^ 0000000— these signify nothing ; but if you do but add a figure to them, 10000000, then they signify much. ' So holy Eliakim was a throne of glory to his father's house, lea. xxii 23.
Heb. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 165
and an ornament to the father ; so was Isaac's to Abraham : the holi- ness of the husband is an honour and ornament to the wife ; so was Abraham's to Sarah : and the holiness of the wife is an honour and an ornament to the husband ; so was Sarah's to Abraham. So, in Prov. xii. 4, ' A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.' i A crown is the top of honour, it is the top of royalty and glory ; why ! a virtuous wife is such a thing ! A sweet, a good-natured wife is as a gold ring upon her husband's finger ; a gifted wife is as a gold chain about her husband's neck; but a holy virtuous wife is as a crown upon her husband's head. The holiness of the prince is an honour and an ornament to the people ; and the holiness of the people is an honour and an ornament to the prince. The holiness of the master is an honour and an ornament to the servant; and the holiness of the ser- vant is an honour and an ornament to the master. And the holiness of one brother is an honour to another brother. Jude glories- in this, that he was the brother of James, ver. 1. James was famous for his sanctity ; for his holiness he was called the Just, as Eusebius writes. 2 His holiness did so sparkle and shine, that the Jews were generally convinced that in holiness he was more eminent and excellent than others. Now Jude took it for a very high honour to be related to one so eminent in holiness. Holy persons reflect a credit and an honour upon their relations. It was the speech of a heathen notably qualified, though but meanly bred and born, to a dissolute person well born, up- braiding him with his birth, ' I am a grace to my stock, but thou art a blot to thy lineage/ Yea, holy persons are an honour to the places where they have been born and bred : Ps. Ixxxvii. 5,6, ' And of Zion it shall be said. This and that man was born in her : and the Highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that tliis man was born there. Selah.' God seems to be very much affected and taken with the very places where holy men are born ; he loves the very ground that holy men tread on, and he delights in the very air that holy men breathe in. Holy persons reflect honour upon the very places where they were born. The holy patriarchs, prophets, and apostles were the honour and the glory of the ages and places where they lived. ^ They were as so many bright morning stars, they were as so many rising suns in the places where they were bred and born. Melanchthon was called the phoenix of Grermany, and Luther was the glory of the age wherein he lived. And so were many of the ancients before them, and many since, who have been burning and shining lights in the places of their abode. Look, as an unholy person is a plague and a curse to the very place he lives in, and hastenetb down wrath and vengeance upon it, as Bias the philosopher hath lon« since observed ; for he being at sea in a great tempest among many profane debauched fellows, and perceiving them to call upon their gods, as the worst of men usually do in such cases, he comes to them,
^ The Hebrew is, a woman of strength, or a valiant woman ; that is, a woman that is made strong and valiant by grace, by holiness, to withstand sin, to conquer temptation, and to triumph in affliction, &c.
^ Euseb., lib. ii. c. 23, where you have many memorable things concerning the holi- ness of his life, and the manner of his death.
=* Some antiquaries say that the primitive church had her public tables, wherein the names of the persons that were most noted for piety and holiness were recorded.
166 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [HeB. XII. 14.
and desires them to hold their peace, lest the gods should take notice that they were in the ship, and so not only themselves, but others also, should suffer for their sakes.i It was the wickedness of the wicked that brought the sweeping flood upon the old world ; and it was the wickedness and filthiness of the Sodomites that caused God to rain heU out of heaven upon the cities where they lived. Let men be never so honourable, or never so potent, or never so witty, or never so wealthy, &c., yet if they are profane, if they are wicked, they will hasten down the wrath and vengeance of God upon the places of their abode. So a holy person is an honom- and a blessing to the very place he lives in, as you may see in Jacob and Joseph, who were choice and noble blessings to the very families where they lived. 0 sirs, as ever you would be an honour to your relations, to your country, and to the places of your abode, labour for holiness ! Some venture life and limb, and many a better thing, to reflect honour upon their relations, and upon their country — as many of the Komans did ; and why then shoiUd not you venture far, and venture high for holiness, which will be not only an honour to yourselves, but also an honour and a glory to all persons and places that you have relation to ?