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

gol That worldly thingsincrenl our 14 reckoniug, more then others, while(1 as precedents ofgodlineffe and righteoufiteffe, they draw on all theirinferiours toaChri- fl:jan imitation. Finally, they haue been aduanced by God topower and authoritie,that theymight in his place,and as his deputies, rule their inferiours, euen asthe Lordhimfelfe would rule, ifhee were vpon the earrh,countenancingthe good, anddifcouraging the euill,rewarding vertue,and pu- nifhing vice, defending theinnocent, and fupprefïing thofe who are vniufl and injurious, patronizing and maintaining kith ce,and difcountenancing vniuflice,andfinne. Ofwhich the further olfthey haue been fromyeelding any reckoning in this life, the more (trait account will the Lord take of them in the lifeto come. And thereforeiftheyhauenot only failed in all their duties, but wilfully negle6ted them, and vfed all their credit and power to quite contrariepurpofes; as for cxample,if hauing been honouredby God, they haue cliflionoured him, contemninghis feruice themfelues, and hindringothers who would haueperformed it; iftheyhaue skorned religion, and madebut a iciofgodlineffe; if they hauemade no confcienceof(wearing and forfwearing,cur- fmgand blafpheming; and fpentall theirlines in riotous and voluptuouslining;ifthey hauenot onlythemfelues thus of- fended God,but haue made their faults fcandalous,and their faunesexemplarie, drawing on their inferiours to theimita- tionoftheir wickedneffe : Ifbeing in theplace ofGodthey haue ruled and governed, as the diuell himfelfe woulddoe ifheewere in a humane fhape, difcountenancingthofewho aregood,and incouraging thofe who are euill, punifhing vertue, and rewarding vice, defending the faultie, and fup- planting the innocent, and either for favour, friends; re- wards,orrefpe6t ofperfons, vpholdinginiuffice and oppref- fion, and overthrowing jut]ice and right; then (hall they hauea moll fearefullreckoning tomake at the dayofiudge- mein, and wiflt rather that theyhad hued in reprochand contempt, then that hauing had all thefehonours and pre. ferments, they fhould bee brought tofuch a dreadful' ac- count. And thus they whohaue moli abounded in riches, fßAilhaue alto their reckoning hereby much increafed; for- the.

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