Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

Ofthevanitie ofworldlykingdomes. 3 55 domes, euen when theyare well gouerned, there are innu- kingdomes ab,r merable others which do accompany them when they area- fed, are theeau. bufed:vntowhich abufeman throughnaturall corruption is fes ofmanyfins. mot+ prone ; for this highefi worldly profperity puffingmen vp with pride, doth makemen forgetful! ofGod, negligent in all good duties,and to contemne all vertue,asbefitting ra- ther privatemen then themfelues, who are fopowerful!, po- ton ie- tent and glorious, that they neednot the helpe ofvenue to ta, Hana/unr, commend them :or if at all it be ofany vfe, they thinke that qua¿Jurar,eges only a colour or fhadow ofvertue pray fettle the turne, to rani. Senec. in grace them to the deceiued eyes of the common people, Thyeffe. though they haue no fubffance thereof,but arc vtterly defli- ÿolet ea éla tuteofit in deed and truth. And as this greatneffe ofeftate voles um vfnally hinderethmen in the eourfe of vertue, fodoth it as mapoteRas non commonly call them headlong intoall manes offin; as con- coeunr. Lucan. tempt ofreligion, prophanenes, andvtter negle61 ofall holy libS duties, pride, infolencie, cruelty, oppreffion, vnbrideled re- uenge,and the reft,making euery thing lawful whichliketh, and to feemegood in their iudgement, which they haue an appetite veto in their look andvnlimitted affections?But efpecially through their tranfcendent and ouertopping power they are prone to the finnes ofiniuftice, oppreffìon, wrongsand iniuties, as the Lorddefcribeth their manners 1.Sam.8.1 r. andcourfe ofcarriage, when he woulddifcourage his peo- 12.13. ple fromaffe&ing the;;. gouernment; ofwhich fins fewRu- Iers can withgoodSamueland Mores acquirethemfclues,and 1 Sam.12.3. plead notguiltie,ifthe Lord fhould fummon themto judge- ment. Now what are kingdomes to be efteemcd iftheybe Remera iuRisia void ofiuftice, and full ofwrong, cruelty and oppreffion?regnafuntmag- Surely(as one faith)where this facred iufhce isnot admitted nalatrocinio: great kingdomes are but great theeueries and as the wife v "de Socrates rideGat, & cau- Philofopheraccounted them, great monarchesare but great tamquareuti theeues,iftheyruleby iniuftice and cruel! tyranny.Finally,of refÿandcl at,vi- whatworthorprofitare the royalties ofakingdome, ifru-deomagnostit- ling inferiours, theybecome flaues to their ownevices, and p cium dosi ¡ . whilef} they command others, are themfelues at the corn- cere parkas. mand oftheirbafeaffeótions and corruptpallions? For when Auguit.Scrm. this royaltyand feruitude ofvice areioyned together, it ma- 31. Tom.to. A a keti

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