The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. What is the cause of the great overflow of Vice in this age.
IF wee would consider from whence it is that this great disorder and corruption of manners doth arise, we should finde especially that it is because the world every day groweth worse and worse, according to the saying of our Saviour and Redeemer (Christ Iesus the Sonne of God) That in the latter dayes (which are these wherein we live) Iniquity shall be increased. And herein wee shall perceive even the just vengeance of God to light upon the malice and unthankfulnesse of men, to whom when hee would draw neere, to doe good unto by offering them the cleere light of his favour, the more they strive to alienate and keep themselves aloofe from him, and are so farre from being bettered thereby, that they shew themselves a great deale more malitious and obstinate than ever they did before: not unlike to those who by nature being bleare eyed, and tender sighted, are rather dazled and dimmed by the Sunne beames, than any wayes enlightened: so men in stead of growing better, grow worse, and every adde some increase to their wickednesse: to whom also many great men give elbow-roome and permission to sinne, whilest justice slumbreth, and the not punishing of misdeeds giveth them liberty and boldnesse to commit their wickednesse: so that some of these mighty ones shew themselves but little better than the other. A mischiefe to be lamented above the rest, drawing after it an horrible overflow of all evils, and like a violent streame spoyling every where as it goeth: when as they that ought to governe the sterne of the Commonwealth, let all goe at randome, suffering themselves to be rocked asleep with the false and deceitfull lullaby of effeminate pleasures and delights of the flesh; or at least letting themselves be carried headlong by the tempest of their owne strong and furious passions, into imminent danger and shipwrackes: when as their carefull watch fulnesse and modesty, accompanied with the traine of other good and commendable vertues, ought to serve them for saliscables, ankers, masts, and skuttles, whereby to governe and direct the Vessell whose steersman they are appointed, and those that are their charge, to whom they ought to give a good example of life, and to bee unto them as it were a glasse of vertue: for they are set aloft, as it were upon a stage, to bee gazed at of every commer. Their faults and vices are like foule spots and scars in the face, which cannot by any means bee hid. And therefore they ought to be carefull to lead an honest and vertuous life, that thereby they might perswade and move the meaner sort of people to doe the like: For it is a true saying of the Philosopher, Like Prince, like People; insomuch that every one desireth to frame himselfe according to the humour of his superiour, whose will and manners serve simply for a law to do evill: to the which men use by taking any occasion too hastily to give themselves over with too much liberty: whereupon followeth an unrecoverable ruine, no lesse than the fall of a great house, which for want of pillars and supporters that should uphold it, suddenly falleth to the ground; so this ship being deprived of her governour, is set loose and layd open to the mercy of the waves, violence of windes, and rage of tempests, without any direction and government: and so the body of man, not having any more the light of his owne eyes, abideth in darknesse all blinded, not able to do any thing that is right and good, but ready every minute to fall into some pit. And this is the perversity and corruption of this world.