'DE CJl'D.J. J Thtfeare thoughts worthy ofgreatodfe :.which if we fulf<r either imployments A or pleafures rothruftoutofour doores,we doe wilfully make our fdves com[ortldfe•. Ler thofe ftill feafon your mirth, and fweeten your forrowes , and ~ver tnt_<rpofe themfelves betwixt you and theworld. Thefe ontly can make your hfe happte, and ,your death welcome. To my Lord HAY, H. and P. E P 1sT. I I I. Oflr•• llm••r. My Lord, it is fafe to complaine of Narure where Grace is; and to magnifie · Grace,where it is at once had,and alfeaed. Iris a fault of Nature,and north< B leaft, that as flie hath dimme eyes, fo they are mif-placed.She !cokes llill,ei· ther forward or downeward, forward to the objetl the dellres, or downeward to the meanes: never turnes her eye eitherbackward,to fee what the wasl or upward, to the caufeofher good: whence,it is juft with God to with-hold what hewould give,or to curfc that which hebcftowes;and to befor carnall minds with outward things,in their value, in their ddire, in their ufe: whereas true wifedome hath cleare eyes, and right let; and therefore fees an invifible hand inall fenfible<vents, elfeCiingall things, direCiing all things to their due end; fees on whom to depend, whom to thank. Earth istoo low and too bafe,to give bounds unto a fpirituall fight. No man then can truly .knowwhat belongs to wealth, or honour, but the gracious; either how to compaffe C them,or how to prize them,or how to ufe them.I care not howmany thoufand waies there arc to feeming-honour, befides this of vertue : they all (ifmore)ftilllead to thame: or what plots are dcvi{ed toimproveit; if they were as deepe as bell,yet their end is lolfe. As there is no counfdl againft God, fo there is no honour withont him. He inclines the hearts ofPrinces to favour; the hearts ofinferioursroapplaufe.Withouthim, the hand cannot move to fuccelfc 1 northe tongue to praife: And what is honour withoutthefe ~In vaine doth the world frownc upon the man, whom bee meanes to honour;or fmile,where he would difgrace.Lct me then tell your Lordthip, who are favourites in rhe Court ofheaven; eyen whiles theywander on earth: yea, l<t the great King himfdfe tdl you, Th•fi th•t hDR,.r "' '• 1 ,;u hqw••r. That men have the grace to give honour to God, is an high favour: bmbecaufe men give honour to D God,(as their dutie)that therefore God fi1ould give honour to men, is togive,becaufe he hath given. It is afavour ofGod, that man is honoured ofman like him{dfe: but ' that God alloweth of our endeavours a5;honour to hi1r1fdfe, is agreater favourthen that wherewith he requit<s it, This is the goodndfe ofour God; The man that fervcs him, honours him ; and whofoever honours him with his ferv;ce, is crowned with honour. I chall<nge all timcs,places,perfons: Who ever honoured God,and was negl<tled~ Who bath wit. fu!ly dithonoured him,and profpered ~ Turne over all Records, and fee how fucceffe ev<r bleffed the juft, afrer many dangers, after mat~y llormes ofrefiftance, and l<ft their conclufionglorious1how all godlefli: plots,in their loofe,have at oncedeceived, thamed, punithed their Author.1 goe no furthrr: Your owr.e breft knowes, that your happy experience can herein juftifie God. The world bath noted yoc,for a follower E ofvertue; and hath f<ene how faft Honour followed you: whiles you fought favour with the God ofheaven, he bath given you favour with his Deputieon earth. Gods former aCiions are patterns ofhis future: He reacheth you what he will doe, by what he hath done. Vnlefle your hand be weary of offwng fervice, he cannot either pull in his hand from rewarding, or hold it out empry. Honour him flill, and God pawnes hi; honour, onnot failing you. You cannot di!l,ruft him, whom your proofe bath found faithfull. And, whiles you fettle your heart in his right courfe of true glory, laugh, in fecret fcorne, at thddleendevours ofthofe men, whofe policies wouldour- reach God, and feize upon honour wirholll his leave. (God laughes at them in heaven, it is a fafe and holy laughter that followes his.) And pitie the ----~------------------------------------------------~repofterou~
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