N00732:34
The surest way to the greatest honour
The surest way to the greatest honour: discoursed in a sermon, delivered in the audience of His Excellency the Earl of Bellomont, captain general and governor in chief, and the Council, and representatives of the General Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, convened at Boston in New-England, May 31st. 1699. Being the day for the election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather.The surest way to the greatest honour: discoursed in a sermon, delivered in the audience of His Excellency the Earl of Bellomont, captain general and governour in chief, and the Council, and representatives of the General Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, convened at Boston in New-England, May 31st. 1699. Being the day for the election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather.
Boston: printed by Bartholomew Green for Samuel Phillips, 1699
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. In that Authority and Dominion which he giveth to some over others. On this account man is said to be the Image and Glory of God. 1 Cor. 11. 7. The divine Image in man when first Created did consist partly in his dominion over the Creatures. Wherefore he that honours God will be afraid to speak evil of dignities, or to despise dominion, but he will make Conscience to give honour to whom honour is due. That man who makes no Conscience of the fifth Commandment which requireth subjection unto Lawful Authority, does not honour but despise that God whose Image is seen in that Authority. We may not think that because Christ has purchased a blessed liberty for them who are his Servants, that they are therefore Exempted from Obedience unto such as God shall Set over them▪ The Apostles were very careful both ⟨p. 14⟩by word and writing to instruct Christians in their duty as to this particular, and this out of respect to the Name of God. The Apostle Paul writing to Titus says, Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers, to obey Magistrates •it. 3. •. And the Apostle Peter faith, Submit your selves to every Ordinance of men for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supreme, or […] Governors as unto them that are […] the punishment of evil doers, and […] praise of them that do well. • Pe•. 2. •3, […] Church Government is not an Ordinance […] man, God having in his Word described […] of it, as to all Essentials therein, and expres•• declared what Officers, what Ordinances, […] Administrations He allows to be in his […] which Commandments He would have to be kept until the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, but the form of Civil Government •s ANTHROPINE KTISIS A• Humane Creature. For although Civil Government in general is an Ordinance of God, nevertheless, this o• that particular Form of Civil Government is a Ordinance of man. God has lest it unto men to determine what it shall be; but when there is a legal Establishment, Christians must submit thereunto for the Lords sake, i. e. out of respect to his Glory. They will honour him if they do, and dishonour him if they do not submit: He is no good Christian