And here I cannot hold, but must needs most justly complain of the hateful, intolerable unthankfulness of us in this Kingdom, the happiest people under the Cope of Heaven, had we hearts enlarged to conceive aright of Gods extraordinary love, and such miraculous mercies, as never Nation enjoyed! Walk over the World: Peruse the whole ⟨p. 13⟩face of the Earth, from East to West, from North to South,1 which is above one and twenty thousand miles about both ways; and from one side of Heaven to another; thou shalt not find such another enlightened Goshen, as this Island, wherein we dwell. Of six parts of the Earth, five are not Christian; and in Christendom, what other part is so free from the reign of Popery, the rage of Schism, or the destroying Sword? Or where besides doth the Gospel shine with such glory, truth and peace? Or in what nook of the World are there so many faithful Souls, who cry unto God day and night, against the abominations of the times; for the preservation of the Gospel; that Gods Name may be gloriously hallowed, His Kingdom come, His will be done in every place, and themselves serve him with truth of heart? And yet we are too ready, if we have not the height of our desires, and our wills to the full, in stead of patience, tears, and prayers, which best become the Saints; to embitter all other blessings, and to discover most horrible unthankfulness for them, by repining, grumbling, and discontent; I am sure, by not rejoicing (as we ought) in every good thing, which the Lord our God hath given unto us; and by not improving the extraordinariness of His mercies, to our more glorious service of Him, and more humbly and precisely walking before Him. Give me leave therefore in short, to revive and refresh your memories, with representation of some general heads only of those innumerable special favours, with which Gods merciful hand hath crowned this Kingdom, for the stirring up, and enlarging our hearts, to the entertainment and exercise of this most necessary, and most neglected duty of praising Jehovah. And here, we of this Nation may a great deal more justly, and rightly say, then the French Chronicler, in the Preface to his Story, That we have lived in a time of Miracles: our Posterity will hardly believe the wonders done in our days.
And here I cannot hold, but must needs most iustly complaine of the hatefull, intolerable vnthankefulnesse of vs in this Kingdome, the happiest people vnder the Cope of Heauen, had we hearts enlarged to conceiue aright of Gods extraordinary loue, and such miraculous mercies, as neuer Nation enioyed! Walke ouer the World: Peruse the whole ⟨p. 13⟩face of the Earth, from East to West, from North to South,1 which is aboue one and twenty thousand miles about both wayes; and from one side of Heauen to another; thou shalt not finde such another illightned Goshen, as this Iland, wherein we dwell. Of sixe parts of the Earth, fiue are not Christian; and in Christendome, what other part is so free from the reigne of Popery, the rage of Schisme, or the destroying Sword? Or where besides doth the Gospell shine with such glory, truth and peace? Or in what nooke of the World are there so many faithfull Soules, who cry vnto God day and night, against the abominations of the times; for the preseruation of the Gospell; that Gods Name may bee gloriously hallowed, His Kingdome come, His will bee done in euery place, and themselues serue him with truth of heart? And yet we are too ready, if wee haue not the height of our desires, and our wils to the ful, in stead of patience, teares, and prayers, which best become the Saints; to embitter all other blessings, and to discouer most horrible vnthankefulnesse for them, by repining, grumbling, and discontent; I am sure, by not reioycing (as we ought) in euery good thing, which the Lord our God hath giuen vnto vs; and by not improouing the extraordinarinesse of His mercies, to our more glorious seruice of Him, and more humbly and precisely walking before Him. Giue me leaue therefore in short, to reuiue and refresh your memories, with representation of some generall heads onely of those innumerable speciall fauours, with which Gods mercifull hand hath crowned this Kingdome, for the stirring vp, and enlarging our hearts, to the entertainment and exercise of this most necessarie, and most neglected dutie of praising Iehoua. And here, wee of this Nation may a great deale more iustly, and rightly say, then the French Chronicler, in the Preface to his Story, That we haue liued in a time of Miracles: our Posteritie will hardly beleeue the wonders done in our dayes.
- 1I speak not thus, to beget security, which is ready to blow us up; but to stir to thankfulness, wherein, I know, we are woefully wanting. I tell you not here, how we behave our selves towards God, which is most wretchedly; but how his blessed Majesty bears himself towards us, which is most bountifully.I speake not thus, to beget securitie, which is ready to blow vs vp; but to stirre to thankfulnesse, wherein, I know, we are wofully wanting. I tell you not here, how we behaue our selues towards God, which is most wretchedly; but how his blessed Maiestie beares himselfe towards vs, which is most bountifully.
