Five sermons preached upon sundry especial occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habitFiue sermons preached vpon sundry especiall occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit

Why do they not say, Thou that knowest the Birth or Blood of men? I know, it is a reverend ⟨p. 63⟩thing to see an ancient Castle or Palace not in decay; or a fair Tree, sound and perfect timber. But as foul Birds build their nests in an old forsaken house, and doted trees are good for nothing but the fire; so the decay of Virtue is the ruin of Nobility. To speak morally, Active worth is better then Passive; this last we have from our Ancestors, the first from our selves. Let me rather see one virtue in a man alive, then all the rest in his pedigree dead. Nature is regular in the brute Creatures; Eagles do not produce cravens; and it was a monstrous fable, that Ni•ippus his Ewe should yean a Lyon. But in man she fails, and may bring forth the like proportion, not the like disposition. Children do often resemble their Parents in face and features, not in heart and qualities. It is the earthly part that follows the seed; wisdom, valour, virtue, are of another beginning. Honour sits best upon the back of merit: I had rather be good without Honour, then Honourable without goodness. Cottages have yielded this as well as Palaces. Agathocles was the son of a Potter, Bion of an infamous Courtesan. In holy Writ; Gideon was a poor Thrasher, David a Shepherd; yet both mighty men of valour, both chosen to rule, both special Saviours of their Country. Far be it from us to condemn all honour of the first head, when noble deservings have raised it; though before it could show nothing but a White Shield. Indeed, it is not the Birth, but the ⟨p. 64⟩new Birth, that makes men truly Noble.

Why doe they not say, Thou that knowest the Birth or Blood of men? I know, it is a reuerend ⟨p. 63⟩thing to see an ancient Castle or Palace not in decay; or a faire Tree, sound and perfect timber. But as foule Birds build their nests in an olde forsaken house, and doated trees are good for nothing but the fire; so the decay of Vertue is the ruine of Nobilitie. To speake morally, Actiue worth is better then Passiue; this last we haue from our Ancestors, the first from our selues. Let mee rather see one vertue in a man aliue, then all the rest in his pedigree dead. Nature is regular in the bruite Creatures; Eagles doe not produce crauens; and it was a monstrous fable, that Niippus his Ewe should yeane a Lyon. But in man shee failes, and may bring forth the like proportion, not the like disposition. Children doe often resemble their Parents in face and features, not in heart and qualities. It is the earthly part that followes the seed; wisedome, valour, vertue, are of another beginning. Honour sits best vpon the backe of merit: I had rather bee good without Honour, then Honourable without goodnesse. Cottages haue yeelded this as well as Palaces. Agathocles was the sonne of a Potter, Bion of an infamous Curtisan. In holy Writ; Gideon was a poore Thrasher, Dauid a Shepheard; yet both mightie men of valour, both chosen to rule, both speciall Sauiours of their Countrey. Farre bee it from vs to condemne all honour of the first head, when noble deseruings haue raised it; though before it could shewe nothing but a White Shield. Indeed, it is not the Birth, but the