A05817:473
The Practice of Piety
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
London: printed for John Hodgets, 1613London: printed for Iohn Hodgets, 1613
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
5 Give every man the honour due to his place, but honour a man more for his goodness, then for his greatness. And of whomsoever thou hast received a benefit, unto him (as GOD shall enable thee) remember to be thankful. Acknowledge it lovingly unto men, and pray for him heartily unto God, and count every blessing received from God, as a pledge of his eternal love, and a spur to a godly life.
5 Giue euery man the honour due to his place, but honour a man more for his goodnesse, then for his greatnes. And of whomsoeuer thou hast receiued a benefit, vnto him (as GOD shall enable thee) remember to be thankfull. Acknowledge it louingly vnto men, and pray for him heartily vnto God, and count euery blessing receiued from God, as a pledge of his eternall loue, and a spur to a godly life.
6 Be not proud for any external worldly goods, nor for any internal spiritual gifts. Not for external goods, because that as they came lately, so they will shortly be gone again, their loss therefore is the less to be grieved at. Not for any internal gifts, for as GOD gave them, so will he likewise take them away: If (forgetting the giver) thou shalt abuse his gifts, to puff up thine heart with a pride of thine own worth: and to contemn others, for whose good Almighty God bestowed those gifts upon thee. Hast thou any one virtue that moves thee to be self-conceited? thou hast twenty vices that may better vilify thee in thine own eyes.
6 Be not proud for any externall vvorldly goods, nor for any internall spirituall gifts. Not for externall goods, because that as they came lately, so they will shortly be gone againe, their losse therefore is the lesse to be grieued at. Not for any internall gifts, for as GOD gaue them, so will hee likewise take them away: If (forgetting the giuer) thou shalt abuse his gifts, to puffe vp thine heart with a pride of thine owne worth: and to contemne others, for whose good Almightie God bestowed those gifts vpon thee. Hast thou any one vertue that moues thee to be selfe-conceited? thou hast twenty vices that may better vilifie thee in thine owne eies.