Worldly honours and greatnesse, their Va∣nity to be considered. [ 1662]
THe Romans to expresse the Vanity of Worldly honour and greatnesse, painted Honour in the Temple of Apollo as representing the form of a Man,* 1.1 with a Rose in his right hand, a Lilly in his left, above him a Solsequy or Mari∣gold, and under him Wormwood, with this Inscription, Levate, Consider; by all this declaring, that Man in this World flourisheth as a Rose in delights and Riches, but at night, that is, in the time of Death or adversity he is dryed up, rejected and set at nought as a dryed Rose which all the day long is carried in the hand with contentment,* 1.2 but being once withered is cast away on the dunghill; The Lilly, excelling Solomon in its glorious cloathing, but the leaves falling, it becomes sordid; aptly denoting the favour of Man whilst in worldly honour, but once clouded by misfortune made of no accompt: The Marigold, opening and shutting with the Sun,* 1.3 shewing that when the Sun of Prosperity shines, he sees all things delectable, but the Sun setting, Death or Adversity ap∣proaching, then appears nothing but darknesse and horrour of the grave: The Wormwood signifying, that all the delights in this World are sweet in the execu∣tion, but bitter in the retribution, no better then a bitter potion, and the very gall of Dragons, Esay 24. Lastly, the word Levate, is very necessary, lift up your heads and consider, ye that are proud of your honours and greatnesse, ye are but Roses that will wither, Lillies that will lose their beauty, Marigolds that open and shut with the Sun, and your portion without Repentance will be but Worm∣wood and bitterness.