Contemplations. LIB. XXI. owne,which might have been otherwife improved, ro no Idle profit; Theoffer the A fuit ofthefe bargain.,; was from the fellers; Thde efcheats fell intotheir hands 'unfought; neither did their contrali caufe theneed oftheir bmhr<n, but relieve it~ But their confcience will not boare this plea. I know not whether the maintenance ofthe leaft evill be not worfe,then the commiflion ofthegreateft ; This may be offrailty that argues obftinacy: Thtre is hope ofthat man that can blulh and be filem. ' After the conviCtion of the fact, it is feafonable for Nehemiah, to perfwado reformation: Nooratory is fo powerful!, as that ofmilsJnel!e : efpecially when we have to doe with thofe, who eitherthrough fiomach, or greatneffe, may not indure a rough reproofe: The drops that fall eafilyupon thecorne, ripen , and fill the care, but the fiormy lhowers that fall with violence, beat dowoe the fialkcs flat to the earth, and lay whole fields, without hope ofrecovery. Who can relift rhis f\v<et and foveraigne B reprehenfion; O•g~IJ< not t1 rt>Alke i# thefme •f••r G.J, bec.ufioftiJt reproachofthe heuhen,.dur enemies ? Did we dwell alone in the midft ofthe eanh, yet the feare of our God !hould ov<r.awe our wayes;but now that we dwell in the midfiofourenemies, whofe eyes are bent upon all our actions, whofe tongues are as ready to blaf. pheme God, as we to offend him, bow carefully lhould we avoid thofe fins, which may draw lhame upon our profeffion ~ Now the fcandall is worfe then the fad; Thus !hall Religion fuffer more from the heathen, thrn our brethren do from us : lfjullicc, ifcharity cannot fway with us, yet lctthe fcornfull infultations ofthe prophane Gentiles,afright us from thefe preffurcs. No ingcn~ous difpolition can be fo tender of his owne difgracc, as the true Ifraclite is ofthereproch of his God: What is it that he will notratherrefraine,doe,fuffer, c then that gloriousName !hall hazard a blemilh ~ They cannot want outward retentives trom fin, that live either among friends, or enemies; iffriends, they may not be grieved, ifenemies, they may not be provoked : Thofe that would live well, mull lland in a\ve ofall eyes ; Even thofe that are without the Church, yet may not be without regard: No perfon can be fo cootemptible,as that his cenfurc lhould be con. tcmncd. Indiffwading from fin, reafon it fdfe cannot prtvailc more then example. I Jike• .,;{e,•nd my brethren,andmy ftr<J4ntsmight ex#l ifthem """'J,•~d tlrnt. B•tfremtht timethat I ''"14 •ppilntedt• tlu ehuge~fJuthh,I,•nd my lrtthren h•venilwestht brtAd •ftheg•vernour. He fhall neverrule well, that doth all that he may: It is notfafetor eith<r partthata Prince lhould live atthe height ofhis pow<r, aod ifthe greareft a. D bate oftheir right, is it for inferiors to cxort~Had Neheml•h aimed at hisownegreat. nclfe,no man could have had fairer pretences for his gaine. The form" gevtrn~rs thAt were before him were charge.blt uniQ tht pt~ple, •ndh•dt,_ km ofthtmbrt•d•ndwine, btfides forti< jhektls efjilver. Hisfoor had nor firfi trode in this commodious path; it was beaten by the lleps ofhis predecelfors; neith<r did any ofthem walke btfides it : How ever it might be envious to raife new taxations, yet to continue thofe he found uorepinedat, had been out ofrhe reachofexception: AgoodGovernotlt lookes not fo much what hath_be~ne done ,,as wbat lhould be; Precedents, are not the rule, whereby he rules, but JU(hce, butptety. so·dtdnDI I, he. &~u[< efthtftaruftht Lord: Lawcs are not a ftraighter curbe to fubjects,then confci· ence is to good Princes. E They dare not do whatthey cannotdo charitably: what advantage can they think it, to befrom under thecontrolment ofmen,when the God ofheaven notes,and puni!hcs their offences! Who fo walkerh by this rule, can neither crre, nor mif.carry. lt is no trufting to theextcrnall remedies of fin, eithertheyare not alwayes prefenr; or ifprefcnt,not powerfull enough 1 but ifthe feare of God have once taken up the heart, it goes ever with us, and is llrong enough toover.mafier the forciblefi temptation. Therefore mull thefc Jewes follow thisexample of Nebemi•h, becaute he follow. ed not the example of his predeceffors; becaufc he left their evill, they mull imitate his good, In vaine !hall Rulers advife againll their owne prac!lice; when they lead the way,they may well challenge tp be followed: Sddome bath it bin ever feen that
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