The gentlemans monitor, or, A sober inspection into the vertues, vices, and ordinary means of the rise and decay of men and families with the authors apology and application to the nobles and gentry of England seasonable for these times / by Edw. Waterhous[e] ...

SECT. IV.

In what sence the Author understands Ver∣tues and Vices to become Rises and Decayes to Men and Families.

ANd now I come to the main of my intendment, having by the preludiary discourse introduced the subsequent mat∣ter, which is the mention of those means, Vertues and Vices, which do Constitute or Determine Families, and make or ruin Men in them. Previous to the enlargment whereon, I crave leave to pray a right understanding of what by Vertues and Vices, commencing or determining the Grandeur and felicity of Men and Fami∣lies,

I herein intend. Far then be it from me to estate vertue in any right of merit to re∣ward, by which God, the most free agent, should ex opere operato of his creature, be obliged; or be for reason of congruity or condignity of vertue in men, how remarka∣ble for it soever, bound to make them hap∣py, & their families after them;* 1.1 for that were to make God mercenary to men, and to take off the gratuity of his good pleasure, which makes every good in us what it is; or to perswade any to believe that God cannot out of prerogative bless a bad or blast a good man and family, with∣out impeachment of his justice, or viola∣tion of his mercy. No such thing intend I to ••ix upon the basis of my discourse; for that I know God may do with men and things as he pleases, and yet reserve the glory and lustre of his Attributes; nor ought men to startle at the various∣ness of his administrations, who (for reasons best known to himself, and admirable and adorable by us) suffers sometimes just men to perish in their uprightness, and not fearers of God to be exalted. All that I drive at is, to promote Vertue, and deter from Vice, by those cogent arguments of the one, for the most part in this world rewarded, and the other for the most part

in this world sorely judged; the one sta∣bilitive, the other enervative, of Families.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Quare profecto summae stu••litiae est dicere aut credere regna & imperia necesse esse, ad illos duntaxat perveniant, qui nobilitatem jactare possunt, cum videamus quotidie novos homines, non modo virtute, sed multis saepe vitiis prae∣ditos, ad magnos honores a••que imperia perdu∣ci Ita deo pla∣citum est, ut nos nostr•• ejusmodi bona, hoc non pluris faciamvs quo magis com∣munia eadem omn bus & ne••mini perpetua esse videmus. Polydor Virgil pro emio lib 9. p 149.