CERTAINE CONCEPTIONS OR CONSIDERATIONS OF Sir PERCY HERBERT UPON THE Strange change of Peoples Dispositions and Actions in these latter times Directed to his Sonne Deus primum bonos proximé LONDON Printed by E.G. and are to be sold by Richard Tomlins at the Sun and Bible neer Piecorner 1650. FOR MY SONNE Mr. WILLIAM HERBERT HAving compiled this small Treatise chiefly for the entertainment of my selfe and private family consisting of morall and divine principles collected according to my severall conceptions answerable to the distractions of these times that neither gave me conveniency of books or liberty for conversation I thought it most proper to direct the reading of these Writings more particularly to your selfe then to any other not onely in regard you are the appearing person that probably must give continuance and succession to our house which I heartily wish may be in vertue or not at all but also for that part of the booke was written whilst my imagination was imployed in doubts and fears concerning your late dangerous sicknesse which I must confesse did not a little heighten my troubled apprehension with the consideration of all humane uncertainties resolving then your losse should have buried my principall felicities in a retired obscurity that now for your good I am partly determined shall be further enlarged according to conveniency and occasion to which purpose upon the same score of consideration I must conjure you to reflect often upon the extraordinary mercies of Almighty God shewed in your behalfe not onely in raising you unexpectedly from so hazzardable and desperate a condition of weaknesse to a competent if not a perfect degree of health and strength of body but also that he hath been pleased to afford you many other plentifull favours in some kinds beyond the ordinary sort of men Wherefore as you appear by discourse sensible of these blessings I must advise you to carry alwaies about with you those very thoughts you were enspired with all according to your own relation in the greatest extremity of your sickness as being freest from earthly passions and those vaine ambitions that use to corrupt the manners if not the very understandings of most people However I would have you believe that I goe not about by these expressions to entangle muchlesse to compell you to a monasticall severity of life but onely I endeavour by my writings and directions to perswade and confirm you in such a religious morality in your conversation and affairs necessary to all Christians that may the better secure your condition both in this life and the next And although I am confident that these generall admonitions might serve for sufficient instructions to your youth in regard I have been so wel acquainted with your nature and education yet for that I may be thought something large in my writings concerning the extravagancies and vices of this age I wil not let you passe in this Epistle without some distinct advertisments directed unto your selfe however do not thinke I point personally at you in any of these particulars onely my intention and aimes are by setting before your consideration the inconveniencies of these passions and absurdities you may become the more distasted with the practises of them in others since most pittifull examples of all sorts are daily presented to your eares or eyes especially of childrens disobedience to their parents Truly Will if I should have any just occasion given me to suspect your intentionall duty or filiall love I should have cause sufficient not onely to esteem my endeavours most unfortunate but exceedingly to doubt of your discretion as wel as to blame your ingratitude since as you cannot but know how much your mother and my selfe have strived in your behalfe to the uttermost of our powers so is it unpossible in that regard you can finde more confiding persons then our selves whereon to place your chiefe trust and confidence either in difficulties or inconveniencies If at all God Almighty had not added a temporall curse to that Commandement and to no other which obligeth the duty of children to their parents besides many other fearful testimonies I could bring to shew a necessity of performing with all honour and respect those filialties of nature which I onely tell you because many young people as I said before in these dayes are grown so extravagantly preposterous in their courses that scarce is there family but hath some cause to complain in this nature with more then ordinary grief whereas in times past children thought it not onely a reputation to their own persons to bear a respectful honour to their parents but even with a certain kinde of admiring duty were most careful and diligent to imitate their very actions as well as to receive their instructions Next I must minde you of that dangerous and swelling disease of vain-glory that useth to intoxicate in this age so much the brains of young people that as they become altogether void of any good nature at all so not seldom being transported with this vanity they appeare in some sort deprived of their wits however I am perswaded that you have contracted such an experience by your being abroad and having conversed without flattery that if at any time by accident you fall into the like errours you will be soon able to put a bridle to the humour by some temper and diseretion But as this inclination floweth from too great an indulgency of nature wanting a competent judgement to discern so is it the occasion often times not onely of unnecessary and distastful contentions but also of most desperate quarrels proceeding from dispositions too furious which in this place I shall example by one short story not to be questioned for the truth thereof Two entirely loving brothers upon occasion of recreation walking one evening within the Precints of their ordinary dwelling and beholding the skie bespotted all over with stars one of them of a sudden wished as many fat Oxen of his own as there appeared little lights in the Firmament the other again not to be behind hand with his brother as he thought in invention also desired Pastorage as large as the whole Element and then demanded how his Cattel would be fed the first apprehending belike indiscreetly some intention of affront to his vain glorious conceits in heat and choler told his brother that they should feed in his pasture whether he would or no wherefore the other being also moved with passion at this seeming intention of compulsion hastily replyed that as by right he could not claim any interest in his Field or Medow so was he fully resolved to debar him from all benefit and commodity therein But in conclusion from words they went to blowes until at last both drawing out their weapons which they had unfortunately about them they soon became each others murtherer before any of the house could come to their rescue notwithstanding there wanted not good store of company in that noble family Which in my
displeased against man that nothing but the death of his own Son could asswage his wrath Besides the contrary is so necessary a property to be continued ed in all conditions that the world cannot subsist without it However I may boldly say this latter age hath not onely created strange thoughts concerning this duty but almost hourely produceth wonderful examples against the maxime however we shall set down only three common duties of this kinde proceeding from the first infancy of the world which have been made good eversince both by the Commandments of God and all Moral Documents We will first begin with that obedience that is due from Children to their Parents which setting aside Gods own immediate Precepts is an obligation challenged by way of natural right for having brought us into the world that else should have been nothing Children are bound to afford their Parents at all times and upon every fitting occasion an obsequious reverence though never so much under anothers jurisdiction as also another duty of gratitude for their education and preservation in their infancy which neverthelesse is to be esteemed more or lesse according to the care was had of their persons when they were not able to provide for themselves insomuch as no deficiency of the Parents part in my opinion can take away altogether that humane respect and honour that is due by nature As for example When a daughter is bestowed in marriage although by that means she becometh under anothers jurisdiction and in that regard cannot dispose of her self without her husbands leave towards their service yet certainly she is still obliged to afford them upon all convenient occasions a dutiful reverence neverthelesse I must confesse in these times we hold it sufficient satisfaction if children become not wholly reprobates to their own destruction without having any consideration of their Parents particular The next obligation of obedience is due from servants to their Masters which however it be limited to time and contract is not onely to be observed in Conscience according to the conditions agreed upon but also there is a civil duty of respect to be observed after the time is expired unlesse some just cause hath been given to the contrary But for that I intend to speak something more hereof in another place I shall mention onely now the last obedience which is due from the Subjects to their Prince instituted as I may say in the beginning of the world which may be divided into three kinds The first was that purchased by Nimrod being wholly usurped and therefore might have been cast off again upon the first opportunity however the continuance did perhaps render it lawful to posterity The second was domestick or voluntary verified in the person af Abraham over his pious and godly family which was approved no doubt by God Almighty when he commanded them to fight with those who had taken unjustly Lot prisoner again Abrahams Dominion was justified when he tyed his servant by an oath to provide a wife for his son and the last is that of compact and agreement which makes subjects by their own consent become under the power of rule as may be testified by Pharoah and his people which work was brought about by Ioseph when his subjects changed their liberty for subsistence and livelihood And this being contracted for and afterward confirmed by proscription could not again be cast off without incurring the penalties belonging to Rebellion For the Jews could not have avoided the lawfulnesse of the jurisdiction notwithstanding their cruel persecution and slavery but that it was the declared will of God revealed particularly to Moses this by that means they should be freed from their misery under whose power are rightly contained all the governments of the earth Ingratitude is not onely another effect of Pride but may be said to be a most ignoble property since it doth not onely defraud goodnesse of its due but seems not willingly to encourage vertue in any kind which was the reason that the wise and brave Romans ranked it amongst the worst of vices and to that purpose appointed punishments for the offehders God Almighty first fell out with Cain for his ingratitude though he afterwards condemned him for his hypocrisie Truly I may affirm this vice appears to have gotten a particular jurisdiction in this Nation at present since many of those most obliged prove the greatest Traytors to their benefactors neither is this done covertly and in the dark but most commonly is owned as a piece of excellent wit and so consequently esteemed a kinde of vertue for servants to be unfaithful in their duty or friends to deceive trusts committed unto them and so far hath private interest taken possession of honour good nature and conscience that every person that walks according to these old maxims is either esteemed a fool or a Heretick Certainly God punished the devils with the greater indignation for that in their thoughts they were unwilling to be thankful for his benefits whereas man had a condition annexed to his condemnation because it was frailty rather then an intention of ingratitude that caused him to offend however he seemed more really and punctually to have broken his Commandment For my part I hold those as worthy that raise monuments to vertue as those which good fortune hath made famous since however they may have wanted the opportunity and conveniency of acting yet neverthelesse they retain in their minds a certain intention of honour The next appetite of Pride is ambition however it is onely it but by accident or intention since nothing renders that name unlawful but either too much passion in the prosecution or over much desire by way of private interest yet some perhaps will quarrel with the name onely which I cannot but except against for as the too much coveting of honour and preferment out of a personal respect renders the desire unjustifiable and so by consequence proves to be a meer ambition so of the other side a moderate seeking of a just esteem is no more then a natural indulgency warrantable in our humane condition since without this hope for the most part our noble endeavours should want recompence whereby mens vertuous intentions would cool in the prosecution before they could come to a ripenesse fit for use or example For if our frail natures had no other object to behold then barely that reward we are to expect in the next world it is to be much feared that people would grow so slack in endeavouring of laudable nay I may say necessary things that at last all honour and vertue would be in danger to be wholly neglected by which means unworthy persons should com to be of equal Authority with the best and no priviledge at all given to industry As for example What souldier would expose himself willingly to the hazard of the Cannon without some expectation of recompence from his General or if a baser man then he were to be esteemed
resolutely demanded the Restoration of the Jewes however being denyed his just and charitable request by the proud Tyrant after many miracles shewed in confirmation of his absolute Commission from God Almighty he invited and perswaded the people to follow him into a land of freedom though their jelousies and feares a long space resisted his intentions to his no small vexation and grief for whose safeties in prosecution of the intended journey and promised prosperity he divided the Red-Sea to make their passage But neverthelesse this stubborn and perverse people were so little grateful to him for his wise conduct and most painful endeavour enduring now and then some penury in the Desarts that they never forbore murmuring against his actions as upbraibing him that for his own ambition he had brought them from the flesh pots of Egypt to endure hunger and thirst in the wildernesse which affronts and contumelies he alwayes bore with so admirable a patience that instead of punishing them for their wild and preposterous disobedience he comforted and incouraged them with mild language and good principles praying to God upon all occasions for their forgivenesse and prosperity insomuch as his two hands were sometimes underpropped by others to strengthen them towards the continuance of his supplication he being altogether weary and tired by those devout exercises which his heart willingly could never let him give over for his peoples benefit and when their impious Idolatry and peevish impatiency had notwithstanding inflamed the wrath of God against their wicked proceedings insomuch as he seemed to put on an absolute resolution to destroy them the charity of Moses was so great and his love so intire to that ungrateful multitude that desired God Almighty also to blot him out of the book of life that he might perish together with his Country-men if he would not be pleased to change his determination O admirable constancy and goodnesse beyond the capacity of humane nature to apprehend and the rather for that it may be conceived the chief cause of his affection had reference to Gods honour in that he supposed those people were ordained to establish his more real and formal worship in the Land of Promise Again if we look at his unwearied justice from morning till night in hearing Law suits between party and party we shall finde such an unparalell'd fortitude as cannot be imagined wherein notwithstanding his humility was so great that he submitted himself to the Counsel of his Father in Law a plain man who told him he did unwisely to over burthen his strength and ability with multitudes of intricated businesses and to that purpose wished him to chuse able and inferiour judges to take off from his care some part of the trouble concerning those causes depending before him referring the most weightiest onely to his own judgement and censure whereas until then he sat alone upon the Tribunal both for morality belonging to his subjects more civil conversation towards the Government of their persons and goods and also to judge those more divine things that belonged particularly to the service of Almighty God according to those Revelations and precepts he had immediately received from Heaven whose infallible Oracle he seemed dayly to consult and with such a wonderful fervour and diligence that as he never attempted matter of consequence without seeking and knowing first the will pleasure of God so did he never return from those extraordinary extasies but with fear horrour and trembling both to himself and people But as I shall not need here to number more of his excellencies since they are so largely recorded in holy Scripture so may it also be considered that most of those admirable books were written by his own hand that treated of the Jewes actions in the beginning for example to the stupid world to learn what they ought to do according to their capacities in endeavouring the service of God from the bottom of their hearts since certainly he cannot be pleased with lukewarm affection much lesse for people onely to comply with their own affections as if for no other end they had been created specially when his best servants could not by what hath been said expect that priviledge and liberty The wonderful magnanimity of Jephthe and his daughter BUt now we will come to Iephthe that valiant righteous and just judge of Almighty God in Israel whose story in short is onely thus He was a bastard born though highly legitimated by grace and the favour of his Creator for although he was cast out from having any share amongst his brethren in his fathers possessions which made him for a while enter into the company of thieves for his subsistence yet being presently for his personal valour chosen their Prince and Governour he managed his Authority with so much successe tending to the service of God and his Country that when Israel was fallen into most desperate necessity by the prevailing power of their inveterate enemies he not only freed them from those dangers by his own courage and his subjects assistance but afterward when he was Judge of the Country recovered them by his many victories their Ancient honour however as it is written one time amongst the rest returning with extraordinary joy and Triumph to his own house having won a most signal battail against the Ammonites after he had pleaded with them the right and justice of his Countries cause wherein they would not be satisfied he vowed in gratitude to God Almighty to sacrifice the first thing he should encounter which proved unfortunately to be his onely daughter a young and most beautiful virgin having no more children in all the world who out of duty and gladnesse came out with hast before others to salute her victorious father by which means suddenly these Triumphs were turned into mournings for presently Iephthe tore his garments instead of more joyful congratulations beginning to repent himself of his over rash vow since either as he thought he must displease God or absolutely confound all his felicity and hopes in destroying of her that was deerer to him then every earthly happinesse But the pious Virgin perceiving her fathers perplexity by reason of his Oath onely with a lovely and obedient countenance told him since he had sworn to God it was most convenient he should perform his vow and therefore wished him that the consideration of her life might neither hinder his intention nor trouble his thoughts and withal desired two months time accompanied with other Virgins of her acquaintance to go privately into the mountains there the better to bewail her virginity it being the custome of the Jewes so to do by reason of their expectance of the Messias which being accordingly performed she returned into the City and her sad father in prosecution of his promise and resolution acted this unwilling and lamentable part both to the grief and astonishment of all Israel Now having related this story I shal wish any man but to consider how