3 z z OfthevanitieofWorldypower and authoritie. Nonmalapate- good andpunilh the euill.Towhichpurpofe one faith, that ftae,fedisqui power itfelfeisnot eaill;btube that ahufeth hispowerandautho_ male vtiturpo- ritie ;it is not:ail:borotiethat iscuill but ambition ifinally, thus tetras, &c. farre forththe ordination ofpower to from God, that he is tohe n Luc. accounted the miniffer o od whodoth v ehis ower ell and cap.4.Tom.S. fCl f P } ; therefore it is not thefault ofthe office, but ofthe miní3ter, nei. thercatstheordinance ofglodde leafe,buttheaElionofhimwho doth illadminifter it,The Emperourgiuethhonor, and hathhis duepraife; burl fany abufe thishonor conferred ripen him, it is not thefault oftbe5neperour, but oftheinferiourJudge. what fhalt wefay then ? itisgoodto vfepower, andtodefîrehonor:good 1fay,ifit be lawfullyconferred,andriotambitioufy /oatched.But yetas I Paid ofthe reliofworldly ble(lings,foofthis, it isnot good abfolutely and immutably, but oían indifferent nature in refpe&ofthevfe,good to thole that make goodvfeofit, Dluitta, paten- euill to thofe whoabufe it veto euill.So one faith,tharriches, tia,robrq,io power andflrength, are the tnitrumentsofvertue to thofe that ftramentarunt vfethemwell, although theyhaueno truefelicitiein themfelues virtutis retlè andtherefore he is ne leff-miferabfe who abufeth them, then bee vtenti whotaking afwordinto his bards tofight again.ft hirenemies,doth $afildeInuid.turnetht point hereo a arnfthimela to his oWneruine.Vnto Plomil.rr. f g f f , which abufe we are naturally moflprone, partly whitedWe fet our hearts andaffeólións morevpon ir, then vponour fpi_ rituali aduancement, tobe the fonnesofGod,and heires ap- parant ofhiskingdome, and therefore take more pailles in getting, and morecare inkeeping this earthly preferment, thenthat fpirituall and heauenly aduancemenr, ofwhich we are readie to make forfeiture, by vfing fiufull and wicked meanes for the compaffing of the other;partlywhilefi be- ing puffed vp in pride,we glorie inourpower andauthority, defpifing and contemning thofe-who hauenot attained to the height ofour preferments ; and partly by putting too Muchtru(I and confidence in it, as though wewere able-to hand in ourowne firength, and to outface and difcounte- nanceany dangerbyour owne power. But thatwe maynot toomuch efleeme,affe&, feeke, or glorie in this authoritie and power, but may learne todefpife whatfoeuer portion thereofwehaue in ourfelues, in comparifonofout fpiritual priuiledges,.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=