To pneuma ksopyrén, or Sparkes of the spirit, being, motives to sacred theorems, and divine meditations. / By a reverend father of the Church of England.

Sect. II. Of the Honour of God.

* 1.1SEing that every creature is made & created for the honour of the Creator, and doth in his nature respect his honour and glory, in so∣much that the greatest ho∣nour

that the creature can have, is to be made for Gods honour, & that the honour of God doth respect the ho∣nour of all other creature••, and the injury and disho∣nor of God, the injury of all other creatures: so that when the creatures are well used to God's honour, then God is glorified; and when they are abused, then is he disho∣noured. For God being ho∣noured; & God being disho∣noured the Creatures are di∣shonoured. And hence it is, that in the honour of God, are included infinite ho∣nours, and in the dishonour of God infinite dishonours. Therefore that man which honoureth God, cannot chuse but honour a••l his creatures, and especially

himself being the chief of his creatures. But he which dishonoureth God, disho∣noureth all Gods creatures with him, and especially himself, which is Lord of the creatures: So that to ho∣nour God is for a man to honour himself; and he that dishonoureth God, doth the greatest wrong and disho∣nour to himself that may be. Hence I conclude (Lord) that for me to preferr any crea∣tures honour or praise be∣fore thine is a great disho∣nour to thee, to my self and to all the rest of my fellow-creatures. For seeing all things ought to be for thy glory, and that thy glory is the glory of all cre tures, then whensoever we aime at our own honor, we become

directly thine enemies. For whensoever we seek not thy glory directly, then of neces∣sity we seek our own glory, for there is no mean between them; insomuch that we are alwayes directly either sub∣jects or traytors, friends or foes to our God.

O good Lord, is it fit that thou shouldest make a crea∣ture of nothing, after thine own image, & he to be con∣trary to thine owne glory, being the omnipotent Arti∣ficer? what greater foolish∣ness, what greater dishonesty what greater disorder, what greater blindness, and more against reason than that the work made of nothing, should seek his owne proper praise?

Sparke 2.

O Lord, whether we sleep or wake sit, or lie, stand or goe, we are thine: There∣fore grant that whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do else,(h 1.2) let all be done to the honour, glory, and praise of thy name. For seeing thou art our Maker,(k 1.3) grant we may obey thee. Seeing thou art our Master,(l 1.4) grant we may fear thee. Seeing thou art our Father, grant we may reverence thee; and seeing thou art one God, grant we may glorifie thee. O Lord, grant us grace to honour thee with all wherewith thou hast honoured and bles∣sed us. So shall our(m 1.5) barns be filled with abundance,

and our presses shall burst with new wine. Grant us ever to glorify thee in thy self, & in thy memb••rs; for thou hast taught us, that he, which oppresseth the poor, reproveth him that made him, but he(n 1.6) that hath mercy upon the poor honou∣reth ••hee.

O loving Father, seeing that thine is glory, victory and praise, for thou art the King(o 1.7) of Glory; Let all my(p 1.8) health and glory be in thee: let us not honour thee with our lips, but with our lives and souls also.

For thou wilt not give thy glory to none other,(q 1.9) let us not be desirous of(r 1.10) vain-glory. Therefore, not unto us, not unto us (Lord) but to thy name give the glory, To

whom be Glory for ever. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The School of Honour.
• h 1.2

  1 Cor. 10.
• k 1.3

  Gen. 1.
• l 1.4

  Mat. 1.6.
• m 1.5

  Prov. 3.9
• n 1.6

  Prov. 14.31.
• o 1.7

  Psal. 24.
• p 1.8

  Psal. 62.
• q 1.9

  Isa. 42.
• r 1.10

  Gal. 5.