1. That he should seek to have any for servants (which the text supposeth that he doth) in this world of ours: A world of Apostate, Degenerous, Impure, Impotent creatures, disaffected to him and his Government, hating him, and (as in themselves they are) hateful to him. He who hath so little need of servants for any real use! who can do all things with a word! And if he thought it fit to have them for state, and as a thing becoming his majesty and greatness, is attended, above, by so excellent God-like Creatures! So suitable, and obsequious! So powerful and agile! Those ministers of his that do his pleasure, hearkening to the voice of his word. A World of ministering Spirits that might be used for purposes less kind to us than they are! That he ⟨p. 33⟩should seek Servants among us! (for his having them implies it, who ever served him unsought unto?) invite men into his service with so importunate solicitation! whom he might despise for their vileness, and destroy for their rebellion, which he can in a moment! And that he should seek such to become his Servants, not with indifferency, but with so great earnestness! and use afterwards so various endeavours to retain them in his service! When they gradually decline, that he so graciously upholds them; when ready to break faith with him, and quit his service, that by so apt methods he confirms them; when they actually wander and turn Vagabonds, that he should be so intent to reduce them! How admirable is all this! View the whole case at once. They neglect his first Invitations, he repeats and inculcates them; They faint, he encourages and supports them; They revolt, he follows to bring them back: The cause of our admiration still rises higher and higher. How much is it, in this last instance ⟨p. 34⟩above all humane measures! Most men would disdain so to sue to Servants that forsake them, and are loath to confess their real need and want of them (were it never so great:) The Cynic scorned to look after his servant that left him, counting it a disgrace when Manes thought he could live without Diogenes, 1that Diogenes should not be able to live without Manes. The All-sufficient Deity stoops to that which indigency and wretchedness think even too mean for them!
1. That he should seek to have any for servants (which the text supposeth that he doth) in this world of ours: A world of Apostate, Degenerous, Impure, Impotent creatures, disaffected to him and his Government, hating him, and (as in themselves they are) hateful to him. He who hath so little need of servants for any real use! who can do all things with a word! And if he thought it fit to have them for state, and as a thing becoming his majesty and greatness, is attended, above, by so excellent God-like Creatures! So suitable, and obsequious! So powerful and agile! Those ministers of his that do his pleasure, hearkening to the voice of his word. A World of ministring Spirits that might be used for purposes less kind to us than they are! That he ⟨p. 33⟩should seek Servants among us! (for his having them implies it, who ever serv'd him unsought unto?) invite men into his service with so importunate solicitation! whom he might despise for their vileness, and destroy for their rebellion, which he can in a moment! And that he should seek such to become his Servants, not with indifferency, but with so great earnestness! and use afterwards so various endeavours to retain them in his service! When they gradually decline, that he so graciously upholds them; when ready to break faith with him, and quit his service, that by so apt methods he confirms them; when they actually wander and turn Vagabonds, that he should be so intent to reduce them! How admirable is all this! View the whole case at once. They neglect his first Invitations, he repeats and inculcates them; They faint, he encourages and supports them; They revolt, he follows to bring them back: The cause of our admiration still rises higher and higher. How much is it, in this last instance ⟨p. 34⟩above all humane measures! Most men would disdain so to sue to Servants that forsake them, and are loath to confess their real need and want of them (were it never so great:) The Cynick scorn'd to look after his servant that left him, counting it a disgrace when Manes thought he could live without Diogenes, 1that Diogenes should not be able to live without Manes. The All-sufficient Deity stoops to that which indigency and wretchedness think even too mean for them!
- 1Sen.
