made low. And our Sauiour Christ threatneth, that whoso∣euer will exalt himselfe, shall be brought low, and whosoeuer will humble himselfe shall be exalted. And the Apostle telleth vs, that God resisteth the proud, and giueth grace to the hum∣ble. So the Virgin Mary speaking out of her owne experi∣ence, saith, that God hath put downe the mightie from their seats, and hath exalted them of low degree. Whereof wee haue manifold examples in the booke of God, as of Corah and his companions; Athaliah, Haman, Herode, Nebuchadnezer and many others. So that greedie ambition and hungrie hunting after honour, is not the meanes of attaining to it, but rather the high way to disgrace and shame: for as the Wise man saith, the pride of a man shall bring him low, but the humble in spirit shall enioy glory.
If therefore wee would seeke true honour and bee sure to find it, let vs not (no lesse foolishly then ambitiously) beg it of the world, who hath it not to giue, but desire to haue it of the Lord, who alone hath it at his disposing. Neither let vs seeke it of our selues, and by our owne ambitious courses; for the Wise man teacheth vs, that to search our owne glory, is not glory: and euen our Sauiour (who might challenge this priuiledge better then any man,) affirmeth, that if hee ho∣noured himfelfe, his honour was nothing worth. And that it was his father that honoured him. But let vs seeke it of God to whom all honour belongeth, and from whom also it procee∣deth. For he it is, as Hannah speaketh, that bringeth low and exalteth; he raiseth vp the poore out of the dust, and lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the seate of glory, his is greatnesse and power, glory, victorie, and praise; his is the kingdome, and riches, and honor come from him, as Dauid acknowledgeth. So elsewhere hee affirmeth, that to come to preforment, is neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South; but God is the Iudge, who maketh low, and maketh high. Yea euen Cyrus though an heathen confesseth; that the Lord God of heauen had giuen him all the kingdomes of the earth. And contrari∣wise Balak affirmeth, that hee was surely purposed to haue promoted Balaam vnto honour, but that hee could not, be∣cause