5. Lastly,1 much true credit and good esteem will follow to the Saints of God, from the work of mortification, both with the household of faith, and with strangers also. The mortified man affects the hearts of all that behold him, with admiration, and the less he covets the credit of men, the more he wins it. Who is he, that seeing a man able to hold down anger, uniustice, revenge, lust, when strong occasions do provoke them to work, doth not find his soul cleaving to him, at once loving and wondering at him? Heathen men, that have for their credit sake, so far dissembled mortification, as, in something a notable fashion, to forbear evil doing, have been more famous for that in aftertimes, then for all their wealth and victories: for it is more truly praise-worthy to be good, then great; and therefore an high degree of goodness, will more honour a man in the hearts of men, then the highest degree of greatness. The soul will not stoop to other things, though the knee do crouch; but the very soul of the highest person that is, will even bow to the name of a man, that is excellent in mortification. What made Herod honour John Baptist? but this, that he saw him so thoroughly mortified. Every man is enforced by his conscience, to esteem worthily of one, whom he sees doing that, which he knows himself should do, but finds he cannot. Now every mans soul (in a manner every ⟨p. 117⟩mans) is convinced, that he should conquer ambition, revenge, covetousness, lust; and his experience tells him, how little he is able to perform in this business; wherefore, when he sees another ever conquering that sin, whereto himself is a perpetual vassal, and of which he is ever conquered, he strangeth at him, and looks upon him, as upon some extraordinary, and miraculous person. Indeed sinners are many times so transported with the love of sin, that (as Owls hate the light which they cannot look upon, so) they nourish in themselves, even enmity, against these excellencies, which they cannot imitate:
5. Lastly,1 much true credit and good esteeme will follow to the Saints of God, from the work of mortification, both with the houshold of faith, and with strangers also. The mortified man affects the hearts of all that behold him, with admiration, and the lesse he couets the credit of men, the more he wins it. Who is he, that seeing a man able to hold downe anger, vniustice, reuenge, lust, when strong occasions do prouoke them to work, doth not find his soule cleauing to him, at once louing and wondring at him? Heathen men, that haue for their credit sake, so farre dissembled mortification, as, in something a notable fashion, to forbeare euill doing, haue been more famous for that in aftertimes, then for all their wealth and victories: for it is more truly prayse-worthy to be good, then great; and therefore an high degree of goodnes, will more honour a man in the hearts of men, then the highest degree of greatnesse. The soule will not stoope to other things, though the knee doe crouch; but the very soule of the highest person that is, will euen bow to the name of a man, that is excellent in mortification. What made Herod honour Iohn Baptist? but this, that he saw him so thorowly mortified. Euery man is inforced by his conscience, to esteeme worthily of one, whom he sees doing that, which he knowes himselfe should doe, but finds hee cannot. Now euery mans soule (in a manner euery ⟨p. 117⟩mans) is conuinced, that he should conquer ambition, reuenge, couetousnesse, lust; and his experience telles him, how little he is able to performe in this businesse; wherefore, when he sees another euer conquering that sinne, whereto himselfe is a perpetuall vassall, and of which hee is euer conquered, hee strangeth at him, and lookes vpon him, as vpon some extraordinarie, and miraculous person. Indeed sinners are many times so transported with the loue of sinne, that (as Owles hate the light which they cannot looke vpon, so) they nourish in themselues, euen enmitie, against these excellencies, which they cannot imitate:
- 1Good esteem from man.Good esteeme from man.
