Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the vanitie of warldlypower and authoritie. 3 t 3 haue receiued from him, to his difhonour,and the hurt of their brethren, whereas they might by a good vfe thereof haue gained vnto him much glorie,and benefited thofe who were vnder their gouernment. For the Lcrd when hee coin.. meth in vifitation, will not refpea the mightie more then the weake and impotent; yea rather taking delight to over - mafler and confound their proud greatneffe, wherewith they haue oppofed againfl him, hee draweth them Ctrl} to punifhment, and maketh their condemnation more beanie and intollerable,for the mightie fbnll be mOttly tormented. r.sam.z.ç. Neither is it a matterofmore diß'icultie voto him, to tread Wifd.6.7.8. vnderfoote thefe ouertopping Cedars,and flróng ekes ofEfa.z.i3. Balhan, then the weakell bramble, or Climb. For as Zach.r r.z. theApóflla faith, the weagnesofGoditflronger then men and r,Cor.r,zf,z7 bee is able by the weake things of the world to confound the mightie. He leadeth array Princes a a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie ; hepawrsth contempt upon Princes,andmaketh the firength of the mightie weak e, , as lob fpeaketh, In regard lob /2x9.21. whereof, there is no powerofman ofany continuance, but that which being guided with wifedome, and grounded on vertue,is fiipported and vpheld by his omnipotent might: yea contrariwife as a building which wants a good founda- tion, the greater and higher it is, the more neere it is to a dangerousdownfa ll,feeingitgreatnesand height cloth but help forward and hallen it owne ruine : fo thefe high Babels of power, and greatneffe,which haue not vertue for their ground and foundation, but are onely vnderpropped with the weake flaies of violence and tyrannie, are neere vnto eonfufion, when thelcafl breath of Gods wrath Both blow vpon them. Seeing therefore this worldlie power and authoritie is Se8f.Io. through our corruption fo fubieél to abufe, and being abu- riot fßiriteall fed is the cbufe of fo manifold euils, let vs learne not to e- power is web lleeme it ouermuch, or to fet our hearts vpon it ; but rather to be preferred let vs labour after fpirituall power and might, and as the A- betere that poflle eahorteth vs, let vsbeflrongin the Lordand in thepo-- irchts world - Yperofbsemight, and put on the whole armour of God, that wee Eph.6.to,tt., may he able softundagainfithe ditsell, andmay obtaine a glo- Y z rious