Which things considered, let such therefore among you,1 as are come up from mean estate to large and plentiful means, learn to imitate Jacob, and to do as he here did. Look ⟨p. 90⟩back to your beginnings. oBe not puffed up in pride, in regard of your present wealth: Nor take you occasion thereby pto contemn or disdain others, that come short of you therein. But qremember what you have been sometime your selves; and how far beneath not a few of those, whom you have gotten now so far above. It is hard, if there be not some in this place, (for my part I know none: but sure I am, many such there have been, and some such there may here be) that may say with Jacob, I came into this City with a staff in mine hand, and a freeze co•t on my back; (yea it may be, in far meaner estate yet then he) with neither hose nor shoes on my feet, and scarce a penny in my purse; glad if I might get into any almost, though never so mean service. And now God hath given me a large and a plentiful estate: he hath made me a Master of many servants; he hath richly clothed me, provided liberally for me, &c. And rlet not then what you are now (if it have been and be thus with any of you) make you forget what you have been. But as sAgathocles being by birth but a Potters son, and yet having by his prowess attained to be King of his own Country, caused his cupboard to be furnished with earthen Cups, and his table, to be served with earthen dishes, that he might thereby be put in mind of his mean and poor parentage. So do you cast your eyes back on your mean beginnings, that by consideration thereof you ⟨p. 91⟩may the rather be moved, both unto thankfulness to God for what you now have; and tto humility, modesty, and lowliness of mind, uto carry your selves the more moderately towards those, that are still as you once were, or that were once as you are now, but are now as your selves were once.
Which things considered, let such therfore among you,1 as are come up from meane estate to large and plentifull meanes, learne to imitate Iacob, and to doe as hee here did. Looke ⟨p. 90⟩backe to your beginnings. oBe not puffed up in pride, in regard of your present wealth: Nor take you occasion thereby pto contemne or disdaine others, that come short of you therein. But qremember what you have beene sometime your selves; and how farre beneath not a few of those, whom you have gotten now so farre aboue. It is hard, if there be not some in this place, (for my part I know none: but sure I am, many such there have beene, and some such there may heere bee) that may say with Iacob, I came into this Citie with a staffe in mine hand, and a freeze co•t on my backe; (yea it may be, in farre meaner estate yet then he) with neither hose nor shooes on my feet, and scarce a penny in my purse; glad if I might get into any almost, though never so meane service. And now God hath given mee a large and a plentifull estate: hee hath made mee a Master of many servants; hee hath richly cloathed mee, provided liberally for me, &c. And rlet not then what you are now (if it have beene and be thus with any of you) make you forget what you have beene. But as sAgathocles being by birth but a Potters sonne, and yet having by his prowesse attained to bee King of his owne Countrey, caused his cupboard to be furnished with earthen Cups, and his table, to bee served with earthen dishes, that hee might thereby bee put in minde of his meane and poore parentage. So doe you cast your eyes backe on your meane beginnings, that by consideration thereof you ⟨p. 91⟩may the rather bee moved, both unto thankefulnesse to God for what you now have; and tto humility, modestie, and lowlinesse of minde, u
- 1Use 2.Vse 2.
- o1 Tim. 6.19. Psal. 75.4, 5. Altus sedens, altum sapiens ne sis, Bern. de Cō sider. l. 2.1 Tim. 6.19. Psal. 75.4, 5. Altus sedens, altum sapiens ne sis, Bern. de Cō sider. l. 2.
- pPsal. 123.4. 1 Sam. 25.10.
- qQuid fueris cogites, non quid sis. [Greek or Hebrew], Greg. Naz. de Bapt. Quā mulla consecutus sis r•co•d•r•. Quid tibicū caeteris? te ipse antecessisti, S•n. epist. 8•.Quid fueris cogites, non quid sis. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Greg. Naz. de Bapt. Quā mulla consecutus sis r•co•d•r•. Quid tibicū caeteris? te ipse antecessisti, S•n. epist. 8•.
- rEn quis es? Sed noli oblivisci etiam quid fueris. Opportunè enim cum eo quod es, etiam quod ante eras, consideras. N•n opo•tet ut illa extundat istam ins•rutinio tui, Ber. de Consider. l. 2.
- s[Greek or Hebrew], Plut. de Laud. sui, & in Appth. Faa est fic libus coenasse Agatclea Regem; Atque abacū Samio saepe onerasse luto. Quaerenticausā respondst, Rex ego sum Sicaniae, figuto sum genitore satus, Auson. Epigr. 8.
