Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1260] As we are called Christians, to bear up our selves like Christians.

ALexander the great,* 1.1 when he was invited to run a Race amongst the common Multitude, He gave them this answer; Were I not the Son of a King, I did not care what company I kept; but being the Son of a Prince, I must employ my selfe in such company, as is s••table to my birth and breeding: Thus stood he then upon the honour of his Family, and would not disgrace his Princely nature so farre, as to be familiar amongst the vulgarrabble; And thus must every one of us do; We have each of us a race to run,* 1.2 for so the waies of Christianity are called; We are as Alexander was, Kings and Princes in all Lands: Now so it is that Sin, as a Va∣gabond and loose Companion, would seek to converse with us; The Devills aim is that we should mixe our selves with such lusts and such sins as he presents unto us;* 1.3 Lust would have our hearts, and Sin would have our affections, both of them strive to be familiar with us; But let us answer them from a noble and generous mind as Alexander did: That we will not so abase and dishonour our selves, as to mix or joyn our selves with the base and common things of this World,* 1.4 but stand upon the honour of our spirituall birth, and do nothing that may any way be dishonourable to the excellency of our high Calling in Christ Iesus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.2

  Non ••ati sed facti sumus Christi••ni.
• * 1.3

  Delinquend•• materia debet praescindi. Cy∣prian. lib. 1. epist. 2.
• * 1.4

  Phil. 3. 14.