Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the vawitie of worldlypower and authoritie. 317 death ; for as the Pfalmi fl faith, Man Jhall not continue in ho. Pfatm.49.i t. nor, he is like the beats that die : and death feareth the fcepter no more then the goad, he regardeth the flately throne no more then the bafefl foot- floole,and with as undaunted cou- rage he entreth into the Princespalace, as into the pooreft cottage. Finally, after death vie (hall haue no priuiledge by our authoritie and greatee(%, when as we (hall all appeare before the judgement feat ofGod:for then both Magitirates a.Cor.51.to. and people, mightie and impotent (hall be all alike, and re- ceiue their iuti fentence according to that which they haue done in their flefl,,whether good or euil,without any refpe6t ofperfons : for as lob faith, Fie accepteth not the perfons of Princes, and regardeth notthe rich more then the Poore, feeing they are all the werke ofhis handr.Yea rather at that time they !hall find hereby great hurt and inconuenience, feeing it wil then but increafe their bíls of accounts, of which then they are to giue a reckoning ; for this power and authoritie were committedvnto them by God, as his good talents, which they were to vfe for the honor of their Mailer, and for the good oftheir fellow feruants, which being well imployed, might haue gained much glorie vnto God, and good vnto his Church, inmaintaining and vpholding his wor(hip and feruice, in preferuing and defending his true religion, in countenancing & rewarding the good and vertuous, and in di(heartning & punilhing the wicked and vicious.Inwhich accounts if they come (hors, they (hall at that dayhaue little ioy ofall their former authoritie & greatnes;feing it will but increafe their debts,and make them to find fo much the le(fe fauour, by how much they haue abufed the greatermercie. And thus haue I (hewed that authoritie and great power, 4.Sea.6. arevaine andvnprofitable to thofe, who too much fet their That worldly hearts vponthem.It followeth that I alto thew that itbring: asrhorìtie is as eth vnto vs,being thus abufed, much euill, and that both in apgwathpri ea refpe& of fume and ptini(hment.It is the caufe,being abufed a idtyrannie.. through our corruption,ofmany fins,but efpecially of thofe two hainous and mother finnes, pride and iniuffice. For be- ing aduanced unto there high places, it is vfitall with them to forget by what power they were thus aduanced; and lea - uing