Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

The vanitie ofagreat retinue andmany feruants. 371 is infinite ,itmu(lneedsalfobeofvnfpeakeable andincom- prehéfible excellencie.Ifthe world haue fuch a goodly vaul- ted rook, beautified with loch glorious lights, and imbel- lifhed with fuch fhining Barres; then what (hall we thinke ofour heauenly habitation, whole floore is much more glo- rious then this (lately roofe?Finally,if the Kings of the earth haue their marble, iuory and ieat, to adorne their buildings, then may we well conceiue that which the Apoflle law, Apocal.u. namely, that our heauenly citie is of much more precious flak, the wanes ofjafper,garnifhed with all manner ofpre_ tious (+ones, the gates ofpearle, and the Breets ofgold. And therefore if we affe &Barely buildings,let vs contemne there bate cottages on earth,and labour to be owners ofthofe glo- rious and heauenly habitations ; which as they are by infinit degrees more goodly, and excellent, fo are they alto curia- fling habitations, which neuer need repaire, nor any whit abate of their fir(+ glorie. And thus haue I fhewed the vanitie offumptuous buil- 4,Se17.8. dings. Let vs in the next place confider ifthere be any more The vanirieoJ worth & excellency inmany feruäts,& agreat retinue;where auamerouo alto we (hall find, that howfoeuer it is accounted a glorious milk. thing in the world,to haue a multitude ofattendants, and a great traine attending at their matters heeles, yet it is but a meere vanitie, yea if it be poflible, more vaine then any of the former. And this alto appeareth by the tcttimony of the wife Salomon, fpeaking vpon his owne experience, who fee - king herein for Tome worldly happines, miffed ofit; and ha- uing retained loch a multitude offcruants,as,feruednot only for his neceffarie vfe, but alto for pompe and Bate, for plea. Ecclef.t.7.1r. fure and delight; concludeth of this as of the reiL that he found nothing in it, but metre vanitie andvexation offpirit. Vino which tefimonie we may adde diuers íeafons, which Thew the worthlefnes ofthis great attendance : for how(oe- uer aman hath hereby from the mouches of many,the good- 2ui m eltorxnr lytitlesoflord and matter, and the outward reuerence ofclidominur, cap and knee, yet what is he in truth, but a common feruant idem mxhorum vino them all, and euen as it were the Reward of the family, leruua elfe cogi- who taketh the care and paines to prouide them ofall necef- to >' ChryloR, g b 2 faries? in Rom.16.3.