A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

Fourthly, Men of public spirits do most and best answer to one of the noblest and highest ends of their creation. ¹By the Law of creation every man is bound to serve the public, to serve his generation. A narrow, a private spirited man is a shame to his Creation, because he walks so contrary to the great intendment of God in it. 'Tis a base and unworthy spirit, for a man to make himself the Centre of all his actions. The very Heathen man could say, That a mans Country and his Friends, and others, challenge a great part of him. That man sins against the very Law of his being, who is swallowed up in his own, private interests. Men of public spirits should not bear the sword of justice ⟨image 10⟩in vain, for by the Law of creation they are bound so to handle it as to be a terror to evil doers,² and a praise to them that do well. 'Tis cruelty to the good to spare the bad, 'tis wrong to the Sheep to let the Wolves alone, 'tis the death of the Lambs to spare the Lions. If you will pity Catiline (says one) pity Rome much more; let the whole have a share in your pity rather than a part. (Pereat unus magis quam unitas) better have one injurious person sit mourning, than a whole Nation languishing, &c. Men of public spirits should be for the ease of all, and the peace of all, and the comfort of all, and the encouragement of all, and the safety of all. But this Age is full of Drones and Cyphers, and of spiritless, lifeless men, who look at nothing, who design nothing, who aim at nothing, and who endeavour nothing, but how to raise themselves, and greaten themselves, and enrich themselves, and build up themselves, though it be upon others ruins. How many are there who are so swallowed up in their own interests and private concernments, that Gallio-like, they care not whether the public sink or swim.³ These put me in mind of Jotham's Parable.⁴ The Trees went forth to anoint a King over them. They go to the Olive, to the Fig-tree, and to the Vine; but shall I leave my fatness, saith the Olive? shall I leave my sweetness, saith the Fig-tree? and shall I leave my wine, saith the Vine, and go up and down for other Trees? This is the very temper, spirit and carriage of many in our day: If you go to them and desire them to lay out themselves for the public good. What say some, shall we leave our ease, our pleasure, our profits? And say others, Shall we run this and that hazard?