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 ...

The reverence of Man more than God, a true signe of a decaying State or Kingdom. [ 834]

AMyris being sent by the Sybarites,* 1.1 to the Oracle of Delphos, to consult, how long their Common-wealth should stand, it was answered, That it should continue ever, untill they reverenced man more than the gods. He seeing one day a slave beaten by his Master, and flying to the Al••ar of Refuge, yet his Master spa∣red him not there;* 1.2 then the slave fled to the Tomb of his Masters father, and then his Master spared him: Which when Amyris perceived, presently he went, and sold all that he had, and went to dwell at Peloponesus: For now I see, said he, that, men are more reverenced than the gods. But certainly, if that the reverence of Man more than God, be a true signe of a decaying State or Kingdom, then this of ours must needs be in a sinking condition: What crying up is there of the Acts and Ordinances of men? and in the mean time, what sleignting and contempt of Gods VVord and Commandements? What mean those base complyances with men, when God is set

by,* 1.3 as not worthy of our notice? What? but to bring down heavy judgments upon such a People or Nation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Suidas in vita.
• * 1.2

  Mr. Goddard Ser. at S. Greg. Lond. 1652.
• * 1.3

  Melius est obe∣dire Deo, quàm hominibus.