Two sermons preach'd at the funerals of the Right Honourable Robert Lord Lexington and the Lady Mary his wife by Samuel Holden.

Than Oyntment, which

II. Is us'd in the anointing Kings; for in this place the Chalde Paraphrase understands, by Oyntment, Supe∣riority and Rule. Saul was thus anointed (h) 1.1: And his Successors had it, in a manner, as the Sacrament of their Authority.

Superiority and Rule? This, this is Ambition's gay encouragement; when (i) 1.2 Marius thinks that GREATEST is a style much better than BEST; when men fill splendid outsides, with black and hor∣rid insides; (not much unlike those odd Intruders into Mysteries, that place Hell in the Body of the Sun) when men regard not how much Devils they prove, so that each man may stand on a high Moun∣tain, and cry, All this is mine.

But, though even harmlesly acquir'd, what's Dig∣nity? It makes men wonder, and it makes men envy;

whil'st they look up to wish the Owner lower. By this men swell into a Power publick enough to have whole Kingdoms curse them. Men in mean garments may perhaps be slain; but 'tis, like Ahab (k) 1.3, with a Bow drawn at adventure: But men in Robes are shot at with design; and all, like Syrians, level all their darts at gay Jehoshaphat (l) 1.4 O Dignity! if right∣ly weigh'd, an odious Priviledge! By this men have a right to ride before, like Postillions of the world, for all the Beasts that follow to bespatter: So that it well may be unwish'd in life; but 'twill at Death be surely unenjoy'd. Man shall carry nothing with him when he dyeth, neither shall his pomp follow him (m) 1.5. I have said ye are gods, but ye shall dye like men, &c, (n) 1.6. Or else perhaps dye like the god in the Fable, which every Frog dares trample and disdain, when he per∣ceives him to lie still.

But a good Name (the poor man's sole felicity) makes even the poor a Prince; and so much more a Prince, by how much more belov'd than fear'd; and even interr'd he is obey'd by good men (if not in par∣ticular commands, yet) in his publick example; for imi∣tation may be one sort of obedience. And so lying still; Gloriosa satis requiescit urna. A good Name is better

Notes

• (h) 1.1

  1 Sam. 10.
• (i) 1.2

  Plutarch. in vitâ Marii.
• (k) 1.3

  1 Kings 22. ver. 34.
• (l) 1.4

  1 Kings 22. ver. 32.
• (m) 1.5

  Psal. 49.17.
• (n) 1.6

  Psal. 82. ver. 6,7.