The bodies of men do not sooner take infection then their souls. If the great trees fall, they usually brush and beat down smaller ones with them. When two or three men of renown, famous in the Congregation, begin a mutiny against God they shall not want company to join with them, Numb. 16. If the Princes of the people be guilty of Rebellion, how soon is the whole Congregation in the same transgression? Numb. 13.28, 29. Numb. 14. init. When a disease hath once taken the head, how often doth it thence diffuse it self into other parts of the body? When Charles the fifth went into Italy to be Crowned Emperor,1 being troubled with the Headache, he cut his hair short, the great Courtiers followed his example; so as long hair so much in fashion before, grew quite out of fashion in his time.2 Strabo. Alexander used to carry his head on one side, whereupon ⟨p. 243⟩his Courtiers to imitate him did the like. Before Vespasians time the Romans were grown to great excess in clothes and furniture for their houses; and though many laws were made against it, they could not be restrained: but when he came to the Crown, being a temperate and moderate Prince, all their former vanity grew out of use. So true is that saying of King Alphonsus, That as certain flowers move after the Sun, so the people follow the manners of their Princes: And certain it is, that the common sort, like a flock of sheep, which way the first goeth, all the rest follows. The actions of Rulers are often the rulers of the peoples actions. The vulgar are like soft wax, taking any and easy impression from the seals of great men. When men of quality swear, roar, deride Religion, dwell without God in their houses, &c. how quickly do their neighbours take after them, and justify their practices by such patterns, thinking they sin cum privilegio, if they sin cum Principe! But now, if a great man walk with God, condemn and reprove sin by his works as well as by words, (being as the chief Magistrate of Israel was, mighty in word and deed, Act. 7.22) if he pray with his family, keep the Lords day strictly, work out his salvation diligently, how prevalent will such an example be to the inferior people! surely as when the Mountains overflow with water, the valleys are much the better; so when these Mountains (as Rulers are called, Micah 6.7) overflow with the water of grace, the plains will abound the more in fruit.
The bodies of men do not sooner take infection then their souls. If the great trees fall, they usually brush and beat down smaller ones with them. When two or three men of renown, famous in the Congregation, begin a mutiny against God they shall not want company to joyn with them, Numb. 16. If the Princes of the people be guilty of Rebellion, how soon is the whole Congregation in the same transgression? Numb. 13.28, 29. Numb. 14. init. When a disease hath once taken the head, how often doth it thence diffuse it self into other parts of the body? When Charles the fifth went into Italy to be Crowned Emperour,1 being troubled with the Headach, he cut his hair short, the great Courtiers followed his example; so as long hair so much in fashion before, grew quite out of fashion in his time.2 Strabo. Alexander used to carry his head on one side, whereupon ⟨p. 243⟩his Courtiers to imitate him did the like. Before Vespasians time the Romans were grown to great excess in cloaths and furniture for their houses; and though many laws were made against it, they could not be restrained: but when he came to the Crown, being a temperate and moderate Prince, all their former vanity grew out of use. So true is that saying of King Alphonsus, That as certain flowers move after the Sun, so the people follow the manners of their Princes: And certain it is, that the common sort, like a flock of sheep, which way the first goeth, all the rest follows. The actions of Rulers are often the rulers of the peoples actions. The vulgar are like soft wax, taking any and easie impression from the seals of great men. When men of quality swear, roar, deride Religion, dwell without God in their houses, &c. how quickly do their neighbours take after them, and justifie their practices by such patterns, thinking they sin cum privilegio, if they sin cum Principe! But now, if a great man walk with God, condemn and reprove sin by his works as well as by words, (being as the chief Magistrate of Israel was, mighty in word and deed, Act. 7.22) if he pray with his family, keep the Lords day strictly, work out his salvation diligently, how prevalent will such an example be to the inferiour people! surely as when the Mountains overflow with water, the valleys are much the better; so when these Mountains (as Rulers are called,
- 1The whole Army of soldiers will follow their Leader.The whole Army of souldiers will follow their Leader.
- 2Hisy Exem.
