The Arraignment of Covetousness and Ambition, Chapter 19
CHAP. 19.
BUt thirdly, what good can their great wealth and honour do them, if other things concur not therewith? As let a man have all felicities heaped together, which this World can afford, have he but one tooth out of tune, they can yield him no ease; yea, a smaller matter may deprive them of all, as we see in Haman who counted all his honours and riches, the Kings and Queens favours, as nothing: only for that Mordecai did not bow the knee to him, nor honour him as others did, Esther 5.11, 12, 13.
But to pass these, and other the like, a little sickness will quickly thaw all these cold and frozen comforts. Let but that day come (and come it will sooner then they look for it) and then rich Crassus cannot command health, or get himself a stomack. His Worship in all his pompe and great plenty, is forbidden to eat, when in the mean time, all his houshold are merry, and the poorest servant that he keeps, is in better case then he.
It is not the embroidered slipper that will drive away the painful Gowt: nor the golden Diadem, the cruel head-ach, nor the Diamond Ring, the angry whit-loaf, nor the long Velvet Robe: the burning Fever, yea, the prick of a thorn, or some passion of the minde: is able to deprive us of the pleasures of the whole Worlds Monarchy. What will all those goodly Titles of Majesty, and other priviledges avail them? if a guilty conscience do but chide them? Will not this make their Palaces Prisons, their gold chains golden fetters, their Crowns crosses, and all their earthly honours but burthens aud vexations? What were it to have a purple coat, and a polluted conscience? a gay gown and a sick heart: a bed of gold or Ivory; and a diseased minde: a full chefi, and an empty soul: a fair face, and foul affections: to glister in jewels, and be filthy in manners: to be in grace with men, and in disgrace with God?
Fourthly, However death will dissolve them, and all their imaginary felicities into nothing: will cut thee wholly from them, and them from thee. And then as at a game at Chess, the highest now upon Board, may presently be lowest under board: so it may fare with the greatest of them here, and the like when they go hence. For although in the Theatre of this World, like Actors upon a Stage; the King, the Lord and the Clown have differing respect: yet after the play is done; it may be that he who was the Clown, is a better man, then the King. So it is with men after death. Nor will a poor Lazarus then, change places with a Rich Dives, nor an Eliah with Ahab. Yea, then Nebuchadnezzar will wish that he had been Daniel, Haman will wish that he had been Mordecai, and Herod will wish that he had been Iohn Baptist. And therefore if men were wise indeed, and loved themselves as they think they are and do: they would not be so greedy after great places, as after grace, and Gods favour.
Nor is honour and greatness in it self a blessing; or to be desired. Advancement is not ever a sign of love, either to the man or the place. Yea, oft times instead of a blessing, it proves a judgement; both to the party, and to the people, as in the case of Saul, 1 Sam. 8.9, &c. Yea, there are no men so miserable, as those that are great and evil. For as it is the manner of God, to cast down that he may raise up; to abase that he may exalt, as in the cases of Ioseph, Daniel, and Saint Paul: so contrarily, Satan raises up, that he may throw down, and intends nothing but our dejection, in our advancement, as in the cases of Haman, Absalom, and that Rich Fool in the Gospel.
Besides, as the errours of eminent persons, are eminent errours; and the more noble the person, the more notorious the corruption: so great offenders, shall meet with great punishments. And as their fault is, according to the condition of their place; so shall the nature and proportion of their retribution be: yea, and the more enjoyments they have had, or pleasure they have lived in here; so much more shall their torment and sorrow be hereafter, Revel. 18.7.
Now these things being so, let them be but seriously considered, and then say, wherein the great gain lies, that should make men desire great places? except it be to do good, and glorifie God in them. I cannot think of any thing therein, that will make good men gainers. But lose they are sure to do; I mean of their peace and spiritual enjoyments. For in my judgement, there is nothing in the world worth envy, save or besides the condition of a true Christian, and a retired life spent in study and contemplation.
Indeed, men are apt to think it a brave thing, to be alwayes conversant with great ones: but sure I am, the priviledges can never countervail the inconveniences. Whence Henry the Eighth professed, that he knew none in his Kingdom so happy; as that Subject who never was so low, as to be a Constable, nor so high, as to be a Iustice of the Peace; and the same was King Iames his judgement. And you know what that Heathen Monarch said, Whom the whole World could not content: Were I not Alexander, I would be Diogenes. What then will a godly consciencious Christian say? For the state of grace, is Heaven upon earth: and he that knowes the sweetness of Gods presence, will deem it more tolerable to be ever alone, then never able to be so. And indeed, that soul can never enjoy God, or it self, that is not sometimes retired, which is seldome the lot of men in high places; which made Anacharsis, a Barbarian, (being led onelyonly with the love of vertue) leave the Kingdome of Scythia, to his younger brother; betaking himself to the study of wisdom, and many others: but of this I have spoken enough upon another occasion, only I will add a word touching a studious life: which many (not for want of ignorance) take to be the most melancholy life of all others, though a Scholar findes such beneficial variety of joyes & delights therein, as any other calling shall promise in vain. Yea, I dare say, this my very Work (which yet requires swetting of the brain) is more sweet to me, then most mens wages is to them, nor were the profits and places inconsiderable; that I have refused, the better to enjoy my self and Books. The which I tell you, to draw on others to taste of this Manna, who hitherto (like so many blinde Moles) have placed all their felicity & delight, to dig in the earth, & are so eager to get, and heap up silver, that they have no leasure to think of their souls: whom I the most pity, of any men alive.