Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the vanitie of pepularitie. 305 obferued in ammon all ambitious traitors,who afpiring vnto foueraigntie, doe in the firfl place lay this as the foundation oftheir proud rebellion, to become gracious with the com- mon people. Finally,as it is the caule of much finnc,fo com- monly it expofeth thole who doe imbrace it, veto danger and punifhrenr; for the loue and fauour of the vulgar peo- ple being exceeding mutable and inconlianr,euen like the p jraneßur ma!_ weatherand calnenes of the fea, doth draw men on to the tir populi deus purfuing ofdefperate attempts: and when the lean peril! quefanor,gnicü appeareth,forfaketh and lcaueth them in the middefl ofann- fia" 4115fe- cundo rails im- ger. In which refpc6l it is fitly compared to a far re and ratio - p euir, ix pro_ rabie winde, which inuiteth paffengers to put foorth into cuI1471. rietus the fea, and having brought them into the maine, either idem,deferit al- there leaucth thé becalmed,or turning about raifeth again(} to faue4! mari. them adangerous florme. In refpe6l of both which hunes Scnec ca .mOc- ui and dangers,which commonly accrew to thole which are a. popular, cuen the Heathen man efleemed it a part of happi Faix sondo# nefle, to bee rather skorned, then magnified by the multi- en gum turba tude. And therefore let not vs, who profefling Chriflianitie 'ieü dsndet. lhould haue more profited in true wifedome, account it a Sc"" part of our felicitie to be highly aduanced in their loue and favour; but contemning this difbonourable honour, of be- Tarpe decor ing gracious with the gracelefl'e,and pleating to the wicked :Vac !fife mars, multitude,lecvslabourinthe firfl place to pleafe God, and to be approoned by our owne confciences; and in the next place to maintaine our good name and reputation among the godly and vertuous; not looking to the fnalnes of their number,but to the greatneffe of their worth, and the excel - lencie of their iudgement. In which refpe61 wee fhould pre - ferre one of there (harp- flghted before a whole fwarme ofthofe buzzing fly es. And thus much concerning popularitie. The next branch 4.Se17.io. of honour is prioritie or precedencie, confifling in the ha- The vanille of wing or taking of the vpper place, or better hand :a thing in p ortyofplac it felfe fo vaine and friuolous,that it is vnfit to be the fubie6I P ofany graue and Chriflian difcourfe :but yet fo much eflee- med and flood vpon among worldlings, out of their pride and felfeloue,that theymore bend their thoughts,and (pend X their