Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

3. We must look off the world in respect of its sinful honours: what is this honour but a certain inordinate desire to be well thought of, or well spoken of, to be praised, or glorified of men? as if a man should run up and down streets after a feather flying in the air, and tossed hither and thither with the gusts and blasts of infinite mens mouths; it is a question whether ever he get it; but if he do, it is but a feather; such is this pride of life, honour, vain-glory, it is hard to obtain it, but if obtained, it is but the breath of a few mens mouths, that alter upon every light occasion; but that which is worst of all, it hinders our sight of Jesus Christ, not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; ¹worldly honour keeps many back from Christ; and therefore Moses when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, —esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than all the Treasures of Egypt. If the blind Man in the way to Jericho had depended on the breath, or liking, or approbation of the multitude, he had never received the benefit of his sight;² for they (saith the text) which went before, rebuked him that he should hold his peace; they dissuaded him from running & crying so vehemently after Christ; experience tells us, how these things pull and draw us off from Jesus Christ, the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and pride of life.

3. We must look off the world in respect of its sinful honours: what is this honour but a certain inordinate desire to be well thought of, or well spoken of, to be praised, or glorified of men? as if a man should run up and down streets after a feather flying in the aire, and tossed hither and thither with the gusts and blasts of infinite mens mouths; it is a question whether ever he get it; but if he do, it is but a feather; such is this pride of life, honour, vain-glory, it is hard to obtaine it, but if obtained, it is but the breath of a few mens mouths, that alter upon every light occasion; but that which is worst of all, it hinders our sight of Jesus Christ, not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; ¹wordly honour keeps many back from Christ; and therefore Moses when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, —esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than all the Treasures of Egypt. If the blind Man in the way to Jerico had depended on the breath, or liking, or approbation of the multitude, he had never received the benefit of his sight;