Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

1. The Love of Esteem correspondent to the real Worth and special Goodness of the Saints. 'Tis one Character of a Citizen of Heaven, that in his Eyes a vile Person ¹is contemned, however set off by the Glory of the World, and the Ornaments of the present State, that, as a false Mask, conceal their foul Deformity to carnal Persons; but he honours them that fear the Lord, tho disfigured by Calumnies, tho obscured and depressed by Afflictions, and made like their blessed Head, in whom there was no Form nor Comeliness in the Judgment of Fools. In our Valuation, Divine Grace ⟨p. 110⟩should turn the Scales against all the natural or acquired Perfections of Body or Mind; Beauty, Strength, Wit, Eloquence, human Wisdom; against all the external Advantages of this Life, Nobility, Riches, Power, and whatever is admired by a carnal Eye. The Judgment and Love of God should regulate ours. A Saint is more valued by God, than the highest Princes; nay, than the Angels themselves, considered only with respect to their spiritual Nature. He calls them his peculiar Treasure, his Jewels, the first-Fruits of the Creatures, sacred for his Use and Glory, in comparison of whom, the rest of the World are but Dregs, a corrupt Mass. They are styled his Sons; being Partakers of that Life of which he is the Author and Pattern: And what are all the Titles on Earth, compared with so Divine a Dignity?

1. The Love of Esteem correspondent to the real Worth and special Goodness of the Saints. 'Tis one Character of a Citizen of Heaven, that in his Eyes a vile Person ¹is contemned, however set off by the Glory of the World, and the Ornaments of the present State, that, as a false Mask, conceal their foul Deformity to carnal Persons; but he honours them that fear the Lord, tho disfigured by Calumnies, tho obscur'd and depress'd by Afflictions, and made like their blessed Head, in whom there was no Form nor Comeliness in the Judgment of Fools. In our Valuation, Divine Grace ⟨p. 110⟩should turn the Scales against all the natural or acquired Perfections of Body or Mind; Beauty, Strength, Wit, Eloquence, human Wisdom; against all the external Advantages of this Life, Nobility, Riches, Power, and whatever is admired by a carnal Eye. The Judgment and Love of God should regulate ours. A Saint is more valued by God, than the highest Princes; nay, than the Angels themselves, considered only with respect to their spiritual Nature. He calls them his peculiar Treasure, his Jewels, the first-Fruits of the Creatures, sacred for his Use and Glory, in comparison of whom, the rest of the World are but Dregs, a corrupt Mass. They are stiled his Sons; being Partakers of that Life of which he is the Author and Pattern: And what are all the Titles on Earth, compared with so Divine a Dignity?