N00732:51
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.
USE. II. Let this excite us all in our several places & stations to Endeavour that God may be Honoured. Let the Motive in the Text quicken •s unto that which is our duty. The Orator observes that the nature of man is desirous of honour. And the Gentiles by the light of nature knew that Virtue is the way to that which is truly to be accounted Honour. The Romans had a Temple which was called the Temple of Virtue, and another called the Temple of Honour. These were so built as that no man could pass into the latter, but through the former. God is so Gracious as to reward the Virtuous actions of moral Heathen. The justice of Aristides made him famous. Codrus & Regulus because they preferred the safety of their Country above their own lives, were honoured in the world. The external Services of Hypocrites have a Temporal reward. God will never be in any mans debt. When Jesu executed Judgment on the house of A••• according as God had commanded him, he was rewarded with the honour of a Kingdom, •or four Generations. But what is that to the honour which God will give to them that are his faithful Servants? The honour which comes from God alone is transcendently better than that which is from men only. It is a maxim, that the King i• the Fountain of honour. So ⟨p. 36⟩it •s as to Civil honour. But there is an honour which none but the King of Kings and •ord of Lords is the […] of: Let no honour but that satisfy us: Nor let any of us be […] without that honour. If we approve ourselves sincere in his sight, we shall have the praise (though it may be not of men, yet) of God, and that's honour and happiness Enough.
USE. II. Let this excite us all in our several places & stations to Endeavour that God may be Honoured. Let the Mo•ive in the Text quicken •s unto that which is our duty. The Orat•r observes that the nature of man is desirous of honour. And the Gentiles by the light of nature knew that Vertue is the way to that which is truly to be accounted Honour. The Romans had a Temple which was called the Temple of Vertue, and another called the Temple of Honour. These were so built as that no man could pass into the latter, but through the former. God is so Gracious as to reward the Vertuous actions of moral Heathen. The justice of Aristides made him amous. Codrus & Regulus because they preferred the safety of their Country above their own lives, were honoured in the world. The external Services of Hypoites have a Temporal reward. God will never be in any mans debt. When Jeu executed Judgment on the house of A according as God had commanded him, he was rewarded with the honour of a Kingdom, or four Generations. But what is that to the honour which God will give to them that are his aithful Servants? The honour which comes from God alone is transcendently better than that which is from men only. It is a maxim, that the King i the Fountain of honour. So