[ 1933] Ministers of all men, not to be found truck∣ing for Preferment.
IN the time of King Rufus, there was an Abbots place void,* 1.1 and two Monks of the Covent went to the Court, resolving to bid largely for it; The King perceiving their covetise, lookt about his Privy-chamber, and there espyed a private Monk that came to bear the other two company; and looking on him, guessed him the more sober and pious Man: The King calling him, asked; What he would give to be made Abbot of the Abby: Nothing, Sir, (quoth he) For I entred into this profession of meer Zeal, to the end that I might more quietly serve God in purity and holinesse of Conversation; Sayest thou so, replyed the King, then thou art he that art worthy to govern the whole Covent. Thus it is, that every good Man is contented to be in his station, to sit below till he hear the Governours voyce calling unto him,* 1.2 Friend, sit up higher, to walk before God in the light of his own candle, to keep in the warrantable circuit of his Vocation, and if he see dangerous honours pursue him,* 1.3 he flyes for it, and with David wishes, that he had the wings of a Dove,* 1.4 that he might flye away and be at rest: But what a sad thing must it needs be then, to see Ministers, Men in holy orders, greedy after and trucking for Church-preferment, ravelling out their lives in progging after great Friends and Fortunes, as if Godlinesse were a Bustrophe, a course of going backward and forward to the right and left hand for advantage sake.