Selected quad for the lemma: honour_n
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A75708
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Gray hayres crowned with grace. A sermon preached at Redriff, Aug. 1. 1654. at the funerall of that reverend, eminently learned and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ Mr Thomas Gataker.
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Ashe, Simeon, d. 1662.
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1654
(1654)
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Wing A3958; Thomason E818_3; ESTC R207388
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59,080
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86
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for their everlasting abode their holy conversation on earth is ealled their way which suggesteth both the activity and progresse of Gods grace in the fruits thereof This Solomon seemeth to speak unto very clearly and fully The path of the righteous is as Prov. 4. 18. the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day And to the third demand I answer That a person may be said to be found in the way of righteousnesse when there is conspicuity and permanency in a godly conversation when the candle of grace lighted in the heart doth discover it self by its shining and is kept burning according to the advice of Christ that men may see his good works as it is said that Mat. 5. 16. Act. 11. 23. Paul saw the grace of God in the Christians at Antioch so here when the seed of righteousnesse rooted in the hearts of aged persons doth so bud and fructifie in their lives that such who converse with them do or may finde apparent effocts of Gods grace in them then they are found in the way of righteousnesse I shall not bestow any more words or time in the Exposition of the Text but proceed according to promise unto the handling of that seasonable Point of Doctrine which is held forth from this Text. The hoary head is a Crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse That Old age attended with the power of grace and the practice Doct. of Religion is a matter of much honour and commendation Let it be considered from the language in the Text how farre this Truth doth extend viz. indefinitely to all aged persons who be truly pious 1. Of both Sexes both men and women 2. Of all ranks and conditions in the world whether high or low rich or poor whether more nobly descended or more mean and contemptible in regard of descent whether on the Throne or at the footstool 3. Of all qualities in regard of naturall or acquired accomplishments whether corporally beautified or deformed whether more or lesse enriched with the ornaments of the minde viz. learning and other abilities for employment either in Church or in Common-wealth 4. Of all callings and negotiations amongst men whether sacred or civil whether by land or sea whether in times of warre or peace 5. And this truth in this latitude hath been is and will be appliable unto all aged persons found in the way of righteousnesse in all the ages of the world This is notable from the Original for as the proposition is universall in reference to all hoary heads found in the way of righteousnesse so there is no verb to limit it unto any term of time either past present or to come but the holy Ghost asserts this truth in relation to all ages and times of the world That heretofore and for the present and for the future the hoary head in the way of holinesse hath been and now is and hereafter to the end of the world will be a Crown of glory I shall proceed gradually in the proof of the Point in reference Quo magis homo festinat ad finem tento est vere venerabilior Clem. Alexand Eccl. 12. 5. Flores camiterii Isa 9. 15. Gen. 25. 8. Judg. 8. 32. 2 Chro. 29. 28. Summa est senectutem illam praesertim quae piis a Deo donatur honorandam esse Cartwr in Text. Prov. 12. 26. Acts 21. 16. Luk. 2. 36 37. to the two branches of it First Old age in it self is a matter of commendation The beauty of old men is the gray head In which respect as some Expositors judg the hoary head is compared by Solomon to the Almond tree flourishing when the white blossoms do render it very beautifull And hence also it is that according to the Heraldry observed in the holy Scripture the Ancient and the Honourable are both placed together and many of Gods Worthies there recorded have this character of honour put upon them that they died in a good old age and full of dayes viz. Abraham Gideon David Secondly The addition of holinesse unto the hoary head addeth much unto the glory of the aged person and this the holy Ghost doth chiefly intend in the Text. For the righteous eatenus because righteous is more excellent then his neighbour And therefore under this Notion many are registred in holy writ to their everlasting credit in the Church of Christ viz. Mnason of Cyprus that old Disciple and Anna a Prophetesse of a great age a widow of about fourscore and four years who departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day Now that righteousnesse giveth weight unto the Crown which aged persons do wear may be abundantly manifested 1. Because it is one part of Gods image in man with which Eccl. 7. 29. Rom. 3. 20. Eph. 4. 24. he was adorned at his first creation which was his glory lost by his fall and which is restored by his Regeneration The new man after God is created in righteousnesse 2. Because aged persons thus qualified are the Emblems of God himself who is called the ancient of dayes and of Jesus Dan 7. 9 13. Christ in whose metaphoricall description this is one expression His head and his hairs were white like wool Rev. 1. 14. 3. Because the righteous are admitted into near relation and affection with God who is their Father and loveth them Matth. 13. 43. Psal 146. 8. dearly The Lord loveth the righteous The righteous shall shine in the Kingdom of their Father Now it was Davids honour as he valued it to be Son in law to King Saul And who 1 Sam. 18. 23. doth not judge that it was much to the repute of Daniel to be called A man beloved by the Lord. Since thou becamest Dan. 9. 21. Isa 43. 4. mine saith God himself to his people and wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable From these three heads of Arguments jointly considered the truth under hand may be undeniably concluded That the hoary head is a Crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse The Application followeth which I will give in manifold Uses under four heads The first sort of Uses are for Information in three particulars Vse 1. Information well worthy our consideration 1. Hence it followeth that no qualification whatsoever wherewith the children of men can possibly be adorned is of so great worth as godlinesse because this is said to set a glorious Crown upon the heads of them who are blessed with it I grant that there are many natural ornaments and acquired accomplishments which may gain respect but it is righteousnesse which wins the Crown Therefore Solomon saith not The hoary head is a Crown of glory if found in the way of raised parts of great learning of martiall courage of large commands in the world or of successefull trading to become wealthy but if it be found in the way
of righteousnesse Though people who are under no higher principles then sense and humane reason are of another opinion They blesse Psal 10. 3. Mal. 3. 15. Psal 49. 6. with 18. the covetous whom God abhorreth and they do call the proud happy because set up when others are abased because delivered when others are in distresse yea though many boasting themselves in the multitude of their riches do blesse their own souls yet both God and all those whose judgements are guided by his word are of another minde My text telleth you the thoughts of wise Solomon and if you will hearken unto his father David you shall understand that his apprehensions were not different The Saints saith he and the excellent in whom is all my delight Whence it is notable that the Psal 16. 2. Psalmist there doth not only express his judgment personally but he typically reports the sense of Christ to give to understand that himself a man according to Gods heart yea and Christ Jesus infinitely above himself give this estimate of holy persons that they are incomparably excellent And if this be not sufficient to clear the truth of my inference consider his confident assertion to Saul his Courtiers who prided themselves in their Courtship and despised him as a man rejected Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Psal 4. 3. Exod. 19. 5. with ca. 33. 16. godly for himself whereas all other persons whatsoever are looked upon by the Lord as lumber these are his peculiar treasure 2. The second corollary is this If righteousnesse be a Crown though it be attained in old age only then how much more honourable are they who have been found in the way of righteousnesse all their life long from their youth till their heads are gray This great commendation did appertain Psal 71. 18 18 unto David O God saith he thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works Now when I am gray headed O God forsake me not And this honour St Paul putteth upon Andronicus and Junia They are of note among the Apostles who also were in Christ before me It maketh Rom. 16. 7. very much to the credit of Christians when grace which blossomed upon them in the spring of their youth doth abide green and flourishing in the winter of their age This might be many waies illustrated 1. They have served the Lord sundry Apprentiships It is an honour to stand to have a setled abode as servants before Kings Thus the Queen of Sheba Pro. 22. 29. expresseth her self in reference unto them who alwaies waited upon King Solomon Happy are thy men and happy are 1 Kin. 10. 8. these thy Servants who stand continually before thee Now this and greater then this is the renown of them who have been for many years not only retainers but dwelling-servants with the Almighty 2. They have often been in the field with Christ their Captain they have fought many battels and have received many wounds under his Colours and command The holy Ghost hath seen cause to record in holy Pages some of Davids Worthies who had made many brave adventures and 2 Sam. 23. done famous exploits in years past and gone And what more ordinary then for Souldiers to set forth their own commendations by relating how many years attending on the Army with hazards run and wounds received Now the old Souldiers Enumerat milec vulnera of Jesus Christ are much more worthy high respect having been found all along in the waies of righteousnesse Such a standard-bearer was Samuel who received press-money 1 Sam. 3. from God while he was a childe and could when gray-headed so pleade his righteousnesse that it will be alwaies remembred to his credit and reputation I am old and gray-headed 1 Sam. 12. 2 3. Behold here I am witnesse against me before the Lord and before his Anointed whose Oxe have I taken or whose Ass have I taken or whom have I defrauded whom have I oppressed or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blinde mine eyes therewith and I will restore it you But alas how few amongst them who have had power in their hands can we finde that in their age are thus found in waies of righteousnesse 3. They have endured manifold oppositions losses and hardships from cruell persecutors Many hot Summers have scorched them and many cold winters have pinched them they have suffered much from open enemies and fained friends because of their couragious faithfulnesse to Jesus Christ not daring to depart from the way of righteousnesse The Apostle Paul reckoneth up his sufferings as so many Ensigns of honour I will glory also saith he And in what 1 Cor. 12. 18. doth he glory why he tels you In stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths oft Of the Jews five times I 23 received fourty stripes save one Thrice was I beaten with rods 24 once was I stoned thrice I suffered shipwrack a night and a day I have been in the deep In journeying often in perils of 25 waters in perils of robbers in perils by mine own Countreymen in perils by the Heathen in perils in the City in perils 26 in the Wildernesse in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false brethren In wearinesse and painfulnesse in watchings often 27. in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse And Paul the aged and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ Philem. 9. Thus this ancient Champion of Christ seems to look upon his severall many years hardships as so many Pearls with which his Crown was beautified and enriched And doubtlesse they are so in the account of all them whose judgements are rectified by the word of truth The Third Consequence or Use of Information is this That it is a very advantagious service to be instrumental in promoting the work of Gospel-righteousnesse in the hearts and waies of men because by means hereof they receive no lesse then a Crown of glory Hence it was that Saint Paul writeth thus to Philemon Thou owest unto me thine own self Philem. 19. How infinitely beyond all sublunary accomodations are the revenues which come in by grace The Crown is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon the children of men and no gain is comparable to that which is received by godlinesse Godlinesse is profitable unto all things having the promise 1 Tim. 4. 8. of the life that now is and of that which is to come yea the greatest profit which we are capable to receive from God himself is to be made partakers of his holinesse and the fruit Heb. 12. 10 11. of righteousnesse is from peculiar paternall love proper to them whom God doth discipline as his Adopted children This I note both to discover unto the people of the world who are their best Friends and to work in their hearts more high estimations of the