CHAP. XXXII.
EAsie it is for vs to percol••e how the godd••s deal•• more ••auour••∣bly with some for the merits and deserts of their fat••••r••, and pre∣decessors, and with other some for the towardnesse that shall be in their children, and childrens children•• and in those that here∣after shall descend from their post••ritie. For they know the suc∣cessiue order of their workes, and they hau•• an infallible science of all those things which are to passe thorow their hands, although they are f••rre remo•••• from our knowledge and vnderstanding.* 1.1 The things that we suppose to be ca∣suall and sudden, are foreseene and familiar to them. Le•• these be Kings (s••y they) because their ancestors haue not beene, but imagined it to be a true King∣dome, to be iust and abstinent. And because they haue not vsed the common-weale for their profits, but dedicated their persons to the seruice and increase thereof. Let these men raigne because some good man was their great grand∣father, whose mind was greater then his fortune, who in ciuill discentions chose rather to be vanquished, then to vanquish; because it stood with the profit of the Common-wealth. His goodnesse could not be requited all this whil•••• In respect of that man, let this man haue pr••h••minence ouer others, no•• because ••e is of knowledge and ability how to vse it, but because the other hath deserued ••t for him: for peraduenture this man is in body mis••apen, in count••••ance lo••th∣som, and will be a slander to the place and persons of his aduancement. * 1.2 Now will men finde fault with me, and say, that I am blinde, and rash, and ignorant where to bestow the things that are due to the chiefest and excellentest persons. But I know that the giuing of this thing to the one, is a satisfaction of it to the o∣ther, to whom it was due long since. Whereby doe they knowe such a certaine man, who was such a contemner of glorie, when it followed him, that he a••∣uentured vpon perill with the same countenance that others escape it, and th••t neuer made difference betwixt his owne profite and the profite of the Com∣mon-wealth? Where is this man? who is he? how know you him? Th••se ••••••∣konings of such receipts and payments are striken out of my bookes•• I know what and to whom I owe. To some I make payment after long time, to other some I giue aforehand, or else I deale with them according as occasion and the vtility of my common-wealth requireth.