A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

And here Christian, I require thee from the Lord, to consider the greatness of thy sin and folly, when thou art too desirous of the applause of men, especially of the blind ungodly world; and when thou makest a great matter of their contempt or scorn, or of their slanderous censures. What! is the approbation of the eternal God so small a matter in thy eyes, that the scorn of a fool can weigh it down, or move the balance with thee? If a feather were put into the scales against a mountain, or the whole earth, it should weigh as much as the esteem or dis-esteem of men, their▪ honouring thee, or dishonouring thee, should weigh against the esteem of God, and the honour or dishonour that he puts upon thee, (as to any regard of the thing it self; though as it reflecteth on God, thou mayest regard it.) He is the wise man that God calls wise: and he is the fool that God calls fool: (and that is every one that layeth up riches for himself, and is not rich towards God, Luke 12. 20, 21.) He is the Happy man that God calls Happy; and he is a miserable man that God counts miserable: and who those are, you may see in Psalm 1. and many Scriptures before-cited. Hear the words (and you that are Believers, lay up the blessed promise) of Christ himself, John 12. 26. ⟨p. 255⟩[If any man serve me, him will my Father Honour.] And who cares then for the dishonours of all the wicked of the world? Our tried faith as preciouser then Gold, will be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.] 1 Pet. 1. 7. See 2 Tim. 2. 21. We must learn therefore to imitate our Lord, John 5. 41. and not to receive our Honour from men; and not to imitate the wicked, vers. 44. that receive Honour one of another, and seek not the Honour that cometh from God. There is enough for us in Gods approbation. And yet all his servants do imitate their Lord; and his Judgement is their Judgement; and whom he honoureth, them do they honour; Angels, and Saints, and all that enter into the Tabernacle of the Lord, do contemn the vile, and honour them that fear the Lord,