A Fathers Testament, Chapter 4
CAP. IV.
Neither can Blessedness consist in honour, and worldly advancement.
EArthly Honour, and Greatness in the world is like a ponderous leaden weight in an earthly vessel; it breaks out the bottom: As too great a charge in a Musket, either bursting the barrel, or recoyling upon the discharger. Great Babel had so blown up, and bladdered the heart of great Nebuchadnezzar, that swelling beyond the demensions of man, he burst. His vast thoughts shattered his brain-pan, so that not only his Crown, but his senses fell from his head. While he soars above the pitch of man unto a God, he falls beneath the lowest degree of man into a beast, eats grass like an Oxe, his Hairs metamorphosed into Feathers; and his Nails into Claws; (Dan. 4.30, 33.) so he exemplified that infallible truth (which is therefore doubled by God) Man that is in honour abideth not, but is like beasts that perish, Psal. 49.12, 20.
2. Secondly, As it is with Riches, so with honour; even when they are ours, they are not our own. Riches are ours rather in the dispensation, than possession. They are anothers, (Luk. 16.12.) The state in another, in God: and the benefit for others, for our Brethren. God is the true Owner, Psal. 24.1. The earth is the Lords, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Rich men are but his Stewards. He gives substance, and takes it away at his pleasure (Iob 1.21.) and we receive to give, and distribute. As God fills the clouds to empty them upon the earth, so he poures in to the rich, to poure out to the poor, Eccles. 11.1, 2, 3. And therefore a righteous Steward thus dispenseth them; He disperseth and giveth to the poor, Psal. 112.9. Even thus is it with honour. It is not our own. It is in him that gives it, not in him that receives it: and we receive it not for our selves, but for others. Promotion proceeds from God, Psal. 75.6, 7. and ends in his people; see 2 Sam. 5.12. 1 King. 10.9. 2 Chron. 2.11. The root in another, the fruit for other. If then borrowed money cannot make rich, much less can lent honour make blessed.
3. Thirdly, It is lyable to all those defects, and failings of other creatures. 1. Full of vanity, and vexation. Even Solomons greatness was but vanity, Eccl. 2.9, 11. It …s gotten (commonly) by wicked arts (flat…ery, bribery, treachery) with grief, fear, envy. And when it is best gotten, yet come we to it with much danger, hold it with much trouble, and cannot part from it but with ruine. How many have swam to it in the blood of others, and sunk by it in their own? read, 1 King. 16.
Look upon David, He rose from following the Ewes with young, to feed Gods people, (Psal. 78.71.) from the sheep-hook to the Scepter. Never any more truly honourable. He received it freely, when he sought it not, it was cast in to him, 1 Sam. 16. He came to it innocently, and would not stain his head with a bloody Crown, 1 Sam. 24. & 26. He managed it wisely, justly, Psal. 78.72. He lived long, and dyed in it ripely: yet the many, and great dangers through which he made toward it; the perils, and sorrows (by reason of those foul practices of his Son Absolom) in passing through it; The troubles and tumults of Adoniah, disturbing him in the farewell of it, will assure us, that there is much vanity in honour, no felicity, and the Crown more heavy, than happy.
2. There is no power in Honour to satisfie the ambitious heart thirsting after it; when he hath gathered to him all Nations, and heaped to him all people, his desire is still as death, and hell, and cannot be satisfied, Hab… 2.5. He cannot rest, or quiet his soul i… the very top of earthly honour, and glory, covets to ascend above the height of the clouds; stayes not there, but will climb up to heaven; neither are the Heavens high enough for him, he will exalt his throne above the stars, an… be like the most high, Isa. 14.13, 14. Th… Prince of Tyre cannot stop his glorious boasting in being wiser than Daniel, but sets hi… heart as God, Ezek. 28.2, 3. And truly it i… worthy of observation, that the heart o… man (even when it is most carnal, and much more when spiritual) cannot settle, or pitch upon any lower object than likeness to God. But here lies the difference; the carna… would be like him in an absolute soveraignty, and supream independancy, (Gen. 3.5.) the spiritual in humility, (Psal. 113.5, 6. Matth. 11.29.) in holiness, and purity, 1 Pet. 1.15. 1 Iohn 3.3.
3. Neither is honour of any continuance; Man in honour abideth not; his glory shall no… descend after him, Psal. 49.12, 17. How many out-live all their honour? Those that ar… born in the Kingdom become poor, Eccles. 4.14… They may live like Gods, and yet dye lik… men, Psal. 82.6, 7. The life of man is but a flower, of short continuance, and momentary, (Job 14.1, 2.) But the flower of honour (commonly) budds long after him, and is blasted before him; certainly parts with him at his grave, and returns to some other, perhaps his enemy.
4. This glittering Idol of honour is like the glaring Image of Beauty. It hath strong cords to draw a carnal heart, but weak threds to tye, and bind the affection which it hath drawn: how is the soul en…moured on those dazeling, but false beams of honour not yet attained? how soon it languisheth, and loaths what it hath gotten, and enjoyed? It sparkles in our eyes, when we look on it in distance; but no sooner is it worn, then soiled, and loseth all the gloss, and beauty. That great Emperour, and greater persecutor (Diocletian) how greedily did he hunt after the Imperial Robe, and Diadem? how eagerly followed it? But when he had a while worn it, was soon weary, put it off, and hid his head in a private dwelling.
5. All earthly honour is far inferiour to that heavenly creature, which is the principal part of man. The spirit of man framed after the likeness of his Creat…ur, and again restored to that glorious image, infinitely transcendeth the vain, and highest r…spects it can receive from man. Honour cannot ascend, but descends: cannot be given by an Inferiour to a Superiour. When we are precious in the sight of God (then, an… never but then) we are truly honourable … Isa. 43.4.
6. Lastly, Honour is not only needless… no way forwarding our happiness, (and none so happy, or truly honourable, as who by men are most despised, witness our most blessed Saviour, Isa. 53.3.) but very dangerous, if not deadly, stopping our way to the only true glory, and eternal blessedness, Iohn 5.44. & 12.43. Let me conclude this passage also with that Poetical Philosopher,
Boetius. Libr. 4. Metr. 2.
Those earthly Gods you trembling view
Mounted on starry thrones,
Array'd with Heaven (in spangled blue)
Guarded with armed drones,
With raging hearts, and lightning browes,
Storming with thundring mouths,
Could you unlace their vain attires,
And peep into their brest,
With chains, with gyves, with tortures, fires
Th 'Oppressors lye opprest.
Clos'd in that shew, and Heav'n-like shell
You'l find the kernel hell.
Distracting lusts with cruel twitches
Rack the di…joynted Ghost:
Hope backs the heart, and spurrs, and switches;
Wrath, anger …ear, and ro…:
Hate, Envy scourge with snaky wreath;
Griefs, pressing, squeese to death.
When then so many Tyrant Lords
Reign in one single brest;
How can it (bound with self-will'd cords)
Do what it self thinks best?
He that rules men, serves lust, 's a thing,
Much greater slave, than King.
If then our Happiness is neither made, nor patcht up by Riches, Honours; how much less by Pleasure?