`TIS a lovely Conjunction when Goodness and Greatness meet together: Persons of Estate and Respect in the world, have more temptations and hinderances than ⟨image 3⟩others, but greater obligations to own God; the great Landlord of the world expecteth a Rent from every Country-Cottage, but a large Revenue from great Houses: Now usually it falleth out so, that athey that hold the greatest Farms pay the least Rent; never is the Lord more neglected and dishonoured then in great mens Houses, in the very face of all his bounty; if Religion chance to get in there, it is soon worn out again; though vices live long in a family, and run in a blood from father to son, yet 'tis a rare case to see strictness of Religion carried on for three or four descents; 'twas the honour of Abraham's house, that from Father to Son for a long while, they were Heirs of the same Promise, Heb. 11. 9, but where is there such a succession to be found in the houses of our Gentry? ⟨image 3⟩The Father perchance professeth godliness (for [Greek or Hebrew], saith the Apostle,2 not many noble, &c. there are a few, he doth not say there are none) and a carnal son cometh and turneth all out of doors, as if he were ashamed of his Fathers God: The Causes of this mischief may be supposed to be these. 1. Plenty ill-governed disposeth to vice and sin, as a rank soil is apt to breed weeds. 2. Brave Spirits (as the world counteth them) think cstrictness inglorious, and the power of Religion a base thing, that taketh off from their Grandeur and Esteem: a loose owning of Christianity is honourable, since the Kings of the earth have counted it one of the fairest flowers of their Crowns to be styled the Catholic King, the most Christian King, the Defender of the Faith, &c. But a true submission ⟨image 4⟩to the power of it is made a scorn, as being contrary to that liberty of fashions, vanity of complement, and some Gentile customs, which in a fond compliance with the humour of the age they are loth to part with; 'twere a rude zeal to deny them honest civilities, but certain Customs and Modes there are inconsistent with the severity of Religion, which rather then men will part with, they will even break with God himself. 3. The Marriage of children into carnal families, wherein they consult rather with the greatness of their House then the continuing of Christs interest in their line and Posterity;
`TIS a lovely Conjunction when Goodness and Greatness meet together: Persons of Estate and Respect in the world, have more temptations and hinderances than ⟨image 3⟩others, but greater obligations to own God; the great Landlord of the world expecteth a Rent from every Country-Cottage, but a large Revenue from great Houses: Now usually it falleth out so, that athey that hold the greatest Farms pay the least Rent; never is the Lord more neglected and dishonoured then in great mens Houses, in the very face of all his bounty; if Religion chance to get in there, it is soon worn out again; though vices live long in a family, and run in a blood from father to son, yet 'tis a rare case to see strictness of Religion carryed on for three or four descents; 'twas the honour of Abrahams house, that from Father to Son for a long while, they were Heirs of the same Promise, Heb. 11. 9, but where is there such a succession to be found in the houses of our Gentry? ⟨image 3⟩The Father perchance professeth godliness (for 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, saith the Apostle,2 not many noble, &c. there are a few, he doth not say there are none) and a carnal son cometh and turneth all out of doors, as if he were ashamed of his Fathers God: The Causes of this mischief may be supposed to be these. 1. Plenty ill-governed disposeth to vice and sin, as a rank soil is apt to breed weeds. 2. Brave Spirits (as the world counteth them) think cstrictness inglorious, and the power of Religion a base thing, that taketh off from their Grandure and Esteem: a loose owning of Christianity is honourable, since the Kings of the earth have counted it one of the fairest flowers of their Crowns to be stiled the Catholick King, the most Christian King, the Defender of the Faith, &c. But a true submission ⟨image 4⟩to the power of it is made a scorn, as being contrary to that liberty of fashions, vanity of complement, and some Gentile customes, which in a fond compliance with the humour of the age they are loth to part with; 'twere a rude zeal to deny them honest civilities, but certain Customes and Modes there are inconsistent with the severity of Religion, which rather then men will part with, they will even break with God himself. 3. The Marriage of children into carnal families, wherein they consult rather with the greatness of their House then the continuing of Christs interest in their line and Posterity;
- aQui majores terras possident, minores census solvent, Parisiensis.Qui majores terras possident, minores census solv•nt, Parisiensis.
- 2b 1 Cor. 1. 26.
- cCoguntur esse mali ne viles habeantur. Salvian.
