N00732:36
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.
5. Another Character of one that Honours God, is that he is willing to suffer in his Cause, and for the Glory of his Name. He is one that had rather suffer than sin, like Moses, who chose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. Heb. ••. 25. Indeed, no man ought needlessly to bring Sufferings upon himself; but he may be called to stand up and appear in Gods Cause, and then if his heart is right in the sight of God, though he knoweth he shall be exposed to Sufferings for it, he will appear on Gods side, and glad that he may honour God, by being himself dishonoured, ⟨p. 17⟩and exposed to the Contempt and Reproaches of the World. The Apostles when Convented before •he Jewish Council were most ignominiously treated by them, for their Faithfulness to the Truth and Interest of the Lord Jesus Christ, but they rejoiced in that they were •ounted worthy to suffer s•ame for his Name. Acts 5. 41. God is honoured not only by the Active Obedience, but by the Sufferings of his Servants. • Pet. 4. 14. I ye •e reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. When the Pagan Enemies of Christianity beheld the Constancy and Courage of the […] they said, (some of them) Vere […] Christian •um, there is no God like the […] Christians, who can enable his […] with such patience to Endure such things •or his sake. Many were thereby Converted from Paganism to Christianity, and in these Latter Ages from Popery to the Protestant (which is the only true Christian) Religion, by beholding the Faith and Patience of them who have been the Martyrs of Jesus. A man may by suffering in Gods Cause, bring more Honour to his Name in one hour, than in his whole life before, though it may be he has been a very active Instrument in promoting the Glory of God. It was therefore said of Peter, that by his death •e should Glorify God.