Now the twelve months are expired, God comes & finds Nebuchadnezzar upon his towers, when he should have cast himself down to the ground, and thought upon his dream, and Daniel, and so have humbled his pride; he was perched upon his roost, and there he begins to crow of his wealth; Is not this great Babel which I have built for the house of my kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? See how the man standeth in admiration of ⟨p. 365⟩his vanity, like a usurer which doteth of his money, as though he had deserved immortal fame for spending his money vainly. Is not this great Babel, &c. he should rather have said, Is not this Nebuchadnezzars folly, which he hath built for a mock to his name, and an impeachment to his wisdom, for men to say when they pass by, look how our King hath bestowed his revenues, here lie our subsidies & tributes in this stone wall? But Nebuchadnezzar thinks that every one will praise him for his folly. Therefore like a woman when she is pricked up in her bravery, thinks that all do admire her, and hath as goodly an opinion of her self as the Peacock hath of his feathers, and frameth all her looks, and gestures, and speeches accordingly: so when Nebuchadnezzar sate in his Palace, and saw such shows about him, now saith Pride thou must frame thy looks, and gestures, and speeches, accordingly, or else the Kings Palace will be braver than the King himself: so he beginneth to exalt his mind higher than his palace, and to look and speak stouter than he did before. The temptation was no sooner in his heart, but the words were in his mouth, and he pleased himself therein so well, that he could not refrain being alone, but as a fool admires himself in a glass, so ⟨p. 366⟩when he was alone and no body with him, he strutted alone and bragged by himself, to think what a jolly fellow he was, and how men began to talk of his buildings. By this we may see how wealth and honours change manners, and how a gay coat, or a great band, or a gold ring can brave a mans mind, and make him look and speak after another manner then he is accustomed, when they are from him.
Now the twelue moneths are expired, God comes & findes Nabuchadnezzar vpon his towres, when hee should haue cast himselfe downe to the ground, and thought vpon his dreame, and Daniel, and so haue humbled his pride; hee was pearched vpon his roost, and there he begins to crowe of his wealth; Is not this great Babel which I haue built for the house of my kingdome, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my maiestie? See how the man standeth in admiration of ⟨p. 365⟩his vanitie, like a vsurer which doateth of his money, as though hee had deserued immortall fame for spending his money vainely. Is not this great Babel, &c. he should rather haue saide, Is not this Nabuchadnezzars follie, which hee hath built for a mocke to his name, and an impeachment to his wisdome, for men to say when they passe by, look how our King hath bestowed his reuenues, heere lie our subsidies & tributes in this stone wall? But Nabuchadnezzar thinkes that euerie one will praise him for his follie. Therefore like a woman when shee is pricked vp in her brauerie, thinkes that all doe admyre her, and hath as goodly an opinion of her selfe as the Pecocke hath of his feathers, and frameth all her lookes, and gestures, and speeches accordingly: so when Nabuchadnezzar sate in his Pallace, and sawe such shewes about him, now saith Pride thou must frame thy lookes, and gestures, and speeches, accordingly, or else the Kings Pallace will be brauer than the King himselfe: so hee beginneth to exalt his minde higher than his pallace, and to looke and speake stouter than hee did before. The temptation was no sooner in his heart, but the words were in his mouth, and hee pleased himselfe therein so well, that he could not refraine being alone, but as a foole admyres himselfe in a glasse, so ⟨p. 366⟩when hee was alone and no bodie with him, hee strouted alone and bragged by himselfe, to thinke what a iolly fellow he was, and how men began to talke of his buildings. By this we may see how wealth and honours change manners, and how a gay coate, or a great band, or a gold ring can braue a mans mind, and make him looke and speake after another manner then hee is accustomed, when they are from him.
