Baxter - HP BV4647 .S4 B39 1660

ARenownedandPerpetuatedNone to be denied. t 65 doubted are in hell , or if they be not , mnft ngeds ab- horr fuch doings. And thus every Proud and felkh man would be a /age Iliflorias and cheater of the world. 10. Yea, which is yet the woria of all,they would connotefa- crilegioufly to rob theLord of his honour even when they are dead. It is anundue honour, which is ftoln fromGod,which they fo much feek.for (For were it but filch as is a ufeful means tohis honour, he would not be offended with them) And when the Saints fay [Not unto zu Lord, but to thy none give the glory] thefe finners are not content to rob God of his honour as long as they live, but they would do it even after dea:h. If we hadnot certainly known the truth of it, we fhouldhave thought it an incredible thing, that ever any man fhould come to that impiety, pride and madnefs, as to defire to be worship- ped as a Godwhen he was dead. Much more, that the mofi of the world fhould be fo far diftraded as to do it. And yet fo it hath been, and fo it is in too great a meafure. Andtruly thewicked and Proud difpofition that is predominant in ,the hearts of all the unfandified, doth take up no fhorter where it hathbut hopes of fuccefs to actuate it. Not a man of them but would be honoured as Gods when they are dead : Though I know thofe of them that feel not this much in themfelves, will hardly believe it. Confider what an hainous injury this is to God, and to the fouls of men, that you fhould leave your Names as Idols to the world, to entice fo many thoufand men to fin, and to be a ftanding enemy to the honour ofGod, by encroaching on his right, and turning the eye of mens ob- fervation and admiration from him to 'you. . Confider alfo, how that by theTe defires ofearthly ho- nour to your felves, and making this the End of your endea- vours , you corrupt abundance of excellent works (mate- rially- confidered) and turn them into mortal fins. If Princes rule and fight for themfelveS, I have told you already what they do : but if this were done for God, it would have ano- therform, and another reward, as it had another End, What a doleful cafe is it that fuch excellent works, as alms-deeds, and ads of bounty to Church, or poor, or Commonwealth , in buildings, lands, or any the like works, thoUld be all turned M m into

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