A view of the threats and punishments recorded in the Scriptures, alphabetically composed with some briefe observations upon severall texts / by Zachary Bogan ...

Ambition.

1. The ill effects, and punishments of it mentioned in Scripture are 1. Ejection out of heaven. The Angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, her hath reserved in everlasting chaines under darknesse unto the Judgement of the great day, Jude. 6.

2 Ejection out of Paradise, as in Adam and Eue: for doubtlesse; ambition had a great stroke in making them hearken to those words of the Serpent, (wherewith their hearts were presently tickled being left to themselves) God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall bee opened, and you shall be as Gods, Gen. 3. 5.

3 Miscarriage in designes; as in the buil∣ders of Babel, whose ambition may be seen in their words, Let us build us a Citty and a Tower whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name lest we be scattered* 1.1 abroad upon the face of the whole earth, Gen. 11. 4. and likewise in Adoniah who exalted himselfe to be King against his brother So∣lomon, 1. King. 1. 5. see his successe verse. 50. and his end, c. 2. 25. for Solomon caused him to be put to death,

4 Abasement. He that exalteth him∣selfe shall be abased, and he that humbleth

himselfe shall be exalted, Luk. 14. 11. To be ambitious, and to exalt one's selfe, when God doth not exalt him, is as if a man being in∣vited to a feast, should take up his place himselfe at the higher end of the table; and you know what our Saviour saies of such a one, that he may with shame begin to take the lowest roome, Luk. 14. 9. Let ambitious men take notice of what the Prophet Habakuk saies, Woe to him that co∣veteth an evill covetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be de∣livered from the power of evill, Hab. 2. 9.

Adde hereunto, if not the punishments, the sad effects of ambition 1. Ʋnbeliefe, in those that have not believed. How can ye be∣lieve which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God alone Joh. 5. 44 which receive honour &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beza renders, cum cap∣tetis, which catch after honour.* 1.2 To shew their ambition; for else it had been no fault in them, only to receive honour, as it had been no dishonour to Christ, onely to re∣ceive his restimonie from men, vers. 34. and therefore Beza in that place also renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, testimonium non capto, not, I receive not, but, I doe not catch after, or affect the testimony of men. Doubtlesse Christ did not so much forbid the Jews to

be called Rabbi, as to be ambitious to bee called so, Mat, 23. 8. as sitting uppermost at feasts was not the thing which he disliked, but their desire, or ambition to sit upper∣most, V. 6.

2 Being ashamed of Christ in those that have beleived. Among the chiefe Rulers also many believed on him, but because of the Pha∣risees they did not confesse him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue: for they loved the praise of men, more then the praise of God▪ Joh. 12. 42. 43. or at least, Being disobedient to his doctrine. I wrote unto the Church, but Di∣otrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. John ep. 3. 9. Be the more carefull to avoid this sin, by how much there seems the lesse reason: for as it had no name among some of the Hea∣then, so among many Christians, it has not the name of a sin: but on the contrary is oftentimes commended under the name of * 1.3〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 gallantrya 1.4; and the vertue oppo∣sed to it, usually disparag'd by the name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 basenesse of spirit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For God had com∣manded them to be gone from that place where they were then saith Jo∣••phus.
• * 1.2

  Ego cap∣tandi voca∣bulo uti malo ubi do studio & conatu agi∣tur.
• * 1.3

  Arist. Eth. l. 5 c. 4.
• a 1.4

  Or neat∣nesse.