Use 2 Secondly, observe we hence how cross and averse the corrupt heart of man is naturally to all goodness and godliness; that,1 though a Crown, a Kingdom, an incorruptible Crown, an everlasting Kingdom be propounded to this Righteousness, and annexed unto it, yet will rather lose this Crown, rather leave and forgo this Kingdom, than condescend to accept of it upon such a condition;p will not be constrained to live happily, and to reign everlastingly, unless he may do so upon some other terms; will choose rather not to reign, than to be righteous. If this Crown indeed might be compassed by fraud and deceit, or by oppression and extortion; not a few would be sure to have a share in it, that are now never like to have any interest therein. Or if it might be held with looseness and lewdness of life, we should not need much Rhetoric to persuade many to accept of it. It isq one main end, for which many men desire authority and greatness, that they may thereby gain liberty to live and do as they list;r and without which they esteem power and authority nought worth. Whens John the Baptist preached the Gospel of this Kingdom, tHerod would willingly have had it, if he might have held his Herodias, ⟨p. 42⟩his Harlot with it. Whenu our Saviour Christ published it,x the Pharisees would fain have had it, if with theiry pride,z covetousness, anda hypocrisy, it might have been had and held; or if suchb a specious show of Righteousness would have served the turn for it, as they dazzled the eyes of the simpler sort with. But when thisc Righteousness of God, this strictness of life, cometh to be propounded together with it, and to be exacted of all those that will have any share in it; nowd Herod flieth off, and will none of it,e the Pharisees keep aloof off, and reject it; and every natural mans perverse heart thinketh it held at too high a rate,f if without change of his corrupt course of life it cannot be compassed.
Vse 2 Secondly, observe wee hence how crosse and averse the corrupt heart of man is naturally to all goodnesse and godlinesse; that,1 though a Crowne, a Kingdome, an incorruptible Crowne, an everlasting Kingdome bee propounded to this Righteousnesse, and annexed unto it, yet will rather lose this Crowne, rather leave and forgoe this Kingdome, than condescend to accept of it upon such a condition;p will not be constrained to live happily, and to reigne everlastingly, unlesse he may doe so upon some other termes; will choose rather not to reigne, than to bee righteous. If this Crowne indeed might be compassed by fraud and deceit, or by oppression and extortion; not a few would be sure to have a share in it, that are now never like to have any interest therein. Or if it might be held with loosnesse and lewdnesse of life, wee should not need much Rhetoricke to perswade many to accept of it. It isq one maine end, for which many men desire authoritity and greatnesse, that they may thereby gaine libertie to live and doe as they list;r and without which they esteeme power and authority nought worth. Whens Iohn the Baptist preached the Gospell of this Kingdome, tHerod would willingly have had it, if hee might have held his Herodias, ⟨p. 42⟩his Harlot with it. Whenu our Saviour Christ published it,x the Pharisies would faine have had it, if with theiry pride,z covetousnesse, anda hypocrisie, it might have beene had and held; or if suchb
- 1Eviction.
- pAt Paris ut vivat regnet que beatus, Cogi posse negat, Horat. epist. 2.
- q[Greek or Hebrew], Plut. ad praefect. indoct. Peccandi libidine potentiae suae magnitudinem metiuntur, Vell hist. l. 2. Idque esse regni maximum pignus putant, Si quicquid aliis non licet, solis licet, Sen. Agam. 2. 2. Impune quidlibet facere, id esse Regem esse, Salust. Jug. Hoc principatus praemium putant, Tacit hist. 1.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Plut. ad praefect. indoct. Peccandi libidine potentiae suae magnitudinem metiuntur, Vell hist. l. 2. Idque esse regni maximum pignus putant, Si quicquid aliis non licet, solis licet, Sen. Agam. 2. 2. Impune quidlibet facere, id esse Regem esse, Salust. Iug. Hoc principatus praemium putant, Tacit hist. 1.
- rSceptrorum vis tota perit, si pendere justa Incipit. —Lucan. l. 8. Ubicunque tantum honesta dominanti licent, Precario regnatur. — Atreus, Sen. Thiest. 1.2.Sceptrorum vis tota perit, si pendere justa Incipit. —Lucan. l. 8. Vbicunque tantum honesta dominanti licent, Precario regnatur. — Atreus, Sen. Thyest. 1.2.
- sMatth. 3.1, 2.
- tMark 6.20.Marke 6.20.
- uMatth. 4.23. Mark 1.14.Matth. 4.23. Marke 1.14.
- xJoh. 12.42, 43, & 3.1
