Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

O f honours. r 89 The former confifleth not onely in the approbation, which God and our owne confciences giue to cur vertuous aelions and good parts; but all() iu the good opinion,and eflimati- on ofthc,vcrtuous and religious, ioyned with their free ap- plaufe and commendation of thofe gifts, which God bath bellowed on vs ; and of thofe good workes, and honefl ho- nefl and religious actions, which through his grace are per- formed by vs. The which may be either in privatChrifli. ansofineane place and calling, or in publicke and eminent perfons, ioyned with anthoritie and rule, or other worldly dignities and preferments. The other is the applaufe and praife of the rude,ignorant,and vnconflant multitude, ioy- ned with worldly aduancement and preferment, either pro- cured by fubtill diuices and wicked arts, making fhadowes and appearances of verrues and good a6tions, to (land for thofe which are true and fubflantian; or immoderately and ambitioufly affeC6ed for thofe things in them, or done by them,which in their owne nature are good and commenda- ble. The former kind of honour is lawfull,and to be defired moderately ofall Chriflians, the other is to bee contemned and defpifed. The lawfulneffeofthathonour, and of the moderate de- 4.Sea.3. fire thereofmay appeare, firfl,becaufe it is the gift of God ; That honouritt for it is he that raifethvp thepoore out oft he duff, and lifteth itlrifeisrood vp the beggar out of thedunghill, t o fet them among princes.and andlamfull to make them inherit the fare ofglory,ae Hannah fpeaketh.And i.Sam.z.8* amid acknowledgeth, that riches and honours comefrom God,and that it ishis hand that mal¿ethgreat, giueth ffrength r.Chron.z9. to all. And therefore thefe fireames mull needs in themfelues be pure and good,feeing they flow from God,the fountaine ofall goodneffe,vnleffe they bepolluted through the diuels malice,and mans corruption. Secondly, thefe honours are promifed bellowed by God won his children and fcruants, as his bleflìngs, and rewards of their faithfull feruice. So when 1 faac bleffed Iacob,this was one part thereof,rhar peo- plefhould be his feruants, and nations bow unto him; that hee Gen.z7.29 fhould be Lord ouer his brethren,and his mothers childrenfbould hanour-bim. To thew unto vs, that honour and bleffedneffe may