Honouring God the True Way to Honour

An Election SERMON.

I SAMUEL II. 30

—Them that honour Me, I will Honour—

PErsons of highest improvement in the world, are subject to the Laws of GOD as well as others, and no less exposed, (in case of Sin) to the Wrath of the impartial Judge of the world, who accepts not the person of Princes, nor regards the Rich more than the poor. Men that are Exalted to the Higher Places of the Earth, are more out of the reach of Mans short Arm, but still, as much as ever within the reach of an Omnipotent Arm; Indeed no place can be found, that will hide from God's Eye, or secure from his Hand; for he is still above the highest Mountains, easily overturns them in his Wrath, & makes the Pillars of the Earth to Tremble. The various Orders of Men in the World, that look at, either the outward, or inward good of a People, are of God's appointing; And the Lawful Power, Civil or Sacred, that any are Invested with, is from God, who is the Prime Seat, and p. 2Original of all Power. The greatest in Improvement are but Servants in Gods Family, whom he Improves, as the Instruments of his Providence. It is he that Advances one to Rule, calls another near to Minister, and to Bless in his Name; It is he that puts the Sword of Justice into one Hand, and that of the Spirit into another; Charging those that receive such Power, with the most awful Authority, that they have a regard to his Honour and Glory while they Improve the same in a Discharge of the Duties of their places. And that they may not want Motive, to reach the main Springs of action in the Nature of Man, they are forewarned, that God will deal with them in Proportion to their Carriage & Deportment towards Him, as is expressed in the words Read; Them that Honour me I will Honour, & they that Despise me shall be lightly Esteemed.

That God who did Sanctify the whole Seed of Israel to be a Holy and Peculiar People to himself, did set apart Aaron & his Sons to Minister in the Priests Office; And taught them, both by Precept and indeed, by Terrible things in Righteousness, that he would be Sanctifyed in them that came nigh him, and had in Reverence of all about him; yet the most clear, and often repeated Precepts, the most forceable Motives, were not Sufficient to keep Alive p. 3in their Hearts, a sense of their Duty, & a care to attend it. That People had not been long Possessed of the Holy Land, before they defil'd it; they quickly turn'd out of the way; And there was not only a grievous Corruption in the Body of the People, but the most Sacred order of men were Defiled; the Covenant of Levi was Corrupted; those that handled the Law, and were by Office▪ Obliged to teach others the Knowlege of God, were themselves shamefully Ignorant of him; and they that Ministred before the Lord with Clean Garments did it with Filthy & Impure Souls. It was little better than this, in Eli's time, when his Prophane Sons Ministred under him in the Priests Office; as appears by the Character given of them. (1) As to the disposition and state of their Souls, they were Sons of Belial, they Knew not the Lord, Verse ◊. (2) As to their Conduct of themselves, they were Intemperate, Indulging themselves in unclean Lusts Verse 22. (3) And then, as to their doings in Holy things they were Profane and Sacrilegious. Verse 13, 14, 15. Not content with the bountiful Allowance of Heaven: God had not been an hard Master to them, he did not require them to kindle a Fire on his Altar for nought; but had made them partakers with himself at the Altar; besides the large Provisions other ways made for p. 4their Comfortable and Honourable Support, God had allowed them, certain Portions out of the Offerings made by Fire unto himself; they were not content therewith, but in a Sacrilegious manner, did Seise on Gods Part; And Snatch to themselves out of the best of it, to satisfy their lusting Appetite:

p. 4Besides they liked not the Appointed way of its being prepared for Use; Neither would stay until God was Served; whereby Foul Indignities were offered unto God, and the Holy things of God were brought into Contempt; for on these accounts, Men Despised the Offerings of the Lord: These things were highly Provoking to a Holy and Jealous God; he sends a Message to Eli rather than to his Sons, who was look'd on as a partaker with them in their Sins, in that he had not Interposed his Authority, either as a Parent, or an High Priest, for their Reformation or at least Restraint. Indeed we find mention made of his Manifesting his Dislike of their doings, Verse 23.&c, but its very Probable, he had Connived and kept Silence too long, till they were grown Shameless & Obstinate, & then was too mild in his Reproofs; the case called for other Measures; for although, Mildness & Gentleness be rather to be Chose, yet when the case calls for Severity, it may be a Sin rather than a Duty, and may be a reason of coming short p. 5of the end. Surely the case was such as did call for a Flaming Zeal, both in Respect of the Honour of God which Suffered, & in Respect of their best Interest in greatest Hazard. By this Indifferency of Spirit and Sinful Indulgence, he forfeited the Character given of Levi long before; Deut. 3◊.19. For according to that he should not in such a case have known his own Children: And herein he Honoured his Sons above God. God Resented these things 〈…〉, and Threatens to Deal in a very Astonishing manner with his House; and a reason hereof is Rendered from Gods Stedfast Purpose & the Unvarying Method of his Practice, Them that Honour me I will Honour, &c. God is wont to Proportion his Dealings with Men, to their Carriage and Deportment towards himself; such Measure as Men Mete, is Wisely and Justly Measured to them. He is truly a Bountiful Lord, who will abundantly Reward such as faithfully Serve Him; and is wont to suit the Rewards to the Work; but he is a Just & a Jealous God, who is tender of his own Honour, & will not put up the Affronts and Indignities that are offered to him by Prophane and Haughty Sinners; but will Repay them to their Faces, by pouring Contempt upon them, and staining the Pride of their Glory.