Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

356 Ofthevanitieofworldlykixgdomet, Chtyfoft.in keth (as one compareth it) fuchaPrince,like vnto a King ta. r.Tim.6.Hom. ken prifoner of the Barbarians, who Puffer him fill to weare r$ his crowne, and to keepe on his royall apparel!, but yet force him therein to perforce all bale offices ; as to Carrie water, to grind in the mill, and drudge in the skullery; in which cafe his goodly ornaments do but fettle with more defpite,to put him in mind of his mifery, and (as it were) the more to vp_ braid and cart in his teeth the greatneffe of his fall, and the bafenes of his feruitude : and furely this fimilitude dothmofl littely let foorth the abisdl condition of wicked Kings; for there is no feruitude fo vile and bate as this offinne, which may well difgrace all royalty and foueraignety, but can ne- uerbe gracedby ir. Finally, vnto thiseuillof finne, into which kingdomes through abufe do miflead the great potentates ofthe world, we may adde alto the euill ofpunifhment, which as an infe- parable companion, (l ill waiteth vpon it; for howfoeuer the Monarches ofthe earth having the law in their owne hands, are priuiledged from comming to the barre, and exempted from the judgement feate of earthly men, yet can they not efcape the iudgement feate of God, but of neceffity they mull come ro theiranfwere, andvndergo deferued punifh- ment when the Lord commeth in vifitacion.A notable place to this purpofewe haue in the fixth chapter of the booke of Wifdome, vnto which for breuitit;'iäke I relerre the Rea- der. So alto lob faith, that the Lord lrrfeth thecolar of Kings, and leadeth Princes as a prey, and ostcrthroweth the raightie;he powrethcontempt vpon Princes, and maketh the ffrength of the m:ghtie wake. Now the purrifhmentswhich more efpecially the Lord infli5teth vpon cud .Princes are for the time of their raignc terrible feares,and affrighting horrors :and fecondly he allotteth to their tyrannie but a very fhort time, and then bringethvpon them fudden deflruetion. Iú the former re fpe& tyrants and wicked Kings are moll miferable in the middefl ofall their royaltie and maicflie, being continually hauntedwith there reams, as with helli fh furies, and fo af- frighted through the guilt of their owne confciences, that they are neuer at teli, nor haue any peace ornue ioy in their hearts, §.Secri. t 2 Ofthe punilFi. menu rabicb God afßilfrah on Skill Kjngt. Wird.chap.6. vc f.x.tothe tenth. lob., 2.18.19. LI.