The ninth SECTION. The Motives which Noble Prelates have to the duty of their profession.
IN the Name of God, permit you may be recti∣fied in these five virtues, which I have before al∣ledged. The obligations which you have here∣unto, if you well consider them, are very great. First, you see that such as are of the same bloud with you; endeavour to make good what they pro∣fess. Those who manage arms, will part with no∣thing of the glory of arms. The most timorous would be flayed, and piece-meal torn for a poor punctilio of honour, which is oft-times meerly imaginary. They flie among naked swords, flames, and musket-shots, to purchase a little reputation, which hath not ever the reward it expecteth. And you, O Noblemen, that are in the pay of the Sovereign King, whose li∣berality cannot deceive you, in a most honourable profession, and which should not be blemished with remisness, would you spare your endeavour to do something worthy your birth? Do you not behold a flourishing Nobility round about you, which being consecrated to the Church, discovereth marvellous hopes unto us? Some do as the vines of Smyrna, that whilest they are in blossom, bear their fruit. There is nothing now every where but studie and fervour. There are those who win Troy the magnificent, now wholly enflamed, and will you under hatches lie snoring in the ship?
In the second place, see who you are. You are de∣stined to treat the cause of men with God; (a) 1.1 would you betray it? You are selected to be the Oracles of God; would you make your self a weather-cock? you are chosen to be the Ark of the Testament; would you become a vessel of reprobation? You are an Angel, and in hope a little God; would you be an Angel of darkness, and a god of straw? Apply your self whol∣ly to God, to whom you owe all. It is not a matter of discretion for you to do well, it is a point of ne∣cessity. Angels hover over your heads, and men are on every side to observe your actions. Those who are blind as moles in their own errours, have the eyes of a Linx to espie your imperfections. (b) 1.2
Do you not enjoy a goodly honour, when it shall be said of you, that you have a dignity which be∣comes you, as a ring of gold the snout of a hog (as speaketh the Scripture, (c) 1.3 and when the King, who is pleased to take the pain to look into the deport∣ments of men Ecclesiastical, who are of eminent ex∣traction, shall perceive you are in the Church as an unprofitable burden, (d) 1.4 to disgrace the charge which honoureth you, and that all those that name you, when you happen to be mentioned in honourable as∣semblies, will wish a cloud of darkness at noon-day, to cover the shame of their foreheads?
Adde that the Church stretcheth out her arms and intreateth you would not suffer her laurels to wither in your hands, to defile her victories, nor eclipse her lights. She hath seen many miseries, many hath she born, many vanquished; but never felt any wounds more dolorous than those which fell upon her by vice, (e) 1.5 ignorance, and the negligence of her Pre∣lates. That is it which hath opened the gate to he∣resies, which hath fomented infidelities, enlarged impiety, disposed the brows of the wicked to impu∣dence, the tongue to slander, the hands to rapine, which hath darkened the present times with horrible confusions, and which vomiteth upon the times and Ages of posterity. Will you increase these calami∣ties, and with your corruptions make a bridge for the faithless to ruin Christianity? For that perhaps shall be the last scourge, which God will use to pu∣nish the abuses of ill Prelates, and the sins of the peo∣ple in general.
For conclusion I demand, what will become of you in the end at the last judgement of God, under which the Angels tremble, who govern the world? What will become of you, when you shall be accu∣sed to have been a viper in the Church, a scandal to the simple, an ill example to the most corrupt, a fiery torch that would enflame the house of God? Where may one find punishments sufficient to inflict on you, and where can you get members enough to fur∣nish out so many punishments, when the stones and marbles of those places you have possessed, will crack in pieces to flie into your eyes? On the contrary, if you take the right way, which I propose, you shall lead a peaceable life in the security of a good con∣science, rich in honour and ability, honourable in reputation, terrible to the wicked, reverenced by ho∣nest men, fertile in good actions, abundant in infini∣tie of fruits, fruitfull in recompences, prosperous in successes, glorious to posterity, attended on earth with the odour of virtues, and crowned in Heaven by Eternitie.