The Sacred Diary, Section 23
SECT. XXIII. Conſiderations for thoſe that have the Preeminence above others in the Body Politique.
THat Man hath no ſmall Buſineſs, who hath many under his charge. It is an high point of Honour to be Head and Lord over others, it is alſo a high point of Service. Here it may not be impertinent to ſet down the words of a Grave Divine, and Devout Spaniard to his great Lord, Avila's ſpirit Ep. 15. p. 130.which are theſe: Look (ſaith he) upon the Lord of Men and Angels, whoſe Perſon you repreſent. It is but reaſon that he that ſits in the place of another, ſhould have the Properties of him whoſe place he repreſents. A Lord of Vaſſals, is a Lieutenant of God. There is nothing to which great Lords ought to attend ſo much, as truly and cordially, (and like Men who live in the Preſence of God) to remain ever faithful and firm to him, without enclining either this way, or that. And this will be eaſily performed by that great Man, who ſhall attentively conſider, that he is but the Miniſter of God, as one who but meerly executes, and muſt not exceed the Commiſſion which is given to him. God placeth not great Lords in the World, to the end that they may do and undo what they liſt; but to execute the Laws of his holy Will. And though they may account themſelves Lords, yet are they ſtill under the Univerſal Lord of all, in compariſion of whom they are more truly Vaſſals, then their Vaſſals are theirs: And their Power is as truly limited as their Vaſſals power is, for as much as concerns the diſpenſing with what he ought to do.
Your Lordſhip muſt conſider, Ibid. pag. 131.that as you are ſet as an Eye in the Body, ſo hath he placed you in the Eyes of many, who take that to be a Rule of their Lives which they ſee you do, make account that you are ſeated in an high Place, and that your Speech and Faſhions are ſeen by all, and followed by the moſt Men. Take it for a point of Greatneſs, to obey the Laws of Chriſt our Lord; doubtleſs inferiour Men would hold it an Honour to do that, which they ſaw practiſed by great Perſons, &c. I beſeech your Lordſhip, that as you are a particular Man, you will look into your ſelf with an hundred Eyes; and that you will look into your ſelf with an hundred thouſand Eyes, as you are a Perſon upon whom many look, and whom many follow. And take care, to govern both your Perſon and your Houſe ſo orderly, as the Law of Chriſt requireth, that he who ſhall imitate your Lordſhip, may alſo imitate Chriſt our Lord therein, and may meet with nothing to ſtumble at. The Vulgar is without doubt but a kind of Ape. Let great Men conſider what they do, for in fine, that will be followed, either to their Salvation, if they give good Example; or for their Condemnation, if it be evil.
I will add one thing more, namely, the Speech of Sarpedon, to his Brother Glaueus, which is worthy to be obſerved by all Great Men. Come on Brother, we are Lords over others, accounted Gods upon Earth; let us ſhew that we are ſo in Deed, and not in Name. Our Work muſt evidence our Worth. They who are the higheſt Lords, muſt in point of good Service to their Country, be the loweſt Servants. They that are above others in Place, muſt ſhine before others in Vertue: They that eat of the fatteſt, and drink of the ſweeteſt, and ſo have the beſt Wages, muſt by the Rule of Proportion, do the beſt Work. And the rather, that our Underlings (ſuch who are inferiour unto us) may have cauſe to ſay; Theſe are honourable Perſons, and they walk Honourably; they are prime and principal Men among us; and they are (as their Preeminence in place imports.) the firſt and formeſt in every good and honourable Action. So Sarpedon encourageth his Brother, That as two worthy Perſons, they might do worthily; which is worthy every Man's knowledg that hath Preeminence above others.