Nor is the Fame of Princes less liable to Injury, than their Persons. Calumny dares even assault the Throne, and fears not to trample on Regal Sepulchers. There is none so great and inaccessible, as to be out of the Reach of that intruding Monster; who will blacken and sully the clearest Fame, turn the brightest Ornaments and Beauties into Deformities, detract from the most Heroical and Princely Vertues, and transform, to the Appearance of such as see by her Glass, a good Josiah into a wicked Jeroboam. And as the most conspicuous Greatness is no
Preservative against the common Calamities of the World, so neither
2. Is the most eminent Goodness. Tryals and Afflictions are the common Lot of Mortality, and every Man, more or less must sustain his Share of 'em. In this, the Righteous and Wicked fare alike, nor can a Man judge of Love or Hatred by all that is before him.
There are indeed many Passages of Scripture, that encourage a good Man to expect even the Blessings of this Life, and ordinarily Speaking, he does actually enjoy 'em, at least in a contented Mind and quiet Conscience, which comprehends 'em all. But we are to look upon these Passages, as moral Observations, not as absolute Promises: That according to the most rational, most probable, most natural Event, such temporal Blessings would be allotted to good Men, not that each particular good Man should be possess'd of every one of 'em, for that would be in some Measure, to have his Portion here.
All this is beside our Contract with God. The Reward there stipulated, is the Kingdom of Heaven, and if he does think fit to add these Things unto us, and to enlarge our Portion, by the Accession of some external good Things, 'tis over and above our covenanted Recompence.
But whatever the Lot may be of a righteous Man here on Earth, he will be sure of his Reward in a better Place, in those Regions of endless Bliss and Glory, where the Blessed Martyr, whom we this Day Commemorate, we may Charitably presume, is now adorn'd with that Crown of Life, which he Purchas'd by his constant Perseverance unto Death.
FINIS.
BOOKS Printed for, and sold by Jonah Bowyer, at the Rose in Ludgate-street, near the West-End of St. Paul's Church.