Honor

Aaron Burr was Vice President under Thomas Jefferson. In 1804, while Vice President, he shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel to defend his honor. They had long been political rivals. Aaron Burr, like many today, fought to defend his honor but did little to earn it.

Five weeks ago we celebrated Memorial Day, the time we honor the war dead of our country. Since then we have observed the sixty-eighth anniversary of D-Day, and Thursday, July 4th, we observe Independence Day. On each of these days I have become captivated by the thoughts of the sacrifice and dedication of those who have given their all, sacrificing the remainder of their lives, so that we might live in freedom and liberty.

We have here several examples of honor. In one case two men were defending their personal honor. In the other cases we honored our war dead and those willing to sacrifice all.

What is the definition of honor? Webster's says that honor is the respect paid to others; a good reputation; a keen sense of right and wrong; adherence to action or principles considered right; the esteem earned by virtues; the reward or position given to subjects; the final reward of righteousness. Honor is to be highly thought of by reputation to others. Obviously, vanity and pride do not lead to honor, but what does lead to honor?

Today I want to give you seven steps to gain Christian honor. After which, I'll show you some examples of how some of our country's greatest leaders valued honor.

Gaining honor, step 1. To receive honor, you must give honor.

The most fundamental honor is to our parents. Even if parents fail in some major way, we must still honor them.

(Deu 5:16) 'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.

We must honor the aged - and as we shall read, we must honor God.

(Lev 19:32) 'You shall rise up before the gray-headed, and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.

It is often quoted that Ex. 20:12 (which we did not read) and Deut 5:16 (which we did read) are the first commandments with promise. The promise is a long and enjoyable life if we honor our parents. But God also makes a promise concerning honor in 1 Sam 2.

(1 Sam 2:20) "Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, 'I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever'; but now the LORD declares, 'Far be it from Me-- for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.

If we honor others, they will honor us. Likewise, if others honor us, we will honor them.

(Isa 29:13-15) Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned <by rote>, {14} Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the discernment of their discerning men shall be concealed. " {15} Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are <done> in a dark place, And they say, "Who sees us?" or "Who knows us?"

This prophesy describes the public regard for God today. Stated honor (i.e. honor not felt) is not acceptable. Our actions must sincerely honor God and each other.

Married couples must also give honor to each other:

(1 Pet 3:6-7) Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. You husbands likewise, live with <your wives> in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Here is the inducement: Grant your wife honor or your prayers will be hindered. God certainly makes it clear we are to honor our wives and our husbands.

(1 Pet 2:17-18) Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. {18} Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

This covers it all. We must honor our fellow man, God, and the offices of government.

(1 Tim 6:1) Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and <our> doctrine may not be spoken against.

Yes we must honor all men. Honor the office of the President and others in high places even if you can't respect the actions of the man or woman who occupies the office. Honor the office of your boss no matter what kind of a tyrant he or she is. We may not be able to honor the beggar, the bum, the crook, the prisoner for what they have done, but we must never forget that they are filling the office they hold and deserve to be treated as such.

(1 Th 5:11-14) Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. {12} But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, {13} and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. {14} And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.

Gaining honor, step 2. Let honor come naturally in due time.

(Prov 20:3) Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

King David is described as being full of honor when he died:

(1 Chr 29:28) Then he died in a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor; and his son Solomon reigned in his place.

David was highly honored.

God promised honor to David's son Solomon, though he did not ask for it.

(2 Chr 1:11-12) And God said to Solomon, "Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge, that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king, {12} wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you. "

So Solomon was given more honor by God than any other Israeli king before him or since.

We read earlier that wives are commanded to honor their husbands. Does honor mean backbiting, criticism or disdain? Not hardly, but you could never tell that by some marriages. We read a scripture from the New Testament for this lesson but let's read an Old Testament example:

(Est 1:20) "And when the king's edict which he shall make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small."

Esther had to wait but eventually honor prevailed.

Gaining honor, step 3. Humility comes before and must remain before honor.

(Prov 29:23) A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.

How many of you listen to Rush Limbaugh? Here is a man who certainly doesn't display humility very often. How many of you have noticed that when he is vainly trying to promote the use of "fine Cuban cigars" as he calls them, he receives many calls criticizing him for this vice. But whenever he opens up and displays humility and care and understanding, his calls honor him with similar expressions.

(Prov 15:33) The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor <comes> humility.

Humility must be demonstrated before honor will be received.

(Prov 18:12) Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility <goes> before honor.

This says the same thing in reverse, doesn't it.

(Rom 12:10) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
(Prov 22:4) The reward of humility <and> the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life.
(Phil 2:3-11) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; {4} do not <merely> look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. {5} Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, {6} who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, {7} but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, <and> being made in the likeness of men. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. {9} Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, {11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gaining honor, step 4. Maintain self respect to gain the honor of others. Do we take pride in ourselves? How about cleanliness, image, orderliness, politeness, industry, proper language, etc.? Always remember that sin tears down self-respect as well as respect from others.

Step 5. Maintain a high standard of conduct. Be a doer. Don't tell white lies or color statements or be a cheat.

(Phil 2:14-16) Do all things without grumbling or disputing; {15} that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, {16} holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
(Phil 4:8-9) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. {9} The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.

Step 6. Act like the future sons of God.

(Eccl 10:1-7) Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom <and> honor. {2} A wise man's heart <directs him> toward the right, but the foolish man's heart <directs him> toward the left. {3} Even when the fool walks along the road his sense is lacking, and he demonstrates to everyone <that> he is a fool. {4} If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. {5} There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler-- {6} folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. {7} I have seen slaves <riding> on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

Folly putrefies dignity and honor. e.g. Language, grammar, manners, etiquette. Many people today tend to be irresponsible and free-willed.

Gaining honor, step 7. Look ultimately to God for honor.

(Dan 4:30-37) "The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?' {31} "While the word <was> in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, <saying>, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, {32} and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place <will be> with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes.' {33} "Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair had grown like eagles' <feathers> and his nails like birds' <claws>. {34} "But at the end of that period I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom <endures> from generation to generation. {35} "And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And <among> the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?' {36} "At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. {37} "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

This is a story of going from honor to dishonor and back again. Notice:

(Dan 5:18) "O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father.
(1 Chr 29:9-16) Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly. {10} So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed art Thou, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. {11} "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O LORD, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. {12} "Both riches and honor <come> from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. {13} "Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. {14} "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee. {15} "For we are sojourners before Thee, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. {16} "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build Thee a house for Thy holy name, it is from Thy hand, and all is Thine.
(2 Tim 2:20-21) Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. {21} Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these <things>, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
(1 Pet 1:6-9) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, {7} that the proof of your faith, <being> more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; {8} and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, {9} obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
(John 12:26) "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

God grant that we can all be honorable servants to Christ.

We have discussed the giving and receiving of personal honor, and the virtues through which it is obtained. But in these days of both personal and governmental corruption, violence, and disregard for established mores, in which we live, most of us are equally concerned about our national destiny if we as a nation lose these virtues of Christian honor and morality. Thomas Jefferson, who was to become the third President of the United States, answered this question in 1781 when he wrote:

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."

These words are also inscribed in the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC.

Five-star General of the Army Douglas MacArthur also answered that question while he was Commander of UN forces during the Korean War when he recounted:

"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."

America, in these days of moral and economic decline, are you listening?

*************

As I began this sermon, I mentioned those who were willing to sacrifice the rest of their lives for honor. Most associate this term with the sacrifice of war veterans.

But have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, the day we commemorate every July 4th? Rush Limbaugh Jr., the father of radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, included the following as part of a speech entitled "Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor."

"What kind of men were the 56 signers who adopted the Declaration of Independence and who, by their signing, committed an act of treason against the crown? To each of you the names Franklin, Adams, Hancock, and Jefferson are almost as familiar as household words. Most of us, however, know nothing of the other signers. Who were they? What happened to them?

I imagine that many of you are somewhat surprised at the names not there: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry. All were elsewhere.

Ben Franklin was the only really old man. Eighteen were under 40; three were in their 20s. Of the 56 almost half -24- were judges and lawyers. Eleven were merchants, 9 were landowners and farmers, and the remaining 12 were doctors, ministers, and politicians.

With only a few exceptions, such as Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, these were men of substantial property. All but two had families. The vast majority were men of education and standing in their communities. They had economic security as few men had in the 18th century

.

Each had more to lose from revolution than he had to gain by it. John Hancock, one of the richest men in America, already had a price of 500 pounds on his head. He signed in enormous letters so "that his Majesty could now read his name without glasses and could now double the reward." Ben Franklin wryly noted: "Indeed we must all hang together, otherwise we shall most assuredly hang separately." Fat Benjamin Harrison of Virginia told tiny Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts: "With me it will all be over in a minute, but you, you will be dancing on air an hour after I am gone.

These men knew what they risked. The penalty for treason was death by hanging. And remember: a great British fleet was already at anchor in New York Harbor.

They were sober men. There were no dreamy-eyed intellectuals or draft card burners here. They were far from hot-eyed fanatics, yammering for an explosion. They simply asked for the status quo. It was change they resisted. It was equality with the mother country they desired. It was taxation with representation they sought. They were all conservatives, yet they rebelled.

It was principle, not property, that had brought these men to Philadelphia. Two of them became presidents of the United States. Seven of them became state governors. One died in office as vice president of the United States. Several would go on to be U.S. Senators. One, the richest man in America, in 1828 founded the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. One, a delegate from Philadelphia, was the only real poet, musician and philosopher of the signers (it was he, Francis Hopkinson - not Betsy Ross who designed the United States flag).

Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, had introduced the resolution to adopt the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776. He was prophetic in his concluding remarks:

"Why then sir, why do we longer delay? Why still deliberate? Let this happy day give birth to an American Republic. Let her arise not to devastate and to conquer but to reestablish the reign of peace and law. The eyes of Europe are fixed upon us. She demands of us a living example of freedom that may exhibit a contrast in the felicity of the citizen to the ever increasing tyranny which desolates her polluted shores. She invites us to prepare an asylum where the unhappy may find solace, and the persecuted repost. If we are not this day wanting in our duty, the names of the American Legislatures of 1776 will be placed by posterity at the side of all of those whose memory has been and ever will be dear to virtuous men and good citizens."

Though the resolution was formally adopted July 4, it was not until July 8 that two of the states authorized their delegates to sign, and it was not until August 2 that the signers met at Philadelphia to actually put their names to the Declaration.

William Ellery, delegate from Rhode Island, was curious to see the signers' faces as they committed this supreme act of personal courage. He saw some men sign quickly, "but in no face was he able to discern real fear." Stephan Hopkins, Ellery's colleague from Rhode Island, was a man past 60. As he signed with a shaking pen, he declared: "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."

"Most glorious service"

Even before the list was published, the British marked down every member of Congress suspected of having put his name to treason. All of them became the objects of vicious manhunts. Some were taken. Some, like Jefferson, had narrow escapes. All who had property or families near British strongholds suffered.

- Francis Lewis, New York delegate saw his home plundered and his estates in what is now Harlem, completely destroyed by British soldiers. Mrs. Lewis was captured and treated with great brutality. Though she was later exchanged for two British prisoners through the efforts of Congress, she died from the effects of her abuse.

- William Floyd, another New York delegate, was able to escape with his wife and children across Long Island Sound to Connecticut, where they lived as refugees without income for seven years. When they came home they found a devastated ruin.

- Philips Livingstone had all his great holdings in New York confiscated and his family driven out of their home. Livingstone died in 1778 still working in Congress for the cause.

- Louis Morris, the fourth New York delegate, saw all his timber, crops, and livestock taken. For seven years he was barred from his home and family.

- John Hart of Trenton, New Jersey, risked his life to return home to see his dying wife. Hessian soldiers rode after him, and he escaped in the woods. While his wife lay on her deathbed, the soldiers ruined his farm and wrecked his homestead. Hart, 65, slept in caves and woods as he was hunted across the countryside. When at long last, emaciated by hardship, he was able to sneak home, he found his wife had already been buried, and his 13 children taken away. He never saw them again. He died a broken man in 1779, without ever finding his family.

- Dr. John Witherspoon, signer, was president of the College of New Jersey, later called Princeton. The British occupied the town of Princeton, and billeted troops in the college. They trampled and burned the finest college library in the country.

- Judge Richard Stockton, another New Jersey delegate signer, had rushed back to his estate in an effort to evacuate his wife and children. The family found refuge with friends, but a Tory sympathizer betrayed them. Judge Stockton was pulled from bed in the night and brutally beaten by the arresting soldiers. Thrown into a common jail, he was deliberately starved. Congress finally arranged for Stockton's parole, but his health was ruined. The judge was released as an invalid, when he could no longer harm the British cause. He returned home to find his estate looted and did not live to see the triumph of the revolution. His family was forced to live off charity.

- Robert Morris, merchant prince of Philadelphia, delegate and signer, met Washington's appeals and pleas for money year after year. He made and raised arms and provisions which made it possible for Washington to cross the Delaware at Trenton. In the process he lost 150 ships at sea, bleeding his own fortune and credit almost dry.

- George Clymer, Pennsylvania signer, escaped with his family from their home, but their property was completely destroyed by the British in the Germantown and Brandywine campaigns.

- Dr. Benjamin Rush, also from Pennsylvania, was forced to flee to Maryland. As a heroic surgeon with the army, Rush had several narrow escapes.

- John Martin, a Tory in his views previous to the debate, lived in a strongly loyalist area of Pennsylvania. When he came out for independence, most of his neighbors and even some of his relatives ostracized him. He was a sensitive and troubled man, and many believed this action killed him. When he died in 1777, his last words to his tormentors were: "Tell them that they will live to see the hour when they shall acknowledge it [the signing] to have been the most glorious service that I have ever rendered to my country."

- William Ellery, Rhode Island delegate, saw his property and home burned to the ground.

- Thomas Lynch, Jr., South Carolina delegate, had his health broken from privation and exposures while serving as a company commander in the military. His doctors ordered him to seek a cure in the West Indies and on the voyage he and his young bride were drowned at sea.

- Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward, Jr., the other three South Carolina signers, were taken by the British in the siege of Charleston. They were carried as prisoners of war to St. Augustine, Florida, where they were singled out for indignities. They were exchanged at the end of the war, the British in the meantime having completely devastated their large landholdings and estates.

- Thomas Nelson, signer of Virginia, was at the front in command of the Virginia military forces. With British General Charles Cornwallis in Yorktown, fire from 70 heavy American guns began to destroy Yorktown piece by piece. Lord Cornwallis and his staff moved their headquarters into Nelson's palatial home. While American cannonballs were making a shambles of the town, the house of Governor Nelson remained untouched. Nelson turned in rage to the American gunners and asked, "Why do you spare my home?" They replied, "Sir, out of respect to you." Nelson cried, "Give me the cannon!" and fired on his magnificent home himself, smashing it to bits. But Nelson's sacrifice was not quite over. He had raised $2 million for the Revolutionary cause by pledging his own estates. When the loans came due, a newer peacetime Congress refused to honor them, and Nelson's property was forfeited. He was never reimbursed. He died, impoverished, a few years later at the age of 50.

Lives, fortunes, honor
Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his 13 children. Two wives were brutally treated. All were at one time or another the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create is still intact.

And, finally, there is the New Jersey Signer, Abraham Clark.

He gave two sons to the officer corps in the Revolutionary Army. They were captured and sent to that infamous British prison hulk afloat in New York Harbor known as the hell ship "Jersey," where 11,000 American captives were to die. The younger Clarks were treated with a special brutality because of their father. One was put in solitary and given no food. With the end almost in sight with the war almost won, no one could have blamed Abraham Clark for acceding to the British request when they offered him his sons' lives if he would recant and come out for the King and Parliament. The utter despair in this man's heart, the anguish in his very soul, must reach out to each and every one of us down through 200 years with the answer: "No."

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence proved by their every deed that they made no idle boast when they composed the most magnificent curtain line in history. "And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

- Rush H. Limbaugh, Jr.

Summarizing what we just read:

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. One lost his 13 children. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Two wives were brutally treated. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create, is still intact. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken sober men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Most take our liberties for granted...We shouldn't. But we as Christians must espouse honor and consider it as important as wealth and life itself. Our God expects no less.

Sermon given by Wayne Bedwell
29 June 2013
Copyright 2013, Wayne Bedwell