The works of George Swinnock, M.A

It is not earthly riches that make a man honourable; we mistake in calling and counting rich men the best men in the Parish: Riches without godliness are but a gold ring in a swines snout, for which the brute is nothing the better. It is not airy applause or worldly preferments that will make a man honourable. Titles are but like feathers in the hat, or glistering scarfs under the arms, which add not the least worth to the man that wears them. A great letter makes no more to the sense of the word then a small one. Worship, Honour• Grace, Highness, Majesty, make nothing to the real intrinsic value of any person. The ungodly Monarchs of the world are but beasts in Gods account. Anti•chus Epiphanes, whose name signifieth Illustrious, whom the Samaritans styled the Mighty God, is called by the Holy Ghost, because of his ungodliness, a vile person, Dan. 11. 21. In his days shall stand up a vile person. All honour without holiness is fading, as well as fancied rather then real. External nobility though it glister in the face of the world, is but as Seneca saith, vitrea, brittle as glass, and compounded of earth. The Potentates of the world are often like Tennis-balls, tossed up on high to fall down low; Hence some of the wiser Heathen have called them Ludibria fortunae, the scorn of fortune. Haman honoured one day, the next day hanged. Gelimer the Puissant Prince of the Vandals, Bellisarius, Charles the fifth and Henry the fourth Emperors, and many others experienced the brittleness of worldly glory. But that honour which is from ⟨p. 847⟩above is true and eternal. Plutarch tells us the Roman nobles, as a badge of their nobility, wore the picture of the Moon upon their shoes, signifying as their nobility did increase, so it would decrease. All privileges, all prerogatives, all titles, all dignities without godliness, are vanishing shadows. Tis the new creation that rendereth the children of Abraham like the glorious stars in heaven.

It is not earthly riches that make a man honourable; we mistake in calling and counting rich men the best men in the Parish: Riches without godliness are but a gold ring in a swines snout, for which the brute is nothing the better. It is not aiery applause or worldly preferments that will make a man honourable. Titles are but like feathers in the hat, or glistering scarfes under the armes, which adde not the least worth to the man that wears them. A great letter makes no more to the sense of the word then a small one. Worship, Honour Grace, Highness, Majesty, make nothing to the real intrinsick value of any person. The ungodly Monarchs of the world are but beasts in Gods account. Antichus Epiphanes, whose name signifieth Illustrious, whom the Samaritans stiled the Mighty God, is called by the Holy Ghost, because of his ungodliness, a vile person,