Ofthecautisnt relteiredto the right vfeofrichet. 219 a6ions to bealtogether fpent about this fubieet, as being the maine end at which we aime. But confidering that they are notgood abColutely,nor in any high degreeofexcellen- cieandperfeélion,but ofameane and indifferent nature;we muff giue them their due place, and neither inour judge- ment efleeme them, nor in our affedlion loue them, nor in our praëlifefeeke them aboue their deferts, or before Gods 1pirituall gracesand heauenly excellencies. But as weeare Phi1.3.7.8, in our judgements, when they come in comparifon with tktefe,to defpifeand contemne them,and in our affe6ions to loath them,efleeming themnobetter then droffeand dung, in rerpe6lofChrrflandhisbenefits; fo neitherare we in our acquifitionand reeking ofthem, to giuevnto them the firfl place,butaccording asour Sauiourcommandeth, wee mull firftpeke theKingdom ofGed andhis righteoufneffè,andthen Mate without anygreat careofounowne, Godwill allo minifler thefe things vnto vs. And ifthis bee not obrcrued,tiches which are in their ownenature good, doe degenerate and become euill: for as a flaue is ofgood vfewhileflhe keepeth his owne placc,andimploicth himfelfeabout hisowne bu- fineffe,butbecommeth intollerable,when hee prefumeth to featehimfelfeaboue the King, and taketh vpon him to rule the Commonwealth and as the feruant is to be welleflee- med ofhi.smailer,whilef} in all humilitie he dothhisdutic, but becommeth odious,when he takes vponhim,not onelie to rule him and the whole houle, but as a rivallwooeth his mifireffe,andwithdraweth her heart and affe&ionfrom her husband ; fo riches aregood, whileflthey hold the inferior places offlauesand vnderlings, and be at the owners com- mand,toperforme all goodduties : but when they prefume to fine themfelues in the roiall throneofGod, the heart of man, which hee hathappropriated to his owne vfe, ifthey takevpon them to rule their owners, and tomake them to become their drudges : ifbeing in comparifon, ofa baleand contemptible condition,they exalt themfelues inour eflima- Lion aboue hcauenand heavenly things; andbegin to wood ourhearts fromGod, and our husband lefus Chrift; then they degenerating from their owne nature and condition are
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=