A Christian Library, Chapter 46
CHAP. XLVI.
INto the humble and thankful soul, that giveth him abundance of glory; his Spirit enters with abundance of Grace, sowing there, and there only, plenty of Grace, where he is assured to reap plenty of glory. But who will sow those barren Sands, where they are not only without all hope of a good Harvest, but are sure to loose their Seed and Labour? And in common Equity, he that is unthankful for a little, is worthy of nothing; whereas thanks for one good turn, is the best introduction to another. Holy David was a man according to Gods own heart; and therefore he continually mi…eth with his Prayers, Praises; and being of a publike spirit, he discovereth the secrets of this skill: As when he saith, Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the people praise thee; then shall the earth bring forth her encrease, and God, even our God shall give us his blessing, Psal. 67.5, 6, 7. When Heaven and Earth are friends, then Summer and Winter, Seed-time and Harvest, run on their race. When God was displeased, what was the effect? Ye have sown much, and have reaped little. Again, when God was pleased, mark the very day; For from that very day I will bless you, Hag. 2.15. to 20 Whensoever glory is given to God on high, peace & good will shall be bestowed on men below, Luk. 2.14 Psal. 84.11, 12. Noah gave a Sacrifice of Praise for his deliverance from the Flood; And God being praised for that one deliverance, he perpetuateth his blessing, and promiseth an everlasting deliverance to the World from any more Floods.
Again, it is the only way to procure Gods Blessing upon our endeavours: It happened that Bernard one day made a curious and learned Sermon, for which he expected great applause, but received none: The next time he made a plain wholsom Sermon, and it was wonderfully affected, liked and commended. A friend of his noting it, askt him what might be the reason? Who answered, In the one I preached Bernard, in the other Christ; in the one I sought to win glory and praise to my self; in the other, the glory of God, and the salvation of souls, which received blessing from above, and that made the difference; yea, were there nothing good else in it, yet this were the way to gain true honor:
We cannot so much honour our selves, as by seeking to honour God: To seek a mans own glory, (says Solomon) is not glory, Prov. 25.25.27. but to seek Gods glory, is the greatest honour a man can do himself: For as Cicero said of Iulius Caesar, That in extolling of dead Pompey, and erecting his Statues, he set up his own: So who are more venerably esteemed and spoken of, then such as are most tender of Gods glory, and least seeke their own. They are the Lord's own words to Saul, They that honour me, I will honour; but they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed, 1 Sam. 2.30: The way for a man to be esteemed the greatest, is to esteem himself the least. It is humility that makes us accepted both of God & Man, whereas the contrary makes us hated and abhorred of both: The Centurion did many excellent things, but he never did a Work so acceptable in the sight of Christ, as was his disclaiming his own Works. While Saul vvas little in his ovvn eyes, God made him Head over the twelve Tribes of Israel, and gave him his Spirit; but when out of his Greatness he abused his Place and Gifts, God took both from him, and gave them to David, whom Saul least respected of all his Subjects, 1 Sam. 15.17.28. & 16.14. Other proofs of such as he will honor, for honoring him, you have Gen. 39.21. Zeph. 3 19, 20. Dan. 2.19. to 50. as when Nebuchadnezzar sought his own honor, honor departed from him, and he was made like a Beast; but when he sought God's honor, honor came to him again, and he was made a King, Dan. 4.34. to the end. Before honour, goeth humility, Prov. 15.33. But when pride cometh, then cometh shame, Prov. 11.2. And commonly great Works undertaken for ostentation, miss of their end, and turn to the Author's shame; nor have any less praise then they that most hunt after it.
It's true, the Lord sometimes gives wicked men even what in their thoughts they ask; as some desire riches onelyonly, and God gives it them with a curse; some honor and dignity, and they have it, that their fall may be the greater; others fame and reputation (as loving the praise of men more then the praise of God) and these have many times what they aim at; they are extolled to the skies, and that shall be the reward of all the good that ever they do. Lastly, God's people make spiritual and eternal things, Grace and Glory, and God's favour their onelyonly option, and they have their desire; yea not seldom, are riches and reputation super-added, though they seek them not▪ they seek onelyonly God's glory on Earth; as for their own glory, they let that alone till they come to Heaven, knowing that he onelyonly is happily famous, who is known and recorded there: True, he lives so well, that the praise of men (especially good men) will follow; but as I said before, so say I again, he wil not follow it, least to gain the shadow, he should lose the substance; as Absolom in seeking a Kingdom, lost himself.