Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Ofthe vanitie ofraorld y powerand anthoritie. 3 r9 the iut} cariage and denneanure of their fubie&s: neither do they defire to be feared of ill liuers as they are men, but as they behaue themfelueslike beafls ouercaried with fcnfuali- tie : and when there is no vice to punifh,they donor reioyce in the excellencie oftheir power,but in the equalitieoftheir condition, and are fo farre from def.-king to betoo much fea- red, that they refufe to be too much honored. But the moil part through the corruption ofour nature, are apt to ab Life their power and authoritie unto pride and tyrannie, imagi- ning that theyexceed all that are fubie& vnto them, as much in vertue,as they do in titles, in worth and defert, as they do in dignitie and power; and meafuringthemfelues not by the rule of Gods word,norby the teflimonie of their owne con - fciences, but according to the hyperbolicall, or rather lying praifes and commendations ofpalpable flatterers; and be- Ieeuing that they are fuch as thefe falfe glaffes would feeme to make them, they wax proud of their greatnes, cfleeming their inferiours asbafe and contemptible, and thinking that they are good for nothing but for their vfe, and that like cy- phers they only fettle to make vp the fumme of their great - nefí'e: and therefore they rule them not according to law and equitie,butaccording to their will and pleafure, neuer con - fderingwhat they ought to do, but what by their power they are able to do;nor think what is good for theirinferiors but for thcmfelues,as though it were their fummumbonum and chiefehappineffe, ifby their labours, wealth,lands and hues, they can procure vnto them the leaf} pleafure or profit, or giue them the leaf} cafe of any trouble. So that it is a mat- ter ofgreatetl djfljcultje to cxcell in authoritie, and tobeate downe pride; to haue great power,and not to thiuke it grea- ter then it is; to rule over inferiours, and not to infult ouer defaRicus. and contemne them asbafe and abie6}. And therefore great Ec potentates had need to haue that laying founding in their 4 Se1l`.7 cares : The greater thou art, the more humble thy [eelfe in all That marldly things; and fo !balt thou find fauour before the Lord. . assbaritie via The other fin into whichpower and authoritie common- ally is attempt. lyplungeth men, is vniuf }ice, violence and.oppreflion; for Hied roiih vr- theythathauepowertodomorethenisfit ,commonly haavelfo P eeJ xday jio