Now, in Reck'ning up the Goods of an Earthly Kingdom, we ufe to count Power, Honour, Wealth and Pleasure. For an earthly King can command his fubjects; and if they Obey not, can Punifh 'em, in their Purfes, with Fines and Lofs of Goods; or in their Bodies, with Bonds, Stripes, Banifhment, or Death. Therefore are fuch Kings dreaded by the People, even as if they were Gods.

Again, Kings will be Honoured by their Subjects even with a Veneration, that feems above the Nature of man to receive'; with bended Knees, and proftrate Bodies; with the greatest Distance, and a profound - Obfervance.

Further, They muft have mighty Trea furies, and perpetual Incomes: And they afe not to compute their Revenues, by a Hundred or a Thousand pieces of Silver or Gold but by Thousands of Thousands. And not without good Reason. When'tis not Ten or Twenty Servants only that they have to Maintain; but Guards and Troops, numerous Armies, and mighty Forces,

Once more, They'll feldom vouchsafe to Recreate their Minds with common Diverfions, and fuch as fhould feem to throw 'em upon a Level with their Subjects: But count it neceffary for the Splendor of their Majefty, to Throw away Thousands upon Vanity and Luxury, upon fplendid Courts,

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and pompous Trains, upon Favourites and Parafites, Banquets and Palaces, Walks and Gardens, Parks and Chafes, Canals and Fountains, Mufick and Theatres, Aviaries and Viridaries, Statues and Monuments; with fuch like expenfive Superfluities, (if not Follies and Vices alfo,) which they 'call Magnificence.

Such are the Goods of earthly Princes, which yet have all of 'em, that common Appendage, That they are Flashy and Tranfitory; and at moft but beginning with their Birth, and Expiring with their Life. Yea, fometime the Life is extended beyond the Reign: and how often do they survive all that high Satisfaction, in which they fo -much applauded themselves?

Neither are these, even while they laft, any Pure Goods: But theirPower is check'd with many Bars, that they cannot get over. Their Honour is clouded with one and another's bold Reflection. All their Wealth cannot answer fome Neceffities. And the most of their Joys may still be dafht with fome embittering Circumftances. 'Yea, all thefe do need a great deal

of Artifice, Flourish, and Fallacy, to fet "'em off, for fuch Superlative Goods, as 'the Poffeffors never find 'em: Their Sen'fes being Receptive of no more Pleasure, than the Senfes of ordinary men; that ' which remains to Compenfate for all the 'Cumber

Cumber and Burden upon 'em, feems to be only the Imagination and Conceit of "a mighty Somewhat, they know not what.

Such is the King's Power, that the People, it's true, depend upon his Pleasure : But then, here's a Crevice to peep into his Weakness, That the King alfo depends upon the Arms and Strength of his People. For his Nod will not avail, if they hold their Hands. Yea, while they, Depend upon One, He Depends upon Many. He can Vex and Harrafs them; But they can Depofe and Ruin him: As often has been the tragical Exit, not only of Tyrannical and flagitious, but of Gracious and Excellent Princes.

Next, for their Honour, Princes are Rever'd while prefent, and before others; But when diftant, or out of Sight, even their feeming Admirers may not Spare 'em; but make as bold as they please with 'em. Yea, fome can flatter 'em with the Tongue, who scorn 'em in their Hearts. And here, could they go to the Poll, they might find many more that Defpife, than Applaud 'em; and in a juft Computation, Their Glory may not be large enough to cover their Infamy. Thofe that attend the Throne are but a few: when the many who Live Remote, take their Liberty to Carp. One Cenfures this, another Criminates that; and the moft have their Arrows here to shoot.

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But the Riches peradventure fo abound with Kings, that they never know any thing like Want, having all at Command? Alas, how frequently may you see the contrary? And who use to be more Needy? They have (it's true,) mighty Incomes and Funds: And ha'nt they fometimes as great Debts and Streights? Now, he is not the only Poor man that has very Little, But he also that Craves and needs a great deal. And does not this look like an argument of Poverty, when the Prince is fain to ask Pence even of the Poor; and lay a Tax that must be gather'd of fome, who have fcarce to buy the Meat and Drink that fhould keep 'em Alive?

Not that I would upbraid Kings with the Tribute which they require; and which holy Scripture, yea, and all Juftice in the World makes their Due: That they who undergo the heavy Fatigue, fhould alfo have the mighty Support. Rom. 13. 6. For this caufe pay you Tribute also: For they are God's Minifters, attending continually upon this very thing. But I only make this Remark upon the Imperfection of earthly Kings, That they are under fuch a Neceffity, as to Collect and gather Supplies, even of the Needy.

But what shall we fay to their Privileges and their Delights? They have (it's true,) their sumptuous Palaces, their noble Apart

ments,

ments, Royal Equipage, precious Furniture, delicate Tables, gay Theatres, Variety of sweet Retreats and Diversions. But have they not alfo their Distempers and Aches, Gouts and Cholicks, Stone and Strangury; Yea, many Ailments more than are incident to meaner perfons? The Care of their Kingdoms, and the Danger of their Enemies; and ofttimes the News of fome great Loffes, or grievous Difafters, is a Burthen hanging fo hard and heavy upon 'em, as to keep 'em whole Nights Awake and in Pain; when Meaner Perfons are Sleeping fweet and fecure. The Sufpicion of Plots, the fear of Revolts, The Jeopardy not only of their Crowns, but their Lives, and much more of their Souls; If fo be, that their greater Pleasures make 'em only the grearer Sinners; and the C continual Solicitude and concern for their future Accoun's, which, in weight, will bear proportion to their Trust; All these help to mingle fuch Trouble with their Eafe, and fuch Griefs with their Joys; as may ferve not only to Cure the Envy, 'but to draw out the Pity of their Subjects: When, upon fuch Confiderations, many Kings have Abdicated their Crowns, and out-run their Thrones; To feek more Quiet and Comfort in the Solitude of fome Hiding place, where they might Live an Eafy, as well as Private Life.

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