408. Merit, too often unrewarded. O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not derived corruptly! and that clear honour 409. The value of faithful servants. If I 9-ii. 9. Had servants true about mek; that bare eyes 410. Service seldom duly rewarded. 13-i. 2. The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer. 411. Office. "T is the curse of service; 11-iii. 6. Preferment goes by letter', and affection, 37-i. 1. Though all the world should crack their duty to you, "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men."-Eph. vi. 5-7. 1 By recommendation from powerful friends. m Gradation, or regular progress, established by ancient practice. We must not stint" Our necessary actions, in the fear To cope malicious censurers; which ever, That is new trimm'd; but benefit no farther Every good servant does not all commands: 415. Tried fidelity. He that can endure 25-i. 2. 31-v. 1. To follow with allegiance a fallen lord, Does conquer him that did his master conquer, There is no terror in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pass by me as the idle wind, Which I respect not. 417. Honesty misinterpreted. If my offence be of such mortal kind, 30-iii. 11. 29-iv. 3. That neither service past, nor present sorrows, Can ransom me into his love again, But to know so must be my benefit; So shall I clothe me in a forced content, And shut myself up in some other course, 37-iii. 4. "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."-Rom. xiii. 7. Mine honour was not yielded, But conquer'd merely. If well-respected honour bid me on, I hold as little counsel with weak fear, As you. 30-iii. 11. 421. 18-iv. 3. The same. See, that you come 11-ii. 1. Honour dearer than life. Not to woo honour, but to wed it. 422. Life every man holds dear; but the dear man 423. Honour and policy. Honour and policy, like unsevered friends, 26-v. 3. I' the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, 28-iii. 2. If you shall cleave to my consent",-when 't is, So I lose none, 425. Honour not exempt from detraction. 15-ii. 1. Can honour set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honour hath no skill in surgery then? No. What is honour? A word. What is in that word, honour? What is that honour? Air. A trim reckoning!-Who hath it? He that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. Is it insensible then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it. 18-v. 1. ↑ Valuable. 'Cleave to me constant. 426. Honourable causes need no oath. What other oath Than honesty to honesty engaged?— Unto bad causes swear Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain Nor th' insuppressive mettle of our spirits, To think, that, or our cause, or our performance, 29-ii. 1. 427. The solemnity of oaths. The truth thou art unsure To swear, swears only not to be forsworn; 16-iii. 1. "T is not the many oaths, that make the truth; 429. Praise to be bestowed seasonably. 11-iv. 2. Praise us as we are tasted, allow us as we prove; our head shall go bare, till merit crown it: no perfection in reversion shall have a praise in present: we will not name desert, before his birth; and, being born, his addition" shall be humble. 26-iii. 2. When we for recompense have praised the vile, Which aptly sings the good. Good name, in man, and woman, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Old copy reads swears. 27-i. 1. The sense is, we never swear by what is not holy, but take to witness the Highest-the Divinity. u Title. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."-Prov. xxii. 1. Who steals my purse, steals trash; 't is something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands: But he, that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that, which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. 432. No value in a name alone. 37-iii. 3. What's in a name? that, which we call a rose, 35-ii. 2. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself; and what remains is bestial. 434. Reputation invaluable. The purest treasure mortal times afford, Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, 37-ii. 3. 17-i. 1. 5-ii. 4. 436. The same. More will I do : Though all that I can do is nothing worthy; Imploring pardon. 437. Humility recommended. Love and meekness, 20-iv. 1. Become a churchman better than ambition. 25—v. 2. 438. Humility, feigned. "T is a common proof, That lowliness is young Âmbition's ladder, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."—Luke xvii. 10. * Experience. |