CHAP. XXIV.

I. IT is a point of Glory, beyond ex∣pression, when a man shall be able to say, I am the Son that never disputed his Fa∣thers command; but whether it were easie or hard, submitted to it with Chearfulness and Re∣verence: I am the man that never fail'd in his duty to his Country, to his Brethren and Relati∣ons; but made it the business of his Life to ob∣lige and serve them. These we call Offices of Piety, where a mans Country, Parents and Kindred are in the concern. And what is Piety in this case, we call Obser∣vance and Respect in others; that is to say, in what relates to our Superiours, in Ho∣nour, Wisdom, Age, Religion, Holiness; as Princes, Prelates, Tutors, and the like, to whom we render all sorts of Reverence; whether by Rising, uncovering the Head, giving the Way, Alighting, Kneeling, Kissing the Hand or Robe, according to the usage Page  136 and custom of the place. Now the higher esteem we have of them, the greater will be our Reverence; for it strikes us in an aw, and keeps us at such a distance, as ma∣nifests the sense we have of the dispropor∣tion betwixt us. All Power is from God; and what respect soever we render to our Superiours, it falls very much short of what we owe them, if we consider that we Re∣verence God in them.

II. As by the Disobedience of our first Pa∣rents, Misery came into the World; so by the Obedience of the Son of God, are we reduced into a capacity of Happiness, if we will but be obedient our selves. Obedience is the perfection of all things, and the firmest Connexion of them with their Ori∣ginal; passing by a most admirable Circu∣lation from God, unto God. Our Saviour gave it a preference, above all other Ver∣tues, and parted with his own life to pre∣serve it. It is a kind of Immolation of the Will, which is said to be better than Sacri∣fice. When my Superiour, or the Law commands me, I am not to reason the mat∣ter, and dispute it, or desire to be excused; but candidly, and without delay, to submit, and to do what I am bidden, with an equal readiness and alacrity, whether it be agree∣able or unpleasant; provided always, that there be no clashing with the Will and Law of God; for in that case, we may be al∣low'd Page  137 to be Refractory and Disobedient; but in all others we are to submit, without expostulation or murmur.

III. Gratitude is the sense of a Debt, for a Benefit received. In the first place, we are to set an Estimate upon the Benefit which we are to value; partly, for the thing it self; and in part, for the Kindness and Intention of the Benefactor. He that lies under an Obligation, should be often thinking of it, that it may never out of his mind; for the man that forgets a Good∣turn, will hardly requite it; and he that remembers it as he ought, has, in effect, requited it already. In the point of Gra∣titude, there's no need of Money, Labour, Felicity; but the Will passes for the Deed, be the Benefit never so considerable. Let the Receiver behave himself Chearfully, and in such a manner, as that the Bene∣factor may read his satisfaction in his Coun∣tenance, and so reap some fruit of his boun∣ty in the very act of conferring it. It is a great delight for a man to see his Friend happy, much more to make him so. The frank, kind and thankful entertainment of a Favour, is a good part of payment. Some people cannot endure to think of their debts, and those never had a mind (from the very beginning) to be Grateful; but he that extols a kindness, and wishes he Page  138 could requite it, though he despair on't, has as good as requited it. I have seen some people look askew, and squeamishly (I know not how) when they have borrowed mo∣ney, and take it in so odd a careless fashion, as if they would have it thought the greatest favour in the World for them to accept of it. He that is not sensible of an Obligation, does not deserve it; and a cold Acknow∣ledgement is worse than none at all. It is the part of an honest man, in the very instant of receiving a Benefit, to bethink himself of a Return; for he's a Betrayer of his Trust, that will not restore what he has received. Nor is it enough to give a man his own a∣gain; but Kindnesses are to be repaid with Interest. There is a Gratitude even in the Earth it self, that yields us our Grain again with interest. And yet we must not be too quick neither in our Returns: Some there are, that so soon as ever they receive one Present, will be sure to send back another; as who should say, Now I'm out of your dirty debt: But this is rather an Affront, than a Requital.