A20559:389
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Indeed if rich men did carry the person of God upon them, ⟨p. 12⟩and the poor the person of an Angel, or some meaner creature, then it were some thing; their commission hath all one seal, and their authority in both is the self same; and he that will seem to reverence a rich master, and not a poor, is an hypocrite, and shows himself to be led by some carnal respect, not by Gods commandment. And for one to deal undutifully with his poor master, that beside the sin is a double injury, for this is to add affliction to affliction. For if he be oppressed with contempt abroad, and be had in disgrace of others, the servant by his dutiful and reverent dealing should comfort and refresh him, and be a means to mitigate his grief; but to despise him at home, that is contemned of every one abroad; this is to lay a greater burden upon him, that all ready sinks under it.
Indeed if rich men did carrie the person of God vpon them, ⟨p. 12⟩and the poore the person of an Angell, or some meaner creature, then it were some thing; their commssion hath all one seale, and their authoritie in both is the selfe same; and he that will seeme to reuerence a rich maister, and not a poore, is an hypocrite, and shewes himselfe to be led by some carnall respect, not by Gods commandement. And for one to deale vndutifully with his poore master, that beside the sinne is a double iniurie, for this is to add affliction to affliction. For if he be opprest with contempt abroad, and be had in disgrace of others, the seruant by his dutifull and reuerent dealing should comfort and refresh him, and be a meanes to mitigate his greefe; but to dispise him at home, that is contemned of euerie one abroad; this is to lay a greater burden vpon him, that all readie sinkes vnder it.
Therefore if servants reverence their masters, they must not give them froward speeches, but even outwardly show their inward account, and the more base their masters be in the world, the greater reward shall they have from God, and they show the more truth and grace to be in their hearts. For to reverence a rich man, that will not bear contempt, but will take him down and crush him; this the veriest hypocrite may do, even for his own peace. But here is sincerity, here is truth of heart and uprightness, if when the master is poor and mean and of no reckoning in the world, then the servant can reckon him worthy of honour, and serve him with reverence and give him his authority and full allowance in all good carriage, how ever others do debase and contemn him.