The crown & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…

Secondly, By holiness you will gain a good report, a §2good name, Heb. 11.39. And these all having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Nothing ⟨p. 206⟩raises a mans name and fame in the world like holiness.¹ The seven Deacons that the Church chose were holy men, Acts 6.5. and they were men of good report, ver. 3. they were men well witnessed unto, well testified of, as the Greek word imports. Cornelius was a holy man, Acts 10.1, 2, 3, 4. and he was a man of good report among all the Nation of the Jews. ver. 22. Ananias was a holy man. Acts 9.10, 20. and he was a man of a good report. Acts 22.12. Gaius and Demetrius were both holy men, and they were men of good report, witness that third Epistle of John. The Patriarchs and Prophets were holy men, and they were men of a good report. Heb. 11.1, 2. For by it the Elders obtained a good report: their holiness did eternalize them. The Apostles were holy men, 1 Thes. 2.10. And they were men of a good report, 2 Cor. 6.8. Now certainly it is none of the least of mercies to be well reputed and reported of; next to a good conscience, a good report is the noblest blessing. Good fare doth not more rejoice and strengthen the outward man, the ignoble part of man, then a good report doth rejoice and strengthen the inward man, the noble part of man. Prov. 15.30. A good report makes the bones fat. Yea and I may add, it makes the heart fat too. It is no small pleasure to a man, to know that others are pleased with him. Beautiful objects do not more delight the eyes, then a good report delights the ears. O Sirs, as ever you would obtain a good report, you must labour after holiness. You may obtain a great report without holiness, but you can never obtain a good report without holiness. There is no such way to perpetuate your names,