thing that is corporeal, or transitory, yea nothing below God can satisfy a holy soul. It is this holy disposition that fits men for holy duties, and that is their fitness for eternal happiness. If angels were not more holy than devils, and godly men than the ungodly, heaven could not hold them, nor could they any more see or enjoy the Lord, than they that are cast into outer darkness. And therefore if you dare say that the holy are no more honourable than the unholy, you must say that the holy angels are no more honourable than the devil, which sure you will scarce be so desperate as to speak.

(6.) Holiness in the godly is the image of God, in which we were created, and according to which we are renewed by the Holy Ghost; Eph. iv. 24. Col. iii. 10. Gen. i. 27. And what can be spoken more honourable of a creature, than that he hath his Maker's image, unless as to the degree, that some have more of it than others? It is the honourable title of the Son himself, that he " is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person." This is above the honour of any, or of all the saints. But to have the image of God in wisdom, and holiness, as all have that are sanctified, is a wonderful dignity to be given to a creature, and so low and unworthy creatures as we are. His commands tell us what are the qualifications of his people. "As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy, in all manner of conversation. For it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy;" 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. And how high a command, and strait a rule is that given us by Christ, Matt. v. 48. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Well may it be called and exceeding righteousness, surpassing the Scribes and Pharisees, which all have that enter into the heavenly kingdom; ver. 20. There is nothing under heaven that is known to man so like to God, as a holy soul. Remember this the next time you reproach such. All you that are the serpent's seed, remember when you spit your venom against holiness that it is the image of God that your enmity is exercised against. O what a strange conjunction of malignity and hypocrisy appeareth in the enemies of God among us! A picture of Christ that is drawn by a painter, or a forbidden image of God that is carved by an image-maker in stone, that hath nothing but the name of an image of God, these they will reverence and honour, (though

God hath forbidden them to make such image of him). The Papists will pray before them, and the profane among them are zealous for them; when in the mean time they hate the most noble images of God on earth. Forbidden images of God have been defended, by seeking the blood of his truest images. Do you indeed love and honour the image of God? Why then do you hate them, and seek to destroy them? and why do you make them the scorn of your continual malice? Can you blow hot and cold? Can you both love and hate? both honour and scorn the image of God? Search the Scripture, and see whether it be not the sanctified, heavenly, diligent servants of the Lord that are the honourable images which he owneth, and magnifieth, and glorieth in before the world. If this be not true, then go on in your hatred of them and spare not. These are not images of stone, but of Spirit; not images made by a carver or a painter, but by the Holy Ghost himself. Not hanged upon a wall for men to look on, but living images, actuated from heaven, by spiritual influence from Christ their head, and shining forth in exemplary lives to the honour of their Father whom they resemble; Matt. v. 16. It is not in an outward shape, but in spiritual wisdom, and love, and holiness of heart and life, that they resemble the Creator. Whether you will believe it now or not, be sure of it, you malignant enemies of holiness, that God would shortly make you know it, that you choose out the most excellent image of your Maker under heaven, to pour out your hatred and contempt against. And inasmuch as you did it unto his most noble images, you did it unto him.

(7.) If all this be not enough to shew you the honourable nature of holiness, I will speak the highest word that can be spoken of any created nature under heaven, and yet no more than God hath spoken; even in 2 Pet. i. 4. where it is expressly said, that the godly are "partakers of the Divine nature." I know that it is not the essence of God that is here called the Divine nature that we partake of; we abhor the thoughts of such blasphemous arrogancy, as if that grace did make men gods. But it is called the Divine nature, in that it is caused by the Spirit of God, and floweth from him as the light or sunshine floweth from the sun. You use to say the sun is in the house, when it shineth in the house, though the sun itself be in the firmament. So the Scripture saith that God dwelleth in us, and Christ and the Spirit

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dwelleth in us, when the heavenly light, and love, and life, which streameth from him dwelleth in us; and this is called the Divine nature. Think of this, and tell me whether higher and more honourable things can easily be spoken of the sons of men. "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him :" 1 John iv. 16. O wonderful advancement! high expressions of a creature's dignity! Blessed be that eternal love that is thus communicative, and hath so ennobled our unworthy souls! With what alacrity and delight should we exalt his name by daily praises that thus exalteth us by his unspeakable mercies? Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of our strength; and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence, and the Holy One of Israel is our king;" Psal.lxxxix. 15-17. lxxv. 19. "Let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent: his glory is above the earth and heavens. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints ;" Psal. cxlviii. 13, 14. He hath “ first exalted our blessed Head, even highly exalted him by his own right hand, and given him a name above every name;" (Acts ii. 33. v. 31. Phil. ii. 9.) and with him he hath wonderfully exalted all his sanctified ones. "For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren;" Heb. ii. 10, 11. "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ;" 1 Cor. xii. 12. What greater honour can man on earth be advanced to? And the honour of the just is communicative to the societies of which they are members. The churches are called holy for their sakes. "By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked;" Prov. xi. 11. "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people;" chap. xiv. 34. Let therefore both the persons and congregations of the saints continually exalt the name of God. bless the Lord for ever and ever, and blessed be his glorious

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name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise;❞ Neh. ix. 5. "The Lord liveth, and blessed be our Rock, and exalted be the God of our Rock of our salvation;" 2 Sam. xxii. 47. "I will extol thee O Lord, for thou hast lifted me up ;" Psal. xxx. 1. "And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord;" Psal. xxvii. 6. "The Lord is their strength, the saving strength of his anointed. He will save his people, and bless his inheritance, and feed them also, and lift them up for ever;" Psal. xxviii. 8, 9. "The Lord lift8,9. eth up the meek, and casteth the wicked down to the ground;" Psal. cxlvii. 6. Thus shall it be done to them whom God honoureth. "He will deliver them and honour them;" Psal.xci. 15.

4. And as the sanctified have the most honourable dispositions, so have they the highest and most honourable designs. The end of their lives is incomparably above other men's. The rest of the world (though they may talk of heaven, and wish for it rather than hell, when they can live no longer) do indeed drive on no greater trade, than providing for the flesh, and feathering them a nest which will quickly be pulled down; and like the spider, spinning themselves a web, which death will shortly sweep away. But the design and daily business of the godly is for everlasting glory. "They look for a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. They confess themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth, thereby declaring that they seek a country. And truly if they were mindful of that (deceitful world) which they came out of (and have forsaken), they may have opportunities (and too many invitations) to return to it. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city;" Heb. xi. 10. 13-16. This noble end ennobleth both the persons and conversations of believers. To rule a kingdom is a more noble design than to play with children for pins or points. But to seek the everlasting kingdom is far above all the highest designs that are terminated upon earth. If everlasting glory with God in heaven be a more noble state than a worldly life, then must the seeking it be a more noble design. Paul sheweth you the

difference very pathetically, Phil. iii. 18.“For many walk (of whom I told you often, and now tell you weeping) that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in heaven." That is, we live as citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, and not as those that are here at home. It is heaven that sanctifies persons' minds; that they study and care for, and labour and live for in this world. And therefore though in their natural capacity, they are but as other men, yet in their moral and relative capacity, I think I may say without hyperbole, that they are much more advanced above the dignity of the great unsanctified princes upon earth than reason, and learning, and manly designs advance a man above a beast. It is the nobleness and baseness of the end that doth honour or debase the agent; and therefore none are truly honourable but those that seek the spiritual, the high eternal honour.

5. The employment, as well as the designs of the godly, do prove them to be the most honourable. Both the end and matter do shew the excellency of their work. As the end honoureth the person, so doth it honour all the works that are means thereto. The first thoughts of a godly man when he awaketh, and the last when he lieth down (if he observe his rule) are usually for heaven. When you are conversing with worldly men, about these common worldly things, they are in prayer or holy meditation conversing with God, about the matters of his service, and their salvation. Their hearts are toward him their thoughts are on him: they are devoted to him their daily business is to serve him. When I awake (saith David, Psal. cxxxix. 28.) I am still with thee." "I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. My reins also instruct me in the night season. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved;" Psal. xvi. 7, 8. The life of the godly is called in Scripture, "a walking with God." Such was the course of Enoch, Noah, and Abraham; Gen. v. 22. 24. vi. 9. xvii. 1. xxiv. 40. "They walked before God” (Gen. xlviii. 15.), and in his ways; Deut. xxviii. 9. They "love the Lord their God with all their heart and soul (as to the sincerity of it); and walk after him, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and serve him, and cleave unto