Ofthe vawitieofworldlypower andauthoritie. 317 death ; for as thePfalmi fl faith, ManJhall not continue in ho. Pfatm.49.i t. nor, he is likethebeats that die : and death feareth the fcepter no more then thegoad, he regardeth the flately throne no more then the bafefl foot- floole,and with as undaunted cou- rage he entreth into the Princespalace, as into the pooreft cottage. Finally, after death vie (hall haue no priuiledge by our authoritie and greatee(%, when as we (hall all appeare before the judgement featofGod:for then bothMagitirates a.Cor.51.to. and people, mightie and impotent (hall be all alike, and re- ceiue their iuti fentence according to that which they haue done in their flefl,,whether good oreuil,without any refpe6t ofperfons : for as lob faith, Fie accepteth not the perfons of Princes, and regardethnotthe rich more then thePoore, feeing they are allthewerkeofhis handr.Yea rather at that time they !hall findherebygreat hurtand inconuenience, feeing it wil thenbut increafe their bíls ofaccounts, ofwhich then they are to giueareckoning ; for this power and authoritie were committedvnto thembyGod, as his good talents, which theywere to vfe for the honor oftheir Mailer, and for the good oftheirfellow feruants, whichbeing well imployed, mighthauegained much glorie vntoGod, and good vnto his Church, inmaintaining andvpholding his wor(hip and feruice, in preferuing and defending his true religion, in countenancing & rewarding the good andvertuous, and in di(heartning &punilhing the wicked and vicious.Inwhich accountsiftheycome (hors, they (hall at that dayhaue little ioyofall theirformer authoritie& greatnes;feing it will but increafe theirdebts,andmake them to find fo much the le(fe fauour, by howmuch they haue abufed the greatermercie. And thus haue I (hewed that authoritie andgreat power, 4.Sea.6. arevaine andvnprofitable to thofe, who toomuch fet their That worldly hearts vponthem.It followeth that I alto thew that itbring: asrhorìtie is as ethvnto vs,beingthus abufed, much euill, and that both in apgwathpriea refpe&offumeand ptini(hment.It is the caufe,being abufed a idtyrannie.. throughour corruption,ofmany fins,butefpecially ofthofe twohainousandmother finnes, prideand iniuffice. For be- ing aduanced unto there high places, it is vfitall with them to forgetby what power they were thusaduanced; and lea- uing
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