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 ...

[ 1410] Magistrates, Ministers, &c. to be Examples of good unto others, and why so?

NAturalists report of the bird Ibis,* 1.1 whereof there are many in Egypt, espe∣cially in the City of Alexandria, that it ••ateth up all the garbage of the Ci∣ty, but leaves somewhat behind it, that is more noysome then any filth it had eaten; Others write that it will devour every Serpent it meets with; but from the egge of this bird cometh the most hurtfull of all Serpents,* 1.2 the Basilisk, the sight whereof killeth: Thus it is to be heartily wished that those who are entrusted for the Peoples good, whether in Church or State be not like unto this bird, seem to do something good but much hurt withall; but that in them as they are Gods upon Earth, may alwaies be found that which the Psal∣mist hath of God in Heaven, Thou art good and dost good, Psalm 86. 5. that their lives may be Examples of good,* 1.3 because that otherwise their authority will be lesse prevailing for suppressing those evils whereunto their bad Examples give encouragement.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Conrad. Gesnerus hist. lib.
• * 1.2

  Oppiana. Pierius Hieroglyph. Strabo. l. 17.
• * 1.3

  —In vulgu•• manant ex∣empla regen∣tum▪ Claud.