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Hence also it is that we are so busy about worldly things, dignity, and riches, &c. It is true we should seek after these things, but why do we do it tanto conatu? It was Pauls greatness of mind, that made him ambitious to preach the Gospel; to serve tables, and such like, were small matters, he would not look after them: So if we had great minds, we should seek for grace, and how to increase in it, how to live an useful, and painful and profitable life. Worldly things are too little for the mind to bestow it self upon; which would be so to us, if we could see GOD in his greatness, and our interest in it. Men of little minds and pusillanimous, do as the Bramble, which reckoned it as a great matter to reign over the trees: whereas the Vine and the Fig tree esteemed it not so, but chose rather to serve GOD and man with their sweetness and fatness.

Hence also it is that wee are so busie about worldly things, dignity, and riches, &c. It is true we should seeke after these things, but why doe we doe it tanto conatu? It was Paules greatnesse of mind, that made him ambitious to preach the Gospell; to serve tables, and such like, were small matters, hee would not looke after them: So if wee had great minds, wee should seeke for grace, and how to increase in it, how to live an usefull, and painefull and profitable life. Worldly things are too litle for the mind to bestow it selfe upon; which would be so to us, if we could see GOD in his greatnesse, and our interest in it. Men of little mindes and pusillanimous, doe as the Bramble, which reckoned it as a great matter to reigne over the trees: whereas the Vine and the Figgetree esteemed it not so, but chose rather to serve GOD and man with their sweetnesse and fatnesse.

Hence it is that men are so much affected with the injuries of men on the one side, and the fears of men on the other side: all this ariseth from the littleness of the mind. Saint Paul, Gal. 5.12. the Galatians had done him great injury, yet saith he, Brethren, be as I am, for I am as you are: you have done me great injury, but I esteem it not, you have not hurt me at all. For, a man enlarged to a holy greatness of mind, all the injuries put upon him by men, seem small to him: when men are full of complaints, and say, they cannot bear such disgrace and slander, and reproach; this doth not proceed from the greatness, but from the weakness of their minds. Men think it indeed greatness of mind, not to pass over these things, not to put up an injury: but surely it is a note of a great mind, to overlook them all. So it is true on the other side, not to regard the praise of men: The Philosopher could say, that the magnanimous man did not regard the praise of common men, because he was above them; and he is but a weak man, that would regard the praise of children, because they are not able to judge: so he hath but a weak mind, that regards the praise of worldly men; for they are too little for him to regard, if he did see GOD in his greatness. This made Paul to say, that he did not care for mans day, let them say what they will by me, better or worse, I regard it not. (There is indeed a meet regard to be had of of them; but if they come into competition