N00732:38
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.
6. He that Honours Jesus Christ the Son of God, Honours God. The Father takes whatever Honour is put upon his Son Jesus Christ as done to Himself. All the men on Earth, and all the Angels in Heaven have not Glorified God, so much as Christ has done. And God has given unto him a Name which is above every Name that is named in this World, or in that which is to come; and he expects that we should honour him accordingly. Yea, that we should give unto Jesus Christ that Honour which we may not give unto any but unto God Himself. Job. •. 22, 23. The Father Judgeth no man; that is not without the Son, but has committed all Judgment to the Son, that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father; be that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which sent him. The Jews say, that God made the World for the sake of the Messiah. And the Scripture says, that all things were […] for him. Col. •. 16. It is a Glorious […] that the Heart of God is set upon […] much as upon having his Son Jesus Christ Glorified: And when he seeth our hearts is set upon it, He takes it kindly at our hands. If a man would study to please God, let him Honour Christ; without which, let him do what he will, he can never please God. To believe on ⟨p. 20⟩the Lord Jesus Christ, is to honour him. Nor can we put a greater honour upon him, than to depend upon his Righteousness for the Eternal Salvation of our Immortal Souls. And when we live as Believers ought to do, when our Conversations in the World are as becometh the Gospel, we glorify Christ. It is said of Titus and some others, that they were the Glory of Christ. 2 Cor. 8. 23. They lived such holy lives, that it was an honour to Christ to have such Servants. When Christians live so as that the World may in them see something what manner of one Christ is, they cause his Name to be honoured: Men will say, how good is Christ, if they that belong to him have such goodness in them? When we make Christ and his Glory the end of our lives, we please and honour God. So did the Apostle, Phil. •. 21. for me to live is Christ. He knew that if he dyed immediately, he should gain Heaven; but he was willing to be a while longer out of Heaven, that so he might do Service for Christ, and promote his Interest amongst his Churches in this World. The man that is often thinking with himself, what shall I do for Christ?