I do not say that wicked men shall commend you for godliness; no, their good word were a blot to your names. What evil have I done, said the Philosopher, that this vicious wretch speaketh well of me? Yet godliness will make you like statues of Gold, which the polluted breath of ungodly ones cannot stain; the more the dirty feet of men rub on a figure graven in brass, the more lustre they give it: But God and godly men will honour you for holiness. What doth God say of a living Saint? Hast thou not considered my servant Job? i. e. I am sure in thy travels ⟨p. 33⟩and wanderings about the world, thou couldst not choose but take notice of Job; he is my jewel, my darling,1 a special man among all the sons of men: He is such a spectacle, as may justly draw all eyes, and hearts after him: When thou walkedst to and fro, didst thou not make a stand at Job's door? I cannot but look upon him my self, and consider him; therefore surely thou hast considered him. And how honourably doth God speak, not only of a godly Magistrate living, but when he is dead also?f Moses my servant is dead. gThe seed of Abraham my friend. So godly men will honour you if ye fear God: When your eyes are shut, mens mouths will be open: And what will good men say of a pious judge? There was a Judge that would not swerve a tittle from the Law, but executed it courageously, without fear, impartially without favour; who made the Malefactor to tremble with his frowns, and cheered the innocent with his smiles: He was one that did justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with his God; of whom the world was not worthy, for he is now enjoying a weight of glory. And of a good Justice when dead; what a character will good men living give? There was a Justice that would secure his conscience, whatever became of his credit; that would please God, how much soever he displeased men; that was not only strict to punish, but active to find out swearers, drunkards, and Sabbath breakers:4 He was one that ever counted the toleration of men in such sins, an intolerable sin: Or if you will have it in the language of a learned Divine now in Heaven; He was a Justice that would scatter drunkards from their Ale-bench, and never understood the language of a Bottle or a Basket. O how gallantly, if ye act nobly for God, will these trumpets sound your praises when ye are in the place of silence.
I do not say that wicked men shall commend you for godlinesse; no, their good word were a blot to your names. What evill have I done, said the Philosopher, that this vicious wretch speaketh well of me? Yet godlinesse will make you like statues of Gold, which the polluted breath of ungodly ones cannot stain; the more the dirty feet of men rub on a figure graven in brasse, the more lustre they give it: But God and godly men will honour you for holinesse. What doth God say of a living Saint? Hast thou not considered my servant Job? i. e. I am sure in thy travels ⟨p. 33⟩and wandrings about the world, thou couldst not choose but take notice of Job; he is my jewel, my darling,1 a special man among all the sons of men: He is such a spectacle, as may justly draw all eyes, and hearts after him: When thou walkedst to and fro, didst thou not make a stand at Job's door? I cannot but look upon him my self, and consider him; therefore surely thou hast considered him. And how honourably doth God speak, not only of a godly Magistrate living, but when he is dead also?f Moses my servant is dead. gThe seed of Abraham my friend. So godly men will honour you if ye fear God: When your eyes are shut, mens mouthes will be open: And what will good men say of a pious judge? There was a Judge that would not swerve a tittle from the Law, but executed it couragiously, without fear, impartially without favour; who made the Malefactor to tremble with his frowns, and cheered the innocent with his smiles: He was one that did justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with his God; of whom the world was not worthy, for he is now enjoying a weight of glory. And of a good Justice when dead; what a character will good men living give? There was a Justice that would secure his conscience, whatever became of his credit; that would please God, how much soever he displeased men; that was not only strict to punish, but active to find out swearers, drunkards, and Sabbath breakers:4 He was one that ever counted the toleration of men in such sins, an intolerable sin: Or if you will have it in the language of a learned Divine now in Heaven; He was a Justice that would scatter drunkards from their Ale-bench, and never understood the language of a Bottle or a Basket. O how gallantly, if ye act nobly for God, will these trumpets sound your praises when ye are in the place of silence.
- 1Job was a godly magistrate. Godliness doth truly ennoble a person, the four Monarchs without it are resembled to four beasts, King Herod to a fox, Nero to a lion, the Princes of Israel to the kine of Bashan Nam genus & proavos & quae non fecimus ipsi, Vix ea nostra voc•. Ovid.Job was a godly magistrate. Godlinesse doth truly ennoble a person, the four Monarchs without it are resembled to four beasts, King Herod to a fox, Nero to a lyon, the Princes of Israel to the kine of Bashan Nam genus & proavos & quae non fecimus ipsi, Vix ea nostra voc•. Ovid.
- fJosh. 1.2.
- gIsa. 41.8.
- 4Pious Master Vines at Essex Fu. p. 15.
