This disease is almost Epidemical.* Some are not content with their callings which God hath set them in; they must be a step higher, from the Shop to the Pulpit*; they would be in the Temple of Honour, before they are in the Temple of Virtue; who step into Moses ⟨p. 53⟩chair, without Aaron's Bells and Pomegranates; like Apes, which do most show their deformity when they are climbing. Is it not enough that God hath bestowed gifts upon men, in private to edify, that he hath enriched them with many mercies; but, seek they the Priest-hood also*? What is this but discontent arising from high-flown pride? These do secretly tax the Wisdom of God, that he hath not screwed them up in their condition a peg higher. Tentat Superbia, 4ut frangat. Every man is complaining that his estate is no better, though he seldom complains that his heart is no better. Suae quemque conditionis poenitet: one man commends this kind of life, another commends that*; one man thinks a Country-life best, another a City-life, as the Poet elegantly expresseth it.
This disease is almost Epidemical.* Some are not content with their callings which God hath set them in; they must be a step higher, from the Shop to the Pulpit*; they would be in the Temple of Honour, before they are in the Temple of Vertue; who step into Moses ⟨p. 53⟩chaire, without Aaron's Bells and Pomegranates; like Apes, which do most shew their deformitie when they are climbing. Is it not enough that God hath bestowed gifts upon men, in private to edifie, that he hath enriched them with many mercies; but, seek they the Priest-hood also*? What is this but discontent arising from high-flown pride? These do secretly taxe the Wisdome of God, that hee hath not screwed them up in their condition a peg higher. Tentat Superbia, 4ut frangat. Every man is complaining that his estate is no better, though hee seldome complains that his heart is no better. Suae quemque conditionis poenitet: one man commends this kind of life, another commends that*; one man thinks a Country-life best, another a City-life, as the Poet elegantly expresseth it.
- *Quis est tom compositae foelicitatis, ut non •••qua ex parte cum sta••• sui qualitate rix•tur? Boëtius de Consol. Philos. lib. 2.
- *Num. 12. 2.
- *Numb. 16. 9.
- 4Aug.
- *Hic utraque circumflum vitam coelibem deflet, ille nup•iis foelix, orbus liberis alieno censum nutrit haeredi, alius prolc laetatus, filii delictis moestus illachrymat. Boëtius.
