Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

322 Of the va :Weofworldy power and autborúre; Fotentibus oat- iue in their hearts,and whilefc they creepe and crouch vntd sir adulartur, thent,they watch for dcfred opportunitie to tread vpó their inuident omnes. necks,and to folace themfelues it, their vtter ruine.Yea they HeenfuDo are not fafe from the confpiracies and attempts of chore thó afcenfu Domi- ni,fcrrn.4. they repute their neerefl friends ; and euen thofe who Senec inHerc guard them, are fo falfehearted towards them, that often - enec times they had need ofanotherguard to defend them from their treacherie. And hereof it is that there great Poten. tares are continually expofed to innumerable dangers, which threaten a fearefuil and fhamefull downfall, while(} curry one enuieth their greatneffe,and none almof} fupports it,vnleffe it be that they put to their hands to vphold it whi- lefv it flandeth by it owne flrength; being readie to pull them away when it a little tottereth, and fiandethmolt in need of their helpe.And as they are thus endangered by falfe friends, fo alto byopen and profeffed enemies,who having through the abufe of their power been wronged and iniu- red, doe daily waite for opportunitie of taking reuenge, and feed themfelues with hope of teeing theirruine, when as they may pay them home with -their ovine meafure. From which dangers and euils, though they be defended through the greatnes oftheir power,yet are they not priuileged from the continual' feare ofthem; neither is it might,and power- ful tyrannie, but innocencic,iufl:ice,and well-deferuing that bringeth fecure peace. For having abufed their power to oppreffion and violence, their guiltie confcience, as it were an implacable furie, continually haunteth - them, making them to expe61 what they haue deferued,and -to feare, as much as they haue hurt. Whereby it commeth to paffe, that howfoeuerthey are fometime fafe,yet they areneuer fecure, butfpend their life in continual! agonies and perplexities. Now what is this continual! anticipation of euils through feare and dreadful! expeó}ation,but a daily fuffring of them, . the greateflpart of worldly euils being the feare that goeth Se149, before them? Tbatabufed But fay they could efcape both feare and danger from aNtÑ0Y1tlefaNb- men, yet deferued vengeance from God (hall furely ouer- ieetetbmento take them,for abufing that power.and authority which they Gods vëgeancc._ haue