The Surest Way to the Greatest Honour

p. 3The Surest Way to the Greatest honour.

—The LORD GOD of Israel saith—Them that Honour me, I will Honour;—

THESE words were spoken in the Name of God, and by a Man of God unto Eli, who was an Honourable Person, being both the High Priest and the chief Judge in Israel, which were great Offices both in Church and State. Eli was a Descendent from Ithamar, who was Aarons Second Son. How the High-Priesthood came to be Translated from the Family of Eleazar, who was the Elder Brother, to that of Ithamar, the Scripture no where informs us. It is probably conjectured, that the High Priests of Eleazars Family, had by some hainous crimes in the Dayes of the Judges, provoked God to lay p. 4them aside for several Generations. When Eli was advanced to this Dignity, the Lord promised to continue that Honour to him, and to his Posterity; but this Promise must be understood as conditional, viz. if they should acquit themselves in those Honourable Employments, as became them to do; but he and his, miserably failing in their Duty, God did justly deprive them of their Dignity The reason of which Dispensation is mentioned in the words before us. For it is everlastingly true, that they who honour God, shall be honoured by him; and they that do otherwise, shall sooner or later be lightly esteemed.

The Doctrinal Truth which may be insisted on from the words, as sutable to the present Occasion, and to the Honourable Assembly in this House Convened before the Lord, is, That to Honour God is the surest and the only way to obtain Honour from Him.

We shall only Enquire into two particulars, in order to the clearing of the Doctrine before us.

1. What are the Characters of one that does Honour God; whereby we may judge whether we are such or no?

2.What Honour it is that God will surely confer on such persons?

p. 5Quest. 1. What are the Characters of one that does Honour God?

p. 5Answ. 1. He is one that does yield Universal Obedience to the Commandments of God. They that Honour me (saith the Lord, h. e. they that obe◊ me. When in the Fifth Commandment, Children are required to Honour their Parents, this is a special thing intended, that they should obey all their lawful Commands. The Lord said to the Jews, If I am a Father, where is my Honour? Mal. 1. 6. i. e. the Obedience which is due unto me Kings are Honoured when their Laws are duly observed; so is the God and King Eternal, when his Laws are complied with. There is an Internal Obedience. For we are required to love, and Fear, and Delight, and Trust in God. And there is an External Obedience: When a mans words and outward actions are as to the matter of them such as the Divine Law Enjoyns. There may be something of an External Obedience where that which is Internal is wanting▪ Mat. 15. ◊. This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Whereas if a mans heart is set upon honouring God, that Internal Obedience will discover it self in an Universal Conformity to the Law of God in outward acts of Obedience thereunto. The Commands of God may not any of them be disputed, but p. 6obeyed without any Reserve or Limitation. Suppose the Commandment to be never so difficult, & never so contrary unto a mans own will and desires, i◊ he knows that God commands it, and has in him an heart that honours God, he will do the Commandment. When God Commanded Abraham to Sacrifice his only Son, he Rose early to do it. Gen. 22. 3. And by that high act of Obedience did greatly honour God: And so did Joshua. The Lord said to him, Have not I Commanded thee? Josh. 1. 9. And then he did as commanded though to the hazard of his li◊e. This Honour of absolute Obedience is due to God alone. Inferiours are to obey their Superiours, but with this Reserve alway▪ 〈…〉 far as shall consist with Obedience to the Will of God. If the Greatest man on Earth command a thing which God has forbidden, he must not be obeyed. Although Nebuch◊dnezzar was the Emperour of the World, and perhaps the greatest Monarch that ever lived; yet nevertheless, when he Enjoyned that which God had expresly prohibited, the three Princes who were his Captives told him plainly to his face that they would not obey him. Dan 3. 18 Be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not Serve thy gods, nor Worship the Go◊den Image which thou hast set up. Or, if men should inhibit what God Commands, we must honour God by obeying him rather p. 7than them. Thus the Holy Apostles, when the Jewish Rulers straitly commanded them that ◊hey should not Preach Christ, they replyed, we must obey God rather than men. Act. 5. 29.

p. 72. The Honourer of God is one that does Worship 〈…〉 and Him only, and this according to his Will. The true Worshipper of God is one that 〈…〉 him. It becomes the Greatest on Earth so to do. Psal. 29 1, 2. Give unto the Lord O ◊e Mighty, give unto the Lord Glory and Strength; give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name, Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness. When we Worship God if we do it in the Beauty of Holiness, we give unto him the glory that is due unto his Name. As the neglect of Divine Worship is a disrespect and dishonour put upon him Isa. 43. 23. Thou hast not honour◊ed me with thy Sacrifices. So the due performance thereof is an honour to him. In Prayer we honour God. A King is honoured when his Subjects humbly kneel before him with their petitions; so is the King of Heaven. …