Fifthly, for the interest of Honour and Reputation. This is one of the greatest blessings which this world can afford, much to be preferred before Riches or Pleasures, or Life it self. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and (Prov. 22. 1) loving favour rather than silver and gold. One that is a generous virtuous man will chuse to dye, rather than do any thing that may expose him to infamy. St. Paul was of this mind; It were better for me to dye, than that any should make (1 Cor. 9. 15) my glorying void. And because it is a thing of so great excellency, therefore we do pay it, as the best service we can do, to God, and to his Deputies, Magistrates and Parents. ‘Tis by this that we are rendered useful and acceptable to others. And besides the advantage we have by it while we live, ‘tis one of those things that will abide after us, when we are gone out of the world; and for that reason a special regard is to be had to it. And the more wise and virtuous any man is, the more care will he take to transmit a grateful memory of himself to future times; and since he must be spoken of after his departure, to take care that he be well-spoken of, that his name may be as a precious oyntment, leaving a perfume behind it, that men may rise up at the mention of it and call him blessed. Nor can any man despise honour, but he that doth either despair of it, or resolve against doing any thing that may deserve it.
Now honour is properly the esteem and good opinion which men have concerning the person or the actions of another, together with such external expressions of respect as are suitable thereunto.
And I shall make it appear, that this kind of happiness doth depend upon Religion both Morally, Naturally.
- Morally. Nothing being more generally agreed upon amongst all the Philosophers, than that honour is the peculiar reward of virtue, and doth not properly belong to any thing else. And that shame is the proper reward of vice, nor can it belong to any thing else.
The Scripture is very copious in expressions to this purpose. Such as are religious, are styled the excellent of the earth, Psal. 16. 3. and said to be more excellent than their neighbours. Prov. 17. 27. They1 are Gods peculiar treasure, the dearly beloved of his soul. He sets apart the man that is godly for himself. Though such persons may be but low in their outward condition; being put to wander up and down in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, seeking for refuge in desarts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth; yet are they, upon the account of Religion, of such an excellent value, that in the judgment of the Holy Ghost, the world is not worthy of them, Heb. 11. 37, 38.
The Wise-man speaking of Rellgion, saith, that it shall be an ornament of grace2 to thy head, and as a chain about thy neck. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee, and bring thee to honour. She shall give to thy head an ornament of grace, and a Crown of glory. God hath engaged himself by promise to those people that are religious, that he will set them above other nations; (Deut. 28. 13) they shall be made the head and not the tail. He will honour those that honour3 him. And certainly, he who is the King of Kings, must needs be the fountain of honour, and be able to dispose of it as he pleases.
And on the other side, Shame is in Scripture said to be the proper reward and consequent of sin, especially in the Writings of David and Solomon. Religion is styled by the name of wisdom, and Sin by the name of folly. And the Wise-man having said, Prov. 3. 35, that the wise shall inherit glory, ‘tis added, but shame shall be the promotion of fools: It shall be their promotion; the utmost that such persons shall ever attain to, will be but disgrace; when they are exalted and lifted up, it shall prove to their disparagement, to make their shame more conspicuous. And Prov. 13. 5. ‘tis said, A wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. The word translated loathsome, properly denotes such kind of persons to be as nauseous and offensive to the judgments of others, as the most loathsome unsavoury things are to their tasts or smells. They are styled by the name of Wolves and Bears, Swine, Dogs, and Vipers, things both hurtful and hateful.