Ver. i o. the z7th Chapter of St. J O H N. ì 17 thing for Jefus Chrift in your Families. A Chriltian fhould not have any Relation but he fhould make fome advantage of it for the Honour of Chrift. So for Suffer- ing, Chrift is glorified in the courage of thole that bear forth his Name to the World. Let it not be grievous to us ; it is much to be A&ive for God, but it is more to be Paffive. Let Glory to Chrift be written, though it be with our Blopd ; only with there Cautions. . (1.) We' mutt think our felves to be honoured by this Setvice, how grievous, dif- graceful, and troublefome foever it be. 2 Cor.S.9. s Ao*µísike ?a, Therefore we - labour, that whether prefent or abfent, we may be accepted of him : We labour, that is, we Drive after this Honour, to labour with Ambition. The meaneft Service about Princes is honourable, if it be a Groom, or any other inferior Imploiment. A Servant of the Lord, is an higher Honour, than the Prince of the Power of the Air; Satan's Title is windy and lofty. To do for Chrift, faith Ignatius, is a greater Honour, than to be a Monarch of all the World. Chrift is fuch an Excellent Perfon, that any thing that is done in and about him, refleð an Honour upon the Perfon that doth it. The Se- cond Temple exceeded Solomon's, becaufe of Chriffs Prefence. Hagga. 2. 9. The Glory of the latter Houle 'hall be greater than of the former, faith the Lord of Hofis ; and in this place will give Peace, faith the Lord of Hofis. Bethlehem was little among the thou- fends of Judah, Micah 8.2. yet there Chrift was born. So hardfhip. with Chrift, brown Bread with Chrift, fhame and difgrace with Chrift, is honourable. As 5.41. They went away from the pretence of theCoiencel, rejoicing; öa} razr ié,.9+iorcv &Trlcao9rv«y. that they were counted worthy to fulls flume for the fake. of Jeffs Chrf; it is, that they were honoured to fuller difhonour for Chrift. Service is an Honour, Suffering a Pri- viledg. Phil. r. 29. To you it io given in the behalf of Chrifi, not only to believe in him, but alfo to Puffer for his fake. Unlefs you have this Mind, it is but a fa&ious ob- ftinacy, not a religious fuffering and doing for Chrift. (2.) There muftbe a fenfe of your Unworthinefs. Luke 17. ró: When you have done all, fay, We are unprofitable Servants : we have done that which was our dory to do. A poor unworthy Creature ! Alas, what have we done ? Chrift is doubly honoured, by a dire& aim and tendency of the Endeavour, and by your humble Profefiìon. Da- vid prepared for the Temple with all his might. 1 Chron. 22. 14. Now behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the Houle of the Lord an hundred thoufand Talents of Gold, and an hundred thoufand Talents of Silver; &c. a poor Gift for the great God ! We are apt to overvalue our Services and Endeavours, therefore it is very good to retain an hum- ble modelt fenfe of them. Poor Creatures !" what do we do, that have received, not only Life and Breath, but Grace and Glory, and all things from Chrift ? It is good to be humble for what we do, and to acknowledg it to be a thing wholly unworthy of God. (3.) Youmull afcribe all to Chrill's Glory is Joab, when he had conquered ? ab- bah, Pent for David to take the Honour ; foßtluft we do for Chrift. This is Dill doub- ling of Honour and Glory. a Cor. 15. so. By the Grace of God 1 am what Iam : and his Grace which was bellowed upon me, was not in vain : for I laboured more abundant- ly than they all ; yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me. The Pen doth not deferve praife, if the Writer draweth a fair Letter. Gal. 2. 20. I live, yet not I, but Chrifi liveth in me ; and the Life which I live in the Flefli, I live by the Faith of the Son of God. The Stars difappear, when the Sun fhineth in its Drength : The Work is enough,let God take the Honour. a Chron. 29. 14. But who am 1, and what is my People, that we fhould be able to offer fo willingly after this fort ? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. David never fpeaketh in that (train, but on the occafion of a ungular Mercy : David afcribeth all to God, the Ability, the Will, the Goods, the Mind. So in all our Engagements for Chrift, he mull have the praife ; as one Man in a preis or crowd lifteth up another, and he only is feen, when the other is loft in the Throng. 5. By being zealous for his Infitutions g' then you honour Chrift, by giving the W ifdom and Power of a Law-giver to him. The higheft Power of a Prince is Legif- lative. When you keep to Chrill's Laws, you count him faithful in his Houle, and ac- knowledg him King in his Church. But now, when we let up our Threthold by God's Threfhold, Chrift is difhonoured, as if he were not faithful in his Houle. Mat. 15. 6. Thus have ye made the Commandments of God of none dig, by your Traditions. By the Traditions of Men, ye make void the Law of God, iivaewouze, ye milord the Law, fo the word fignifieth. 6. By
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