554 Why C hriR deliring to dy, would Aye to avoid death, Vpon the Tuefday after God vfeth no partialitie in thed i fpenfati- onofhis fa- uours. We muff not relyeon others Vertue,but our owner Honor where no merit is, ads to our fhamc,notto our Ihioing. Worfhip fbould not wait but upon worth. and profit from theprofperitie andgloryofa kinfeman. And albeit it is very likelythat they didknow , that inIudæa they would feeketo take awayhis life fromhim, yet the thirftoftheir ambition was fògreat , that they afiéfted ho- nour, though it were tobee effeEted at the colt of their kinfmans life ; as the fonnes of Zebedee didtheir feates. And he might as well hauefayd vnto them, Teknow not whatye aske : for it is not Gods faflrion to conferre fauoursfor ref p'Ft of country, or kindred.ThePrinces oftheearth oftentimes takethis courfe,ma- kinga coward, aCaptaine, andputting aHare into a Lyons place : But God doih not hold himworthyofreward, or ofthe leali prailè, who is not priuiledgcd as well forit by his owneproper vertue,asby bloodand alliance. The Iewes ac- countedit agreat honour vato them, that theywere thefonnes ofAbraham, but becaufethere was no fhewofworth in themfelues, our Sauiour takes them vp very flrort, telling them ; Teare ofyourfather thediuell : And therefore there is no honour duevnto you. And it is Arifletlesfaying in his Ethnickes,eAbhaquaà na. turd infunt, nec laudamar, necvituperamur. Many Pagan Princes did follow this tracke. Plutarch reportethofKingAntigonua That ayoung Souldier preferring a fait vntohim,he returned him thisanfwer : I euermore beftowmy fauours on thofe that deferuethe fame in themfelues, and not inothers. Pirrhr t King of the Epyrots, his fonnes vrging himto tellthem,which ofthem fhould be hisheire, and fucceed him in his Kingdome r anfwered, He whole fword hath the Thar pefi edge. The other, Is our Sauiours Chriftown anfwer, My time is notyet come. Which (accordingtoSaint Aquiline) was,as ifhe fhould haue faid,ye would haueglo- ry, and take no paines for it. And thereforehe faithvnto them Tour time rte al- wayerreadie, but withme, my Croffe muff goebefore my glory , Imull mount by humditie. Now from thefe two confiderations I will draw this one profitable point, Thatwhenafauour isthrownevpon aman vponanyother Title or Claime, fare hisowne proper vertue andmerit, itis ratheranaffront thananhonor.Theygiue thee anoffice,or fome dignitie,becaufe thouhaft prefented themwith forne foo_ lift hable or other, or haft carryeda fhooe-clout in thy pocket to wipefuch a Noble mansfhooe ;it is an infamous Title,both in the giuer andthe receiuer. Theydoe thee forne fauour for kindreds fake, and becaufe thou artoftheir blood ; it is a Titleof little honour to him that receiues it, andof leffe Chri- ftianitieinhim that giues ir. They preferrethee tobe the Princes feruant, what gooddoes that doe thee r It isfobale aTitle, That noNobleSpirit will delire it. Thougettefi thy pretenfion by offering thy loue and feruice to this or that Court Lady; ir isa dangerous pretenfion. Thouart railed by fuch a Lord, be- caufe thouhaft ferued him in his vnlawfull pleafures ; this is a damnable Title. Godconferreshis fauours upon noother Title than amansowne proper vertue. Vpon Noah : But why r Becaufe thouwaft vpright before me in thygeneration.Andin thedayofiudgemcnt, whoare they that(hall be rewarded e andwhy(hall they be rewarded Comeyeblefedofmy Father receiuea Kingdome,For Iwas hungry,&e. Vpon this Title is grounded the rewardof agooddéath,Bledare they thatdye in the Lard,for their workerfollow them. Notbecaufe he was anApofile, a Prophet,a Doctor, a Confeffor, aPrince,a Prelat,canhe pretend areward ; but becaufe he was agood Chriftian anddidall the duties belonging thereunto. Their worksfed- low them as ahandmaid doth her Mifires,ora PagehisMafter. Ifthouwilt haue honour,ftriuetowin it. Your Antients fet twoveffellsbefore¡upiter,Theone of exceedingfweet liquor, the other exceedingPower; and noman couldcome to tafle
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=