Use 2.

If an instrumental fitness be an honour to Christ, then it must needs be so unto us, to be vessels of ho∣nour fitted for the Masters use: and here Consider,

First, to be employed by God is the greatest honour to the creature, as the greatest dishonour is for God to lay a man aside, 2 Tim. 2.21. &c. The great title of ho∣nour that Moses had, was the Lords owning him as his servant, Moses my servant, &c. and David my servant: and the Angels, their great honour lies in their services, they are principalities and powers, Rom. 15.20. but in all this they are ministering spirits; and Paul, yea so have I strived to Preach the Gospel,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He lookt upon it as his duty, and as his glory also: their ambiti∣on lay in this, who should do most work, not who should receive most wages; truly to be a Door-keeper, Psal. 84.10. the meanest office, the lowest employ∣ment for God is an honour to the greatest Prince in the world: and therefore if the Lord employ men in eminent services, it is the greater favour and the greater honour.

Secondly, it is a great honour to be useful amongst the creatures; Eliakim was highly exalted by God, I will fasten him as a nayl in a sure place, &c. Isa. 22.23,24. Much people shall hang upon him, &c. Mich. 5.7. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord; and Elijah a man mighty serviceable to God in his generation, he is called the Chariot of Israel, and the horse-men thereof, &c. It is the honour of godliness to be profitable for all things, &c.

Thirdly, the Lord is exceedingly pleased with the services of his people, Hos. 9.10. I found Israel as grapes in the Wilderness, &c. but they are then more specially acceptable, if their services proceed from a spirit suited and prepared for them: for a good work from an unprepared heart, is a provocation unto God, and a sign of hypocrisie in the man, 2 Chron. 12.14. and truly if our services be not acceptable to God, they will never be comfortable unto us.