Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

3 3% Of the vanitie ofivorldly nobilitie. regardeth them not, nor any whit flandeth vpon thefe worldlypriuiledges,but vfually called himfelfe the bonne of man. And howfoeuer being both God and man, hecmight haue chofen for his next parent, fbme great Princes, euall or fuperiour in dignicìe to any of his anceflors,yet he is con- tent ro bee borne ofa simple virgin, the ebpoufed wife of a poore carpenter. Neither did hee regard this nobilitic any more in others,for being to chufe Apoflles and Difciples to attend his perfou,and to bc(as it were)the chief courriers of this heauenly King, bee paffcth by the nobles ofthe world, and makethchoice of Tillie fi her men, and poore artificers. Finally, as the Lord himfelfe thus meanely accounteth of worldly nobilitie,fo allohath hee taught vs to value and e- fleeme it: for howfouler he would haue vs in our outward cariage,to oblerue ciuill order,yethe inaketh it a note ofan Ptal.tç.4, heaueniyinhabitanr,tocontemne a wicked man, how glo- rious foeuer hee be in the world, and to honour thole that feare the Lord. Where by the anti thefis and oppofition bee plainly fheweth ,tháthe who feareth not God,ìstobe eflee- med a vile perfon,though he haue neuer fo manyhonorable tides; as the holie Ghoa alfò flileth Antiochus Epiphanes, Dan.tr.zt. howfoeuer the honour ofa worldlyMonarchie was con - ferred on him. Whereas contrariwife he honoreth the faints Pfal.r6. ;, which are vpon the earth, with the title ofexcellencie,cal- r.Pet.a.9. ling them allo a chofen generation, and royallPrieflhood, Reuel.r.G. yea Kings,whichraigne together with God, and his bonne and s.to. IefusChrifl. 4.Sea.$. But as there isnoexceilenciein this worldly nobilitie;fo That worl tly though there were, yet it deferueth no great efleeme,in re- nobilitic it me- gard that it is fo momentanie, and alto mutable : for fay it mentanieand fhould continue with them as long as they line, yet what mutable. were this to beefteemed,fceing life itfelfe beingbut abub- ble or vapour,is ready euery day te vanifh away ?yea though their name fhould outline them, and their glorious fame; fhould continue after them, euen to the end of the world, yet what is this in comparifonofeternitie ?. But alas it is not fo ; for the iufl judgement of God beating down their pride, Pron./ 0.7. doth caufe the name of wicked nobilitic to rot foot= then their