nay, at last, wrings the very heart-strings of every impenitent soul, with that extremest everlasting horror, which would burst ten thousand hearts, seriously and sensibly to think upon before-hand. It is not only vanity, but also vexation of spirit. Let worldly wisdom say what it will, and hold them melancholic, and dmad, who by the help of the holy Ghost hold a constant counter-motion to the course of the world, and corruptions of the time, that they may keep a good conscience, the richest treasure, and dearest Jewell that ever the heart of man was acquainted with; who infinitely desire, rather to be religious, then rich; to be good, then great; to enjoy the favour of God, then the sovereignty, and pleasures of all the kingdoms of the earth: yet assuredly, when all is said, and truly summed up; it is only the true fear of Gods blessed Name; a zealous forwardness for his glory, goodness, and good causes; at this day, unhappily, and to the ruin of infinite souls, called by the world, pragmaticalness, and, Too much preciseness, which can truly beautify, and adorn both all other personal sufficiencies; and indeed sanctify and bless all public employments and services of State. For the first: A Professor even something Popish, doth yet truly teach, that eHeroical nobility is an illustrious eminency shining in a man by the heavenly infusions of supernatural grace, whereby he is made by adoption the son of God, the Spouse of Christ, the Temple of the holy Ghost; without which, all other Nobilities are nothing; not worth a button. ⟨image 4⟩Suppose a fair and goodly horse to the eye, as exquisitely featured, coloured, paced, as that feigned by Bartas, to be managed by Cain; yet if he wanted mettle, he were worth nothing to a man of spirit. Give me the most magnificent glorious Worldling, that ever trod upon earthly mould; richly crowned with all the ornaments, and excellencies of nature, art, policy, preferment, or what heart can wish besides; yet without the life of grace to animate and ennoble them, he were to the eye of heavenly Wisdom, but as a rotten carcass stuck over with flowers, magnified dung, gilded rottenness, golden damnation. And that which is more dreadful; when the sun of his short Summers day is set, the hot gleam of transitory prosperity past, and the bitter tempestuous winters night of death approacheth;
nay, at last, wrings the very heart-strings of euery impenitent soule, with that extremest euerlasting horrour, which would burst ten thousand hearts, seriously and sensibly to thinke vpon before-hand. It is not onely vanity, but also vexation of spirit. Let worldly wisdome say what it will, and hold them melancholike, and dmadde, who by the helpe of the holy Ghost hold a constant counter-motion to the course of the world, and corruptions of the time, that they may keep a good conscience, the richest treasure, and dearest Iewell that euer the heart of man was acquainted with; who infinitely desire, rather to be religious, then rich; to bee good, then great; to enioy the fauour of God, then the soueraignty, and pleasures of all the kingdomes of the earth: yet assuredly, when all is said, and truely summed vp; it is onely the true feare of Gods blessed Name; a zealous forwardnesse for his glory, goodnesse, and good causes; at this day, vnhappily, and to the ruine of infinite soules, called by the world, pragmaticalnesse, and, Too much precisenesse, which can truely beautifie, and adorne both all other personall sufficiencies; and indeed sanctifie and blesse all publike imployments and seruices of State. For the first: A Professor euen something Popish, doth yet truely teach, that eHeroicall nobilitie is an illustrious eminency shining in a man by the heauenly infusions of supernaturall grace, whereby he is made by adoption the sonne of God, the Spouse of Christ, the Temple of the holy Ghost; without which, all other Nobilities are nothing; not worth a button. ⟨image 4⟩Suppose a faire and goodly horse to the eye, as exquisitely featured, colourd, paced, as that fained by Bartas, to be managed by Cain; yet if he wāted mettle, he were worth nothing to a man of spirit. Giue me the most magnificent glorious Worldling, that euer trod vpō earthly mould; richly crowned with all the ornaments, and excellencies of nature, art, policy, preferment, or what heart can wish besides; yet without the life of grace to animate and ennoble them, hee were to the eye of heauenly Wisdome, but as a rotten carkasse stucke ouer with flowers, magnified dung, guilded rottennesse, golden damnation. And that which is more dreadfull; when the sunne of his short Summers day is set, the hot gleame of transitorie prosperity past, and the bitter tempestuous winters night of death approacheth;
- dCùm coeperit Deo quisque vi•ere, mundum contemnere, iniurias suas nolle ulcisci, nolle hîc diultias, non hîc quaerere foelicitatem terrenam, contemnere omnia, Dominum solùm cogitare, viam Christi non deserere; non solùm à Paganis dicitur insanus; sed quod magis dolendum est; quia & intus multi dormiunt, & vigilare nolunt, à suis, à Christianis audiunt—Dictum est & de ipso Domino, quod insaniret. August. in Psal. 84.Cùm coeperit Deo quisque vi•ere, mundum contemnere, iniurias suas nolle vlcisci, nolle hîc diultias, non hîc quaerere foelicitatem terrenam, contemnere omnia, Dominum solùm cogitare, viam Christi non deserere; non solùm à Paganis dicitur insanus; sed quod magis dolendum est; quia & intus multi dormiunt, & vigilare nolunt, à suis, à Christianis audiunt—Dictum est & de ipso Domino, quod insaniret. August. in Psal. 84.
- eNobilitas Heroica est eminentia quaedam notabilis, &c.—per quam homo fi• per adoptionem Filius Dei, fit Sponsa Christi, sit Templum Spiritus Sancti: sine quâ, nobilitates caet• rae nihil sunt, nhiil proficiunt. Gers. Tractat. De nobilitate.
