A62049:278
Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy, and the duty of the magistrate…
Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy, and the duty of the magistrate as it was presented in a sermon at the assize holden at Hertford for that county on August 2, 1653 / by George Swinnocke ...
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1660
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.
Ye that are Divine in name, have human mortal natures; and as ye are Shields of the earth, so ye are earthen Shields. What is said of the Duke of Parma's Sword, is true of Death; it maketh no difference between Robes and Rags, between Prince and Peasant: It is the way of all the Earth, Josh. 25.14. The great Road in which all Travel, and the end of all the living, Job 30.23. The great Inn to which all travel. There is no man, saith Solomon, that hath power of his Spirit, to retain it, neither hath he power in the day of death; there is no discharge in that war, Eccles. 8.8.
Ye that are Divine in name, have human mortal natures; and as ye are Shields of the earth, so ye are earthen Shields. What is said of the Duke of Parma's Sword, is true of Death; it maketh no difference between Robes and Rags, between Prince and Peasant: It is the way of all the Earth, Josh. 25.14. The great Road in which all Travell, and the end of all the living, Job 30.23. The great Inn to which all travell. There is no man, saith Solomon, that hath power of his Spirit, to retain it, neither hath he power in the day of death; there is no discharge in that war, Eccles. 8.8.
It is storied of Alexander, 1that having heard of Paradise, he was very eager of seeking it out, and for that end came into the East part of the Earth; where an old man meeting some of his Soldiers, bad them tell Alexander that he sought Paradise in vain; For the way to Paradise was the way of Humility which he did not take: but saith he, Take this stone and carry it to Alexander, and tell him that from this stone he shall know what he is. Now the stone was a precious stone, and of such a quality, that whatsoever thing was weighed with it, that was still the heavier; only if it were covered with dust, then it was as light as straw; thereby signifying that though Alexander, and men in Authority out-weigh others in life, yet when they are covered with dust, when death cometh, they are as light as others; all their greatness cometh to nothing. O how little Earth containeth Great Men when they die, who will not be contented with much while they live!