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…

If it fall in love with honours and greatness, it breeds and brings forth ambition, which is an unquenchable thirst after visible glory, and a gluttonous hunting after high rooms. As it inhabiteth the highest and haughtiest spirits, and is superlative and transcendent in its object and aspirations; so of all the stormy perturbations, which rent and rage in the heart of man, it is most tempestuous and desperate. Venturous it is to climb up any stairs of baseness, bribery, blood; to tread upon the ruins of the noblest innocency, upon the merciless desolations of dearest friends and nearest kindred, to domineer for a while, though it be damned everlastingly ⟨p. 226⟩afterwards; as it is too clear in the Turkish Emperors, and in that great Master of mischief and Machiavelisme, Richard the third, of this Kingdom, who with a bloody hand pressed out the breath of those two orient Princes in the Tower, his Nephews, and natural Lords. It is victorious over all other affections, and masters even the sensuality of lustful pleasures; as appears in the greatest Warriors and ancient Worthies amongst the Heathen, who tempted with the exquisiteness and variety of choicest beauties, yet forbore that villainy, not for conscience sake, and fear of God whom they knew not; but lest they should interrupt the course, and stop the current of their warlike reputation, ambitious designs, and achievements of state. But whatsoever other pestilent properties empoison it, it never fails to engender in the heart, which harbours it, as its proper Thunder-bolt, and blasting, fears, cares, jealousies, envies, enraged thirst of rising still, impatience of competition, uncapablenesse of satiety, which is most for my purpose. For the proud and ambitious man enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied. Hab. 2. 5. Who can fill the bottomless pit of hell, or stop the unsatiable jaws of death? neither can the greedy humour of an haughty spirit, the aspiring insolencie of a boisterous Nimrod be possibly stayed or stinted; no not with the top and variety of highest honours, though he should alone and absolutely be crowned with the Sovereignty of the whole earth, and command the felicities of this wide world.

If it fall in loue with honours and greatnesse, it breeds and brings forth ambition, which is an vnquenchable thirst after visible glory, and a gluttonous hunting after high roomes. As it inhabiteth the highest and haughtiest spirits, and is superlatiue and transcendent in its obiect and aspirations; so of all the stormy perturbations, which rent and rage in the heart of man, it is most tempestuous and desperate. Ventrous it is to climbe vp any staires of basenesse, bribery, blood; to tread vpon the ruines of the noblest innocency, vpon the mercilesse desolations of dearest friends and neerest kindred, to domineere for a while, though it be damned euerlastingly