SERM.

LXX.

Obj. 4. Had not Jeremy, St. John Baptist, St. Paul, absolute favours and graces conferred on them, (Isa. xlix. who were sanctified, and separated from the womb to be prophets and apostles?

1, 5.)
Jer. i. 5.
Luke i. 15.
Gal. i. 15.
Jer. i. 10.

xxvi. 16.

Resp. These favours were in design not so much Luke 16. particular and personal, as general and public; those Acts ix. 15. persons being raised up by God upon occasions as needful instruments (elect vessels) of his providence, to instruct men, and to reduce them to God; so that God, in raising up such extraordinary persons, did express his common goodness to mankind.

The like may be said of that special favour, which was vouchsafed to the holy Virgin, who was κEXαρIXuïgi nexa- Twμévŋ, and blessed among women, for the general Luke i. 28. good of mankind.

ριτωμένη.

The consideration of this point is very useful, and may dispose us to many sorts of good practice.

1. No man should presume upon God's dealing with him more favourably than with others, as if he were a darling or favourite; that God will indulge him in the commission of any thing prohibited, or in omission of any duty.

No man should indulge himself in any thing, upon a conceit that God will indulge him, or oversee his errors; and that, in this sense, He seeth not iniquity in Jacob.

2. No man should be puffed up with conceit that God hath a singular regard to him. For all such conceits are groundless and vain; in them men do miserably delude themselves.

No man can otherwise found any assurance of God's special love to him, than upon a good con

1 John iii. science; testifying that he doth sincerely love God, and endeavour faithfully to obey his commandments.

19, 21.

but

3. No man should despair of God's favour; seeing SERM. God hath no particular aversation from any; LXX. every person hath the same grounds of hope.

If we can buckle our hearts to observe our duty, we may be sure to be accepted.

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? 4. No man should be discouraged for his condition, or fortune; since in allotting it to him God had no disfavour, nor did intend him ill.

God hath no less regard to him, than to persons of the most high, wealthy, prosperous state.

5. No man should repine, murmur, or complain of God's dealing, as if he were unkindly used, more than others: for there is no such thing. God dealeth alike kindly with all.

6. No man, upon account of his rank, wealth, or worldly advantages, should boast or pride himself; seeing thence he partaketh no more than his meanest and poorest neighbour, of the principal advantage, God's favour.

Gen. iv. 7.

Ὁ ταπεινός.

xiv. 21.

7. No man, upon such accounts, should despise his neighbour, the brother of low degree: for upon James i. 9. these accounts it appeareth, that the Wise Man saith truly, that he is void of wisdom who de- Prov. xi.12. spiseth his neighbour; seeing no man can be despicable, whom God regardeth; seeing God, as Elihu Job xxxvi. saith, is mighty, and despiseth not any; seeing the James ii. meanest person standeth on equal terms with the greatest in the eye of God.

5.

6.)

tis cœlum omne vaca

8. Great men should not take themselves for an-Quorum faother sort of creatures, or another race of men than their poor neighbours; that the world is theirs, and vit. Luc. all things are for them; that they may do what they please; that they are exempted from laws,

lib. vii.

SERM. which oblige others; for in moral and spiritual acLXX. counts they are upon a level with others.

Col. iv. 1. iii. ult.

They are but fellow-subjects and fellow-servants with others; all accountable to the same Master.

9. Superiors hence should be moved to deal fairly, gently, and courteously with inferiors; seeing these are their fellow-servants, equally considerable as themselves with the great Master of the family.

This is the use, to which St. Paul applieth the consideration:

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye have a Master in Ephes. vi.9. heaven-Ye masters, do the same things unto them, (that is, be conscientiously good to them, as they are faithful to you,) forbearing threatening; knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.

Coloss. ii.
Mic. vi. 7,8.

10. This consideration should preserve us from superstition, or thinking to please or satisfy God, win his favour, or appease his displeasure, by uncouth ways, which he hath not prescribed to all men; to corrupt him by our sacrifices and oblations; our flatteries, glozings, colloguings with him; so that he will indulge us in any bad thing, or excuse us from our true duty, in regard to those affected services.

We do herein but abuse ourselves; for he will not approve or accept us upon any other account, than of discharging our duty, being truly righteous and good.

11. It is matter of comfort and satisfaction to a man, who is conscious of his sincerity, that (whatever his condition and circumstances be) God will have a fair regard thereto, and will not reject him.

It was so to Job; Doth not God see my ways, SERM. and count all my steps?Let me be weighed in LXX. an even balance, that God may know my integrity. Job xxxi. 12. The consideration of this point should keep Jam. ii.1,9. us from partial respects of men.

4, 6.

Pr. xxviii.

21.

περὶ οὐδενός.

is 16. an era.

Θαυμάζειν

Not to admire the state of great men, nor to où i yield them undue deferences, (in prejudice to meaner Matt. xxii. persons, making greater difference than there ground for,) not to flatter or humour them in immoderate measure, or unbeseeming manner. This is that which St. James doth urge in his se- Deut. i. 17. cond chapter, as a very unequal thing.

Jude 16.
Levit. xix.

15.

xvi. 19. Prov. xxiv.

xxviii. 21.

We should imitate God; we should consider that 23. xvi. 5. our opinions and affections should resemble his.

As in exterior judgment no respect is to be had to the rich above the poor; so neither in the interior judgment or esteem of our mind; to which St. James seemeth to apply the law; If ye have re- Jam. ii. 9. spect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced

of the law as transgressors.

13. This should keep us from envying at those who have more worldly advantages.

14. It should keep us from being offended, or scandalized, or perverted into false notions of God, upon occasion of any mysterious points, or hard expressions importing absolute and arbitrary proceedings of God, in predestination or providence. For however they are to be understood, they cannot derogate from the impartial goodness and justice of God.

15. This consideration should engage us readily to pay due respect and reverence to princes, to magistrates, to all our superiors.

For hence we see, that the reason why we are

SERM. commanded to honour and fear them, is, not their LXX. worldly grandeur of wealth or power, (things of small consideration with God;) but it standeth on a more solid ground, their sacred relations to God, as his representatives and officers; who in his name and behalf do administer justice, and protect right and innocence, encourage virtue, maintain order and peace in the world.

Though God doth not favour their persons as rich and mighty; yet he regardeth his own character imprinted on them; he regardeth his honour and interest concerned in their respect; he regardeth the public good of mankind, which they are constituted to promote: he considers them as the ministers of his kingdom, and instruments of conveying his benefits to mankind.

Whence he giveth salvation to kings; he by his law, and by his providence, doth guard and secure them from violence, from contempt, from disrespect.

In honouring them, we honour the authority of God, and the character of divinity stamped on them; Rom. xiv.4. we serve ourselves, for whose sake they are constiΕἰς ἀγαθόν. tuted, for whose good they watch.

It may also engage us the more gladly and fully to yield them their due respect, to consider, that their condition is not invidious, or their case better than other men's; seeing they are accountable to God for the advantages of it; seeing that God hath no regard to them upon account of that greatness which dazzleth our eyes; seeing that for all the burdens they sustain, for all the cares they take, for all the pains they endure, for our good and public service, they can receive so inconsiderable a recompense from us.