Lastly, is it no less matter than a Kingdom, that we are here invited unto? This may serve to incite us, if there be any mettle in us, to the diligent & industrious seeking after it. cWho would not put hard for it, to win a Crown, to gain a Kingdom? Here is fit matter for our ambitious thoughts and desires to be working upon with warrant. For, as Augustine observeth, that there is a kind of lawful and religious dUsury, that the Word of God alloweth; eHe that showeth mercy to the poor, lendeth on Usury to the Lord; and it shall with large interest be repaid him. And there is a kind of spiritual fCovetousness, that the Spirit of God approveth of; when men are *greedy of Grace, they can never have enough of it; gBlessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness. So there is a kind of holy hAmbition, that our Saviour Christ not alloweth only, but inciteth also, and exhorteth us hereunto. iAffect, saith the Apostle, the best, the chiefest things. And, Let even a Kingdom at least, a Crown, and no less, saith our Saviour, be your aim. It is enough for earthly Princes, their followers and favourites, if they can attain to some Titles of inferior Honour, to be Dukes and Marquesses, or the like. But if they begin once, kwith Seianus, to have an eye or aim at a Crown, lthat will in no wise be endured in them. But it is not ⟨p. 23⟩some minferior Honour, some petty place in a kingdom, but the Crown and Kingdom it self, that our Saviour Christ here would have us shoot at, and seek after. And who would not seek after a kingdom, if he had any hope to attain it? We see upon what uncertain hopes ambitious persons in such cases lay nall at the stake, and hazard loss, not of living only, but of life. And certainly our Saviour would never incite us to seek after it, if *it were not to be had. Yea he giveth us assurance, that if we seek seriously, and so as we should, we shall find it. For oEvery one, saith he, that so seeketh, findeth: he is as sure to find, as if he had found already. pOne siphorus sought me diligently, saith the Apostle, and he found me: And so, qI love them that love me, saith the Wisdom of God, that rhath the disposing of this Crown, sof this Kingdom; and all those that seek me early, tshall be sure to find me. The Kingdom of this World, as the uWealth of this World, may be sought, and not found;
Lastly, is it no lesse matter than a Kingdome, that we are here invited unto? This may serve to incite us, if there be any mettle in us, to the diligent & industrious seeking after it. cWho would not put hard for it, to winne a Crowne, to gaine a Kingdom? Here is fit matter for our ambitious thoughts and desires to be working upon with warrant. For, as Augustine observeth, that there is a kinde of lawfull and religious dVsury, that the Word of God alloweth; eHe that sheweth mercie to the poore, lendeth on Vsurie to the Lord; and it shall with large interest be repayed him. And there is a kinde of spirituall fCovetousnesse, that the Spirit of God approveth of; when men are *greedie of Grace, they can never have enough of it; gBlessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousnesse. So there is a kinde of holy hAmbition, that our Saviour Christ not alloweth only, but enciteth also, and exhorteth us hereunto. iAffect, saith the Apostle, the best, the chiefest things. And, Let even a Kingdome at least, a Crowne, and no lesse, saith our Saviour, be your aime. It is enough for earthly Princes, their followers and favourites, if they can attaine to some Titles of inferiour Honour, to be Dukes and Marquesses, or the like. But if they begin once, kwith Seianus, to have an eie or aime at a Crowne, lthat will in no wise bee indured in them. But it is not ⟨p. 23⟩some minferiour Honour, some petie place in a kingdome, but the Crowne and Kingdome it selfe, that our Saviour Christ here would have us shoot at, and seeke after. And who would not seeke after a kingdome, if he had any hope to attaine it? Wee see upon what uncertaine hopes ambitious persons in such cases lay
- cPerp•ssi sunt exercitus in•piam rerum omnium, vixerunt herbarum radicibus, & dictu foedis tulerunt famem. Haec omnia passi sunt pro regno (quo magis mir•ris) alieno, Sen. epist. 17. Ab mis•ris quid si peteretur crimine tanto Limes uterque poli? pugna est de paupere regno. Stat. Theb. l 1.
- dQui vetat te esse foeneratorem, idem jussit te esse foeneratorem, et dicitur tibi, Foenerare, Aug. in Psal. 36.
- eProv. 17.19.
- f[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- *Veri boni aviditas tuta est, Sen. ep. 23.
- gMatth. 5.6.
- h[Greek or Hebrew]. Rom. 15.20. 2 Cor. 5.9. 1 Thess. 4.11.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Rom. 15.20. 2 Cor. 5.9. 1 Thess. 4.11.
- i[Greek or Hebrew]. 1 Cor. 12.31.〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
