The spiritual bee, or, A miscellany of scriptural, historical, natural observations and occasional occurencyes applyed in divine meditations by an university pen

XLI.

IT is storyed of Primislaus first King of Bohemia that being rais'd from a very mean birth to that top of dignity, he always kept his country shoes by him to minde him from whence he took his rise to that advancement, and prevent pride and insolence. And we know Agathocles would always have his table furnished with earthen vessels in memory of his being raised from a Potter to be King of Sicily. Methinks every man carry's that about with him that might temper and allay his pride and vanity

were his advancement never so high, either in external things, honour, and riches, or internal endowments gifts and accomplishments of minde; were he no stranger to that great and necessary work of selfreflection: For let him con∣sider his Extraction, his soule was drawn out of nothing, and his body formed out of the slime of the ground, a clod of earth kneaded into humane shape: If he would think on his relations, corruption is his Father, and the worm his mo∣ther and sister (J••b. 17. 14.) Surely that mā must needs for∣get his rise, and alliances, that entertain's pride and vain glo∣ry; and he need only study and minde himself to learn to be humble.