Ofthevanitieofworldlykingdomes. 343 weal in our iudgements to efìeeme, and in our endeuours tofeethe nobilitieofa Chriliian, aboue and before the nobilitieofaworldling. Vntowhich we may the rather bee incouraged, becaufe whereas this earthly nobility isconfer.. redbut vpon avery few; as either vpon thofe who are nobly defcended, or vpon fuch whole great verrues and deferts, ioyned with no leffe goodhap, andexrraordinariefucceffe inall their courfes and cariagcs, doe aduance to the feateof honour,anddignifie with thole high titles; thisnobilitie of Mar.xz.go. aChriftianmay certainely be attainedvnto,ofas many as do with theirdelres and indeauours leek after it, vuing the Iohn.r.tz. meaneswhichGodhath ordained for this purpofe; namely, the diligent hearing and fruitfull obeying of Gods word, and a liuely faith in Iefis Chriff. And therefore Jetvs more elleerne,affe9,and feeke thatwhich excelleth,both inworth andcertainrie; andcontemning this worldlynobilitywhich is commonly vnprcfitable,ofien hurtfull, feldome, ornot without greatdiffictiltie attained, and but for a moment of time retainedand poffeffed ; let vs afpire with an holy and happieambit ion,vnto that heauenlyroyaltie,which we may certainelyfind if we carefully feekeit, and having obtained it,fhall haue with it all profit without hurt,ioy without mo- leflation,andhappineffewithout end. CHAP. XIII. Ofkingdomes and monarchies. Nd thus much concerning the vanitie of4.Set1.r. worldly nobilitie. The !aft and highehde- Thatkiney and grec ofworldly aduancement and preferri señ=t fe1fe ment, iskingdome and foueraignty,empire good endtobee and fupreamedominion, wherebymen be- reverencedand ing exalted into the royall throne, doe rule and gouerne refpeíied. whole common- wealths. Ofwhich I {hall neede to fpeake the leflè, becaufemuch of that which bath beene fpoken concerning power, authoritie, and nobilitie, may ea- filyby the difcreet reader bee fitted and applied hereunto. And therefore Iwill adde onely fome things which may Z 4 feetne
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