Miscellanea spiritualia: or, Devout essaies: composed by the Honourable Walter Montagu Esq.

§. VII.

Comparisons between vocations disavowed, and advices offered, in order to a due correspon∣dence with the grace of a Courtiers profes∣sion.

BY what I have pleaded in this last argument, I do not pretend to prefer the porch of Solomon before the San∣ctuary, I intend to keep the due distances in my mea∣sures between sacred and secular vocations; each of them stand in their proper order, and constitute the grace and decency of the Temple which King David did love so much; For as the Father hath many mansions in his house, so the Sonne hath severall offices in his, sorted to those distinctions; and the ho∣ly Ghost marshals and ranks all those diversities of callings in such sort, as to frame an harmonious consonancy between both Houses, of the Church militant and triumphant, accor∣ding to what the Apostle informeth us, that There are diver∣sity of gifts, and differencies of administrations made by the same Spirit, who divideth to every one severally as he will. * 1.1

Wherefore my purpose is not to measure or weigh the preferablenesse of severall vocations, but onely to set that of Courtiers rectified and straight in the understanding of the world, to the end that not onely the consistence of this calling with piety, may be evidenced against the popular traduce∣ment, but that also the advantages of this vocation being rightly ballanced with the prejudices, may confute courtiers themselves in this error, of supposing they may discharge part of their infidelity to God, upon the infelicity of their vocation in order to Piety.

Every state of life hath an assignment of grace commen∣surate to the necessities of that calling; all things are disposed

in number, weight, and measure, as the Wise man informeth us; * 1.2 so that although the temptations be more in number and weight, then in more retired and in glorious courses, yet the abilities and understandings of the persons are commonly stronger then in vulgar stations, whereby they are better ina∣bled to apprehend their dangerous exposures, and accept them from the divine order, as a Rent charge of perill, laid upon the plenty of their temporall estates; by which discernment, they may convert even the species of their seducements into the treasure of patience and humility, deriving from the perilous part of their condition, conclusions against the worth of things never so glorious, being but transitory; since by these fruitions greater and eternall glory is so much endangered.

And by this reflexion, even all those fiery darts which fly about the Court, headed with the wilde fire of the Prince of darknesse, (though they have a fabulous sirname which the Poets have invented to disguise them, to wit, the golden shafts of Cupid, quite contrary to this their due ascription,) when they light upon this shield of faith, and expectance of eternall joy and glory, are easily extinguished: So that a good humble courtier marching as I have directed him in all his wayes, up∣on the foundation of humility, and poverty of spirit, may keep a safe course in all the highest storyes of fortune, and be no more scorched with pride or vanity, then with fire-works playing in the ayre; and though the Prince of that Region en∣tertaineth all Courts much with such flashie shewes, (that is, with the glittering vanities, and resplendencies of the world,) yet to an humble and discerning soul, they will seem no more then squibs breaking into sparkling shivers of fire, which shine but for a moment, and die with the ill scent of those rags whereof they are composed.

Upon all these considerations, it seemeth to me to import all the successe of this course of life, the fixing in our mind this principle, that all humane life, especially the active part is constituted in a state of continuall malitancy, in which noti∣on courtiers should account themselves as the chief officers of

the field, and so remember that the condition of being in the head of the world, is like that of being in the head of troopes, since it coupleth alwayes danger equall to the degrees of ho∣nour. And upon this supposition, they ought to be industri∣ous in providing extraordinary armour, in which point if they will be but as provident as they use to be for the defence of that life, they can but defer, and not truly defend or save, they are in a state no way disadvantaged for that Coronation, promised onely upon the condition of victory; since to the greatest vanquishers are proposed the largest Crowns. There∣fore they who are frighted like Elisha's servant, with the in∣compassure of tempations, let them look upward with the * 1.3 Psalmist to the mountaines, and they shall see the fiery Legi∣ons of the holy Spirit standing for their defence, insomuch as they may truly say, there are more with us then against us; for Saint Iohn gives them this assurance, He that is in you, is grea∣ter then he who is in the world.

By these defences I hope to silence the popular cry against Courts in exeat aulâ qui vult esse Pius, as if a good Christian and a good courtier were not stars of the same hemisphere, and so could not be seen together. For there are some natures, as Seneca saith, so shady, as to think every thing turbulent and stormy, that is but in broad day-light; and we may sitly say of the eyes of such minds, that they have not yet had the last touch of christianity; for like the man in the Gospell, who be∣fore Christ his last touch, saw men but obscurely looking like trees, these minds may be said to have a spirituall dimness upon them that doth not see clear, nor far enough into the grace of different conditions; this touch of Pauls hand when it seemes he was doing the same cure upon the Corinthians, may eluci∣date further this case unto them; those who are not Apostles, * 1.4 nor Prophets, have their ranks allotted, and due provisions of graces designed to their severall stations.

And likewise by these advises, I hope to rectifie that so different error in many minds, which claime the slipperinesse of their station, for a tolleration of many foule falls, aledg∣ing

the fashion of the times and place carfieth them down the stream, pretending when the humour of the Prince or the Grandees leaneth and resteth it selfe upon them, that their go∣ing into the house of Rimmon is much extenuated, beleeving that those faults which custome and company impose upon them, are set but low upon their account: But the grace of a Christian teacheth him, not to be insnared by this sub∣till imposition of complacencies from the worlds Ministery, no more then Christ was by that nice question concerning paying of tribute to the Court; for christian religion discerns clearly between what is due to Cesar and to God, and so a Pious courtier may easily give to Cesar what is Cesars, and to God what is Gods; and that by an Anological instruction from this rule of Christ, allowing all that hath Cesars I∣mage onely on it, offerable to Cesar, that is, all civill com∣placencies in things unprohibited by God, as the comply∣ing with all the innocent fashions of the court, and reser∣ving all that hath Gods Image on it for God; that is, ma∣king an entire reference of all actions which concerne the soul, to the regulation made by Gods precepts, and the churches explanations. Thus a courtier may preserve him∣selfe from being at all moved or shaken in his judgement for Christ and Religion, by not apprehending whether he be accounted or no a friend to Cesar, to wit, whether he retain the courts opinion of being agreeable, or complaisant, or good company.

Gods lesson given to the Prophet Ezekiel upon this occasi∣on, is very proper in such cases of temptation, Sonne of man, * 1.5 though thou doest dwell among Scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor dismayed at their lookes, though they be a rebellious house; For those (who do sincerely stand upon their defence, lifting up their hands in the posture of the Psalmist, in all the volleys of Darts) shall never want that child to incompasse them, which he promiseth, Thousands shall fall on both sides of * 1.6 him, but the danger shall come no nearer him, the Sunne shall not burne him by day, nor the Moon by night: the Sun-shine of For∣tune

shall not tanne or dis-colonr the fairenes and candor of his mind; nor the Night, or coldnesse of his grace or credit, shall not damp or benumme the vigour of his spirit.

To conclude, let a Courtier at his entrance into this vocati∣on, remember to read the Bill I have set upon the Court gates, at the beginning of this Argument, and before he go in let him say with Moses, in a devout apprehension of his infirmity, If * 1.7 thy presence go not with me, let me not go up to this place; and so, in all his advances into the roomes of State, (in any sort of his preferment) let him remember that whereof all the Majesty he seeth, is but a figure, and by this meanes he may easily keepe the originall presence in his sight; which object will prove a light to his eye, and a lampe to his feet, shewing him, according to the Apostles rule, How to walke worthy of God, who hath cal∣led * 1.8 him into his Kingdome and glory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Cor. 12.
• * 1.2

  Sap. 11. 12.
• * 1.3

  Kin. 4. 6.
• * 1.4

  Cor. 12.
• * 1.5

  Ezek. 2.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 90.
• * 1.7

  Exod. 33. 15.
• * 1.8

  Thes. 2. 12.