Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the vanitie of worldlykingdomes. 343 weal in our iudgements to efìeeme, and in our endeuours tofeethe nobilitieofa Chriliian, aboue and before the nobilitie ofa worldling. Vnto which we may the rather bee incouraged, becaufe whereas this earthly nobility is confer.. red but vpon a very few; as either vpon thofe who are nobly defcended, or vpon fuch whole great verrues and deferts, ioyned with no leffe good hap, and exrraordinariefucceffe in all their courfes and cariagcs, doe aduance to the feate of honour,and dignifie with thole high titles; this nobilitie of Mar.xz.go. aChriftian may certainely be attained vnto,of as many as do with theirdelres and indeauours leek after it, vuing the Iohn.r.tz. meaneswhich God hath ordained for this purpofe; namely, the diligent hearing and fruitfull obeying of Gods word, and a liuely faith in Iefis Chriff. And therefore Jet vs more elleerne,affe9,and feeke that which excelleth,both in worth and certainrie; and contemning this worldlynobility which is commonly vnprcfitable,ofien hurtfull, feldome, or not without greatdiffictiltie attained, and but for a moment of time retained and poffeffed ; let vs afpire with an holy and happie ambit ion,vnto that heauenlyroyaltie,which we may certainelyfind if we carefully feeke it, and having obtained it,fhall haue with it all profit without hurt,ioy without mo- leflation,and happineffe without end. CHAP. XIII. Ofkingdomes and monarchies. Nd thus much concerning the vanitie of4.Set1.r. worldly nobilitie. The !aft and higheh de- Thatkiney and grec of worldly aduancement and prefer - ri señ=t fe1fe ment, is kingdome and foueraignty,empire good endtobee and fupreame dominion, whereby men be- reverenced and ing exalted into the royall throne, doe rule and gouerne refpeíied. whole common- wealths. Of which I {hall neede to fpeake the leflè, becaufemuch of that which bath beene fpoken concerning power, authoritie, and nobilitie, may ea- fily by the difcreet reader bee fitted and applied hereunto. And therefore I will adde onely fome things which may Z 4 feetne