ctions of their Miniftry; which is, to Govern those that are under them with Juftice and Piety; and GOD will demand a fevere Account from them of the Use they have made of this Advantage.

IÍ.

IN the State of Innocence if there had been an Inequality among Men, this Greatness wou'd have been a moft Eafy Mean for acquiring Sanctity; for Man having then an abfolute Empire over himself, would readily have made a good Ufe of it, by Employing that, as he would have done Health, Riches, Beauty, and the other Advantages of Nature, folely to the End for which it was given him.

III.

BUT after the Fall of Man, tho Greatness is not become Evil in it self, it is yet become a Snare almost inevitable; because it leads to Pride, which is what JESUS CHRIST chiefly came to Combat.

IV.

A true Chriftian ought to be fincerely afflicted and profoundly humbled, when he sees himself Great and Honourable in the World, because the Grace of JESUS CHRIST, the Reftorer of our Natures, commonly feeks those who are meanest and most contempti ble in the Eyes of the World; and he fhould fear that GOD may have made him a Prince or a Great Man in his Indignation and the Severity of his 1 Cor. 1. Juftice: For ye fee your Calling, Brethren 26. (faith St. Paul) how that not many Mighty, not many Noble are called; But GOD hath chofen the weak things of the World, to confound the things which are Mighty: and things which are defpifed hath GOD chofen, yea and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are, flefh fhould glory in his Prefence.

V.

that no

I

THE Obftacles to the Practice of the Gospel which attend Greatness, are almoft Infinite: But of these there are four Principal ones.

B 3

The

The Gospel recommends nothing so much as Humility; but Greatness dif poses to Pride.

The Gospel requires a continual Penitence; but this State is full of Softness and Delicacy.

The Gofpel teaches us that it is abfolutely neceffary to love our Neighbour, to be compaffionate of his Sufferings and to apply our felyes to his Relief; but Greatness is apt to give us a Contempt of our Neighbour, an Infenfibility or Unconcernedness for his Condition.

The Gofpel and the whole Scriptures teach and reprefent to us Sinful Man, condemn'd to Labour and Sufferings; but this State incites a Man to nothing but Pleafure, Idleness and Sloth,

VI.

A Great Man then feeing him felf environ'd with fo many Obftacles to his Salvation, inftead of being perfwaded that he is happier than other Men, ought firmly to believe that he is more miferable; and to implore the Mercy of GOD to grant him that Grace, which expels the Poyfon of Greatness, and is able to vanquish all its Malignity.

He

He should be fenfible how very rare that Grace is, feeing there have been such vaft Numbers of Saints, and yet so few Princes or Great Perfons among them.

He should all his Life love those who would tell him the Truths of which we have been speaking; and should avoid and dread as Death, thofe who would fortify his Defects by their Flatteries.

He fhould employ his Greatnefs to make the Greatness of GOD be honour'd every where; First, in himself, Secondly, in his Family; Thirdly, in his Lands ; and in fine through all his Government; and how Pious foever he may be otherwise, he may be affured that if he omits any one of thefe Duties, he is wanting to his Vocation.

It is not then fufficient for the Salvation of a Great Man, that he do fuch things as are common, and commanded to Private Perfons; and it is very poffible that having been a most Devout Private Man, he may yet be damn'd for not having perform'd the Duties of his Station; fo that his Condition renders Salvation difficult, not only by the Obstacles which it brings with it, but also by the innumerable Obligations which he has to acquit himself

Wild.6.1.

of, and by the Nature of the things he is to undertake; which are almost all of them Great, and require an invincible Fortitude; as every where to oppofe Injustice, Violence, and Oppreffion. Hence it is, that a Private Perfon may be faved with an Ordinary Virtue, and that a Great Man cannot without an Heroick Virtue.

VII.

THIS difference is pointed at by Solomon in the Sentence he pronounces against the Great, who have not made use of their Power for the protetion of Juftice. Hear therefore, O ye Kings, learn ye that be Judges of the ends of the Earth. Give Ear you that rule the People, and glory in the multitude of Nations. For Power is given you of the LORD, and Sovereignty of the Higheft, who shall try your Works and Search out your Counfels. Becaufe being Minifters of his Kingdom, you have not judged aright, nor kept the Law, nor walk'd after the Counsel of GOD. Horribly and Speedily ball he come upon you: for a Sharp Fudgment shall be to them that are in High Places. For Mercy will foon par

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