A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

2. Quest. If rich men should be honoured? Answ. Riches of themselves, and for themselves, are not honourable, neither can they make the Possessor such: But Riches may make one capable of doing more good, and of being more useful in Church and Commonwealth, and consequently of being deservedly honoured; and no doubt a rich man is to be respected, as a steward entrusted with some thing to be employed for the honour of God, and for the good of others; and r aches, when well improved to these ends, they become useful, and therefore in that Case the Possessors of them are to be honoured; but when abused, the person is more vile, so David, at first, honoured Nabal, as a Father, and called himself his Son, but after that his churlishness appeared and discovered ⟨p. 327⟩it self so grossly, there was no such honour due to him, nor given him.

2. Quest. If rich men should be honoured? Answ. Riches of themselves, and for themselves, are not honourable, neither can they make the Possessor such: But Riches may make one capable of doing more good, and of being more useful in Church and Commonwealth, and consequently of being deservedly honoured; and no doubt a rich man is to be respected, as a steward intrusted vvith some thing to be employed for the honour of God, and for the good of others; and r •ches, vvhen vvell improved to these ends, they become useful, and therefore in that Case the Possessors of them are to be honoured; but vvhen abused, the person is more vile, so David, at first, honoured Nabal, as a Father, and called himself his Son, but after that his churlishness appeared and discovered ⟨p. 327⟩it self so grosly, there vvas no such honour due to him, nor given him.

As to what the Apostle James discourseth cap 2.1.2. certainly he doth not there simply condemn all reverencing of rich men, but the doing of it, 1. On a religious account, and in religious things, 2. When there was only care taken for accommodating them in Assemblies, and no care at all for accommodating poor ones, as if because they were not rich they had been without all interest in the Gospel; the honouring of the one and that jointly with the contempt of the other made the fault. 3. It was condemned by him, because done for an evil end, viz. for flattering of rich men, these reproved by him for doing it, not being single, but selfish in what they did, seeking only their own advantage. 4. The preferring of rich men as, and because, they are such, as more religious then poor ones, who it may be have much more religion then they, is the acceptation of persons condemned here by the Apostle James, to wit, when a rich man is preferred as more godly, and only because more rich, before a poor man, alike godly or more godly then he.