Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

3. Do not so distaine thy worth and worthy hopes; discover not such extreme weakness and true baseness of mind: resemble not so near the fearful folly of obnoxious ⟨p. 190⟩and vain-glorious worldlings; as to suffer the eye and excellency of thine heavenly Spirit, to be any whit dazzled or dulled with formal affected glistering of outward glory; as to hunt with fawning terror, after the transitory favour of worldly greatness, to adore worthless Magnificoes, and the worlds Minions with undeserved flattering attributions; and with ambitious affectation, to contend for their countenance and uncomfortable correspondence with them. The greatest man without virtue and grace, though never so gloriously enriched with humane felicities, is but as a dead carcass hung over with jewels; a very spectacle of commiseration, to every spiritual eye; even as that body is, which adorned with a goodly feature, and many other admirable beauties, yet wanteth eye-sight, the comfort of life; whereby it walks in perpetual darkness and desperate danger. Goodness, though attended with contempt and disgrace, is incomparably more amiable in the eye of an honest Cato; much more of an holy Christian, then all the vain-glorious boisterous representations of any greatness or pomp. Memorable and remarkable to this purpose, was the magnanimity and resolution of that holy Prophet, 2. Kings 3. 14. As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, Surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the King of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. Miserable then is the vanity and vain-glorious slavery of such as with great eagerness and impotency hunt so ambitiously after high dependences, and hold it a strange happiness to insinuate into the bosom of the worlds Favourites; though it be by baseness, bribery, an universal obsequiousness, and vile accommodations. They, many times with vaunting intimation also to others, proudly applaud and please themselves for their access, countenance, and entertainment with Great men; as though it argued in them some rare extraordinary sufficiency and worth: when as perhaps it is their own flattering insinuations and intrusion; their instrumental agency and employment in some ill offices, lewd services, which brings them into such request and acceptation.

3. Doe not so distaine thy worth and worthy hopes; discouer not such extreme weakenesse and true basenesse of minde: resemble not so neere the fearefull folly of obnoxious