1 _L_rB_. _I_I.______________/ ~ A I Of Ba BEt. liJ 0 W foon aremen and finnes multiplied? within one hundred yeares the world is as full ofboth, as ifrhere had been no Deluge. Though ;nencouldnot bur f<e rhefearefull monuments ofthe ruineofrheirAncellors, yet howquickly had they forgotten a flood? Good Noab lived tofee theWorld both populous,and wicked again;anddoubrleffe ofttimes repented ro have been preCerved ofCome, .whom he faw to traduce the vices oftheformer World,to the renued. It could nor but gr~cve him to fee thedellroyed Gyams reviveout ofhis owneloines, and to fee themofhisflelh and bloud tyranB nize oveuhemfelves.In his fight Nimrod callingoffthe awe ofhis holyGrandfather grew imperioUI and cnrell,andmade his owne kinfmen fervams. Howeafie a thing it is for a great fpirit tobe the head ofa fatl:ion; when even brethrenwiiJ lloope to fervitude. And nowwhenmen are combined together, evill and prefumptious morionsfindeencouragementinmultirudes; and each man takes a prideinfeeming furwardd\: we are the cheerfuller in goodwhenwe haverpe affillanceofcompany: muchmore in finning, by howmuch we are more prone to evill rhen good. Itwasa proud word; C01ae ltt 111 hild tH • Citya"d 4 TO#er, whofe topm•J r<ach toHt4ven. They were newly comedowne from the Hils umorhe PlaiJleo, and now rhinke ofraifing up an Hill, ofbuilding in the plaine: when their rentswere pitched upon theMoumaines of Armmi•, rhey were as neere to HeavenasrheirTowercould c make them; bur their ambition mull needs afpire to an height ofth~ir own raifing, Pride i• everdifcontemed, and ftill feeks matter ofboaftlng in her own worke!. How fondly doemen reckon without God,Come,letlll hNild; As ifthere had been no ftop but in their own will: As ifboth earthand rime had heen theirs: Still doe all narurall men build Bahtl forccafting their owne plots forefolurely , as if there were no power to countermand them: le is juft withGod that peremptorydeterminarions feldome profper: whereas thofe things which are fearefully,andmodel\· ly undertaken, commonly fucceed. Let liS build us aCiry. Iftheyhad takenGodwith them, it had beencommendable; eftablilhingoffocieries is pleafing to himthat is the Godoforder : But a Tower whofe top m1y reach to heaven, was aChamefull arrogance, an impious preD fumprion. Who would think charwe littleAnrs that creepe upon theearth, Chould thinkofclimbingup to Heaven,bymulriplyingofEarrh I Pride ever Jookes at the highell: the fir£! man would know asGod, thefewould dwel asGod, Coveroufnes and Ambition know no limits. And what ifthey had reachr up toHeaven? fame Hils areas high as theycould hope to be , and yet are no whirrheberrer; no place alter• the condition ofNarure: an Angellisglorious, though hebe upon earth; andMan is bur earth, though hebeeabove the clouds: The neererthey hadbeen to Heaven, the more fubjefr Chould they have been to rhe violences ofHeaven; ro rhunders,lip:hrenings, and rhofe other higher inflamarions; wharhad this been, bur to rhruft rhemfelves inro the handsofthe revenger of E all wicked infolencics? God loves that Heaven Chould be lookr at,and affected with all humble defires, with the holy ambitions ofFaith, not with theproud imaginations ofour owneacchievements. Butwhereforewas all this? Not that they loved fo much to bee neighbours to heaven, as tobee famous upon earth; It was nor commodity that washere fought , not fafery,bur glory: whither clothnor rhirft offame carrymen,wherher in good or evill? It makes them feekero climbe to heaven, Itmakes them nor feare to runne downeheadlong tobell: Even in rhebeft things defireofpraife ftands in competition with confcience, and brags to have the more clients. Onebuilds a temple ro Di•n•, inhopeofglory, inrendin~ it for oneofthe greatwonders of theWorld,another in hope offame burnes it.. Hee is arare man that bath nor fame B•"'' of his nwne, whereonhe beftows paines and coft,onely robe talkedof. Iftheyhaddone berrerrhingsinavaine·gloriouspurpofetheirafrhad been accurfed; if they had built
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