A32047:66
The noble-mans pattern of true and real thankfulness presented in a sermon preached before…The noble-mans patterne of true and reall thankfulnesse presented in a sermon preached before…
The noble-mans pattern of true and real thankfulness presented in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords, at their late solemn day of Thanksgiving, June 15, 1643 : for the discovery of a dangerous, desperate and bloody design tending to the utter subversion of the Parliament and of the famous city of London / by Edmund Calamy ...The noble-mans patterne of true and reall thankfulnesse presented in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords, at their late solemne day of Thanksgiving, June 15, 1643 : for the discovery of a dangerous, desperate and bloody designe tending to the utter subversion of the Parliament and of the famous city of London / by Edmund Calamy ...
London: printed by G.M. for Christopher Meredith, 1643
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.
As great men are to serve God, as well as others. So also rather then others. And that because,
First, They have more reason then others. God hath advanced them above others in dignity,1 honour and wealth, and therefore he expects they should bring more honour to him then others. A King looks to be acknowledged by all, but especially by those who are his Creatures. And therefore Caesar cried out to Brutus, & tufili? What thou my son? So those whom God hath exalted and made as it were gods upon Earth, he looks that these gods should not serve the Devil, which would be a paradox beyond expression. The higher the Elements are the purer they ⟨p. 16⟩are. Air is purer then water, and fire then air. The higher you are in office and wealth, the holier and purer you ought to be. We do not expect as much light from a candle as from the Sun. If God have made thee one of the great lights of the world; he looks thou shouldest shine and out-shine others in holiness and righteousness. It is a wicked opinion that is spread abroad in the world, that the greater any man is, the less service he need do unto God. Hence it is that if we observe any little spark of piety in great persons, we are ready to behold it as a blazing Comet, and to cry it up in the superlative degree. But the truth is, the golden Rule of Christ teacheth us otherwise, To whom much is given, (faith Christ, Luk. 12. 47.) much is required. And you your selves require most service of those servants to whom you give most wages. God did not require ten talents of him to whom he gave but five, but he required ten of him to whom he gave ten. All creatures the nearer to God the more perfect they are, the Angels more excellent then men, and the essence of men more excellent then beasts, and beasts then plants, &c. So the nearer any man is to God in power and greatness, the better, purer and holier he ought to be. Insomuch that it is reckoned as a great aggravation, That the hands of the Princes and Rulers were the chief in a trespass,