356 Ofthevanitieofworldlykixgdomet, Chtyfoft.in keth(as one compareth it) fuchaPrince,like vntoaKing ta. r.Tim.6.Hom. ken prifonerofthe Barbarians, who Puffer him fill to weare r$ hiscrowne, and tokeepe onhis royall apparel!,but yet force him therein toperforce all baleoffices ; as toCarriewater, to grind in the mill, anddrudge in the skullery; in which cafe hisgoodly ornaments do butfettle withmore defpite,toput him inmindof his mifery, and (as it were) the more tovp_ braid and cart in his teeth the greatneffeofhisfall, and the bafenes ofhis feruitude : and furely this fimilitude dothmofl littely let foorth the abisdl condition of wicked Kings; for there is no feruitude fo vile and bate as this offinne, which maywell difgrace all royalty and foueraignety, but can ne- uerbe gracedby ir. Finally, vnto thiseuillof finne, into which kingdomes throughabufedomifleadthe great potentatesofthe world, we may adde altotheeuill ofpunifhment, which as an infe- parable companion, (l ill waitethvpon it; for howfoeuer the Monarches ofthe earth having the law in their owne hands, arepriuiledged from comming to the barre, and exempted from the judgementfeate ofearthly men, yet can they not efcape the iudgement feate of God, but of neceffity they mull come ro theiranfwere, andvndergo deferued punifh- ment when the Lord commeth in vifitacion.A notableplace to this purpofewe haue in the fixth chapter ofthe booke of Wifdome, vnto which for breuitit;'iäke I relerre the Rea- der. So alto lobfaith, that the Lord lrrfeth thecolar ofKings, andleadethPrincesasaprey, and ostcrthroweth the raightie;he powrethcontempt vpon Princes, andmaketh the ffrength ofthe m:ghtie wake. Now the purrifhmentswhich more efpecially the Lord infli5teth vpon cud .Princesare for the time oftheir raignc terrible feares,andaffrighting horrors :and fecondly heallotteth to theirtyranniebut avery fhort time, and then bringethvpon them fudden deflruetion. Iú the former re fpe& tyrants and wicked Kings are moll miferable in the middefl ofall their royaltie and maicflie, being continually hauntedwith there reams, as with helli fh furies, and fo af- frighted through the guilt oftheir owneconfciences, that theyareneuer atteli, norhaue any peaceornue ioy in their hearts, §.Secri. t2 OfthepunilFi. menu rabicb God afßilfrah on Skill Kjngt. Wird.chap.6. vc f.x.tothe tenth. lob., 2.18.19. LI.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=