in derision the hairy Prophet and the Prophet Isaiah the bearer of burdens and the Prophet Zephany the bitter Prophet but they did bind these reproaches as a crown about their head the honour of Gods name was dearer to them than their own honour Moses esteemed the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.26 The Apostles went away rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ Acts 5.41 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they were graced so far as to be disgraced for the name of Christ This is an hallowing Gods name when we are content to have our name eclipsed that Gods name may shine the more 2. We prefer the honour of Gods Name before our Worldly profit and interest Mal. 19.27 We have forsaken all and followed thee When these two God and Estate come in competition we will rather let Estate go than Gods Love and Favour Thus that noble Marquess of Vico parted with a fair Estate using these words Let their money perish with them that count all the Gold and Silver in the World worth one hours communion with Iesus Christ. 3. We prefer the honour of Gods name before our Life Rom. 8.36 For thy sake are we killed all the day long The honour done to Gods name is not by bringing that outward Pomp and Glory to him as we do to Kings but Gods honour comes in another way and that is by the Sufferings of his People When the World sees how intirely Gods people love him that they will dye in his service this exalts and honours Gods name Gods Crown doth flourish in the ashes of his Martyrs St. Basil speaks of a Virgin condemned to the fire who having her Life and Estate offered her if she would bow to the Idol answered Valeat vita pereat pecunia Let Life and Money go welcome Christ. When Gods Glory weighs heaviest in the ballance and we are willing to suffer the loss of all rather than Gods name should suffer now we do in an high degree hallow Gods name 16. Vlt. We do hallow and sanctifie Gods name by an holy Conversation 1 Pet. 2.9 Ye are a royal priesthood a peculiar people that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you As an unholy life doth dishonour Gods name Rom. 2.24 The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you so by our holy and Bible Conversation we honour Gods name An holy Life speaks louder than all the Anthems and Praises in the World Though the main work of Religion lyes in the heart yet when our light so shines that others behold it
much eclipsed Gods name Truly Gods own People have sinned enough to justifie God in all his severe actings against them VSE III. Of Exhortation Let us hallow and sanctifie Gods Name Did we but see a glimpse of Gods glory as Moses did in the Rock the sight of this would draw Adoration and Praise from us could we see God face to face as the Angels in Heaven do could we behold him sitting on his Throne like ◠Jasper-stone Rev. 4.3 we should presently at the sight of this glory do as the twenty four Elders Rev. 4.10 They worship him that liveth for ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory honour and power That we may be stirred up to this great Duty the hallowing adoring and sanctifying Gods name consider 1. It is the very end of our Being Why did God give us our Life but that our living may be an hallowing of his Name Why did he give us Souls but to admire him and Tongues but to praise him The excellency of a thing is when it attains the end for which it was made The excellency of a Star is to give Light of a Plant to be Fruitful the excellency of a Christian is to answer the end of his Creation which is to hallow Gods name and live to that God by whom he lives He who lives and God hath no honour by him buries himself alive and exposeth himself to a Curse Christ cursed the barren Fig-tree 2. Gods Name is so excellent that it deserves to be hallowed Psal. 8.9 How excellent is thy name in all the earth Psal. 104.1 Thou art cloathed with honour and majesty As the Sun hath its brightness whether we admire it or no so Gods Name is illustrious and glorious whether we hallow it or no. In God are all shining perfections Holiness Wisdom Mercy He is worthy to be praised 2 Sam. 22.4 God is dignus Honore worthy of Honour Love Adoration We oft bestow Titles of Honour upon them that do not deserve them but God is worthy to be praised his Name deserves hallowing he is above all the Honour and Praise which the Angels in Heaven give him 3. We pray Hallowed be thy Name that is let thy Name be honoured and magnified by us Now if we do not magnifie his Name we contradict our own Prayers To say Hallowed be thy Name yet not to bring honour to Gods Name it is to take his Name in vain 4. Such as do not hallow Gods Name and bring revenues of honour to him God will get his honour upon them Exod. 14.17 I 'll get me honour upon Pharaoh Pharaoh would not hallow Gods Name Who is the Lord that I should obey him Well saith God if Pharaoh will not honour me I will get me honour upon him When God overthrew him and his Chariots in the Sea then he got his honour upon him Gods Power and Justice were glorified in his destruction There are some whom God hath raised to great Power and Dignity and they will not honour Gods Name they make use of their Power to dishonour God they cast reproach upon Gods Name and revile his Servants well they who will not honour God he will get his honour upon them in their final ruine Herod did not give Glory to God and God did get his Glory upon him Acts 12.23 The Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms 5. It will be no small comfort to us when we come to dye that we have hallowed and sanctified God◠Name It was Christs comfort a little before his Death Ioh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth Christs redeeming Mankind was an hallowing and glorifying of Gods Name never was more Honour brought to Gods Name than by this great undertaking of Christ Now here was Christs comfort before his Death that he had hallowed Gods Name and brought Glory to him So what a Cordial will this be to us at last when our whole Life hath been an hallowing of Gods Name we have loved him with our Hearts praised him with our Lips honoured him with our Lives We have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the praise of his glory Eph. 1.6 At the hour of death all your earthly comforts will vanish to think how rich you have been or what pleasures you have enjoyed upon earth this will not give one dram of comfort What is one the better for an Estate that is spent But now to have Conscience witnessing that you have hallowed Gods Name your whole Life hath been a glorifying of him what sweet peace and satisfaction will this give That Servant who hath been all day working in the Vineyard how glad is he when evening comes that he shall receive his pay Such as have spent their Lives in honouring God how sweet will Death be when they shall receive the recompence of Reward What comfort was it to Hezekiah when he was on his Sick-bed and could appeal to God Isa. 38.3 Remember Lord how I have walked before thee with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight I have hallowed thy Name I have brought all the Honour I could to thee I have done that which is good in thy sight 6. There is nothing lost by what we do for God if we bring Honour to his Name he will honour us Honour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. As Balac said to Balaam Numb 22.37 Am not I able to promote thee to honour So if we hallow and sanctifie Gods Name is not he able to promote us to Honour 1. He will honour us in our Life 1. He will put honour upon our Persons He will number us among his Jewels Mal. 3.17 he will make us a Royal Diadem in his hand Isa. 62.3 he will lift us up in the eyes of others Zach. 9.16 They shall be as the stones of a crown lifted up as an ensign of glory He will esteem us as the cream and flower of the Creation Isa. 43.4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honourable 2. God will put honour upon our Names Prov. 10.17 The memory of the just is blessed How renowned have the Saints been in all Ages who have hallowed Gods Name How renowned was Abraham for his Faith Moses for his Meekness David for his Zeal Paul for his Love to Christ their Names as a precious Oyntment send forth a sweet perfume in Gods Church to this day 2. God will honour us at our Death he will send his Angels to carry us up with triumph into Heaven Luke 16.22 The beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom Amasis King of Egypt had his Chariot drawn with four Kings which he had conquered in War but what is this to the Glory every Believer shall have at his Death he shall be carried by the Angels of God 3. God will put honour upon us after Death 1. He will put
on Fire take heed thou dost not one Day in Hell desire a drop of Water to cool thy Tongue IV. The Evil Tongue is the Vain Tongue that vents its self in idle Words as if a Tree should bear nothing but Blossoms Psal. 10.7 under his Tongue is Vanity his Speaking is like a Child's Scribling vain and insignificant Men want Grace to Ballast them and make them serious A vain Tongue shows a light Heart A good Man's Words are weighty and prudent his Lips are as a Tree of Life to feed many his Speech is edifying Prov. 10.20 The Tongue of the Iust is as choice Silver Gracious Words drop as Silver from him to the enriching the Souls of others But Prov. 15.2 the Mouth of Fools poors out foolishness like the Water in a Spoutâ— that runs out unprofitably and doth no good Many have a Sea of Wâ—râ—s but scarce a drop of Matter they have Words without Wisdom How many idle away the Day of Grace in frivolous Discourses A piece of Gold sinks into the Water but a Feather swims upon it A Wise Man's Words are like Gold weighty and will sink into the Hearts of others but the Words of many are light and feathery and will make no impression Matth. 12.36 Every idle Word that Men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the Day of Iudgment Words that are of no account will turn to an heavy account 5. The Evil Tongue is the Censorious Tongue Iam. 4.12 Who art thou that judgest another Some make it a part of their Religion to judge and censure others they do not imitate their Graces but censure their Failings Such an one is rash and indiscreet such an one is an Hypocrite this comes from Pride Were Men's Hearts more humble their Tongues would be more charitable The Censurer sits in the Chair of Pride and passeth Sentence upon another and doth reprobate him This is to usurp God's Prerogative and take his Work out of his Hands 't is God's Work to judge not ours He who spends his Time in censuring others spends but little Time in examining himself he doth not see his own faults I fear this is the Sin of many Professors when they meet together to cast the Stone of Censure at others There 's not a greater sign of Hypocrisie than to be over-hasty in judging and censuring Persons A Gracious Heart censures himself and hath charitable thoughts of others the Hypocrite è contra 6. The Evil Tongue is the Slanderous Tongue Psal. 50.20 Thou sittest and slanderest thy own Mother's Son Slandering is when we speak to the prejudice of another and speak that which is not true Worth and Eminency is commonly blasted by Slander Holiness it self is no Shield from Slander The Lambs Innocency will not preserve it from the Wolf Iohn Baptist came neither eating nor drinking yet they say he hath a Devil Matth. 11.18 Slandering Iob calls the Scourge of the Tongue Iob 5.21 And Ier. 18.18 Come and let us smite him with the Tongue you may smite another and never touch him Psal. 64.3 Their Tongues are Arrows shot out A Slanderer wounds another's Fame and no Physician can heal these Wounds Majora sunt lingua vulnera quam gladii Aug. The Sword doth not make so deep a Wound as the Tongue The Greek Word for Slanderer signifies Devil 1 Tim. 3.11 Some think it is no great matter to belye and defame another but know this is to act the part of a Devil The Slanderer's Tongue is a two-edged Sword it Wounds two at once While the Slanderer Wounds another in his Name he Wounds himself in his Conscience This is contrary to Scripture Iam. 4.11 Speak not Evil one of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God takes this ill at our Hands to speak Evil of others especially such as are eminently Holy and help to bear up the Honour of Religion Numb 12.8 Were not ye afraid to speak against my Servant Moses What my Servant who hath wrought so many Miracles whom I have spoken with in the Mount Face to Face were not ye afraid to speak against him So will God say It is the Devils proper Sin he is the Accuser of the Brethren he doth not commit Adultery but bears False Witness The Slanderer is still clipping the Credit of his Neighbour that he may make it weigh lighter Take heed of this it is a Sin our Nature is very prone to and remember 't is no less Sin to rob another of his Good Name than to steal his Goods or Wares out of his Shop 7. The Evil Tongue is the Vnclean Tongue that vents it self in filthy and scurillous words Men's Language is such as if they came out of Hell This is forbidden Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth Better be born Dumb than to have the Devil in ones Tongue A Sign of a great Distemper that the Fever is high when the Tongue is black A Sign Men's Hearts are very Evil when such black Words come from them When I go in the Streets and hear the Language of some I think of the Man in the Gospel who had the Spirit of an Vnclean Devil in him Luk. 4.33 Men's Lips do not drop as the Honycomb but they drop Poison to the defiling of others 1 Cor. 15.33 It is a Sign when the Face breaks out in Sores and Pimples that the Blood is corrupt so an unclean Tongue may be compared to a Sink where all the Filth of the House is carried forth We read that the Lips of the Leper were to be covered Lev. 13.45 'T were well if we had such Magistrates as would by their Authority cover the unclean Lips of those Lepers in this City 8. The Evil Tongue is the Lying Tongue Col. 3.9 Lye not one to another The Cretians were noted for Lyars Tit. 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Cretians are always Lyars It becomes not Christians to be Cretians Nothing more contrary to God than a Lye it shews much Irreligion In Heart there wants the fear of God which should Bridle lying Lips Lying is a Sin that doth not go alone it ushers in other Sins Absalom told his Father a Lye that he was going to pay his Vow at Hebron 2 Sam. 15.7 and this Lye was a Preface to his Treason Lying is such a Sin as takes away all Society and Converse with Men How can you have Converse with him that you cannot trust a Word he saith It is a Sin so sordid that when the Lyar is convicted he is ashamed God's Children have this Character they are Children that will not Lye Isa. 63.8 the New Nature in them will not suffer them The Lyar is near a Kin to the Devil and the Devil will shortly claim kindred with him Ioh. 8.44 The Devil is a Lyar and the Father of it He seduced our First Parents by a Lye Gen. 3.4 How doth this Sin incense God he struck Ananias dead for telling a Lye Act. 5.5 The Furnace of