The way to the highest honour a funeral sermon, on John XII, 26, preached…The way to the highest honour a funeral sermon, on John XII, 26, preach'd…

To sum up all, The Honour of the Servants of Christ is Eternal: They will shine like the Stars, that never faint in their Watches and Influences, with a durable Glory. But the Glory of this World, like a blaze in Straw, presently vanishes: Not one Ray of secular Glory shall enlighten the highest Monarchs, in the shady Valley of Death, nor in the Regions of Darkness beyond it.

The proper and main use of what has been spoken, is,

1. To direct our Ambitious Desires and Endeavours to seek Heavenly Honour. Nature has instilled the Desire of Praise and ⟨p. 102⟩Glory: And this is like some Plants that in their native Soil have a poisonous Quality, but transplanted into another Soil and Climate, are not only innocent, but healthful. Pride ruins both Worlds: The Angels were expelled from Heaven, and Adam from Paradise for their Pride. And ever since 'tis a seminal Sin productive of innumerable Evils and Mischiefs: Pride of Life is one of the great Corrupters in the World: 'Tis the cause of Envy and Emulation: Of Envy that would degrade those that are above; of Emulation that urges those who are below by any guilty means to ascend higher: 'Tis one of the great Destroyers of Men here and hereafter. The Affectation of the Praise of Men makes so many ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, of owning its Truths, or subjecting themselves ⟨p. 103⟩to its pure Rules. This Account is given of the Infidelity of some in our Saviour's time, they sought the Honour of Men, and not the Honour that comes from God only. But let the Desire of Glory be consecrated, let our Aspirings be transported to a new and heavenly Object, to the Incorruptible Crown, and 'tis a Saintly Ambition becoming the Breast of a Christian. The changing of the Object will be an excellent means to rectify our inordinate Desire of Honour, of what is pompous and specious in this World. There is some Resemblance in curing the Diseases of the Mind, and those of the Body. A Disease is not only cured by what is manifestly contrary, but sometimes by what seems like to it, yet has a secret Contrariety. The feverish Heat is not only spent by cooling Julips, but by Cordials that fortify the natural Heat that