The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

The more God giveth to the carnal and unwise, the more they think themselves engaged against him; because by his commands he seems to take it from them again, by crossing the flesh, which would use it only to fulfil its lusts. Like a Dog that fawneth on you till he have his bone; and then snarleth at you, lest you take it from him; and will fly in your face if you offer to meddle with it. Men readily confess that they have their wealth from God; because it cannot be denied, and because they would use the name of God, as a cover to hide their covetousness, and unlawful ways of getting: But if you judge by their usage of it, and their returns to God; you would think that they believed, that they had nothing at all from God, but some injuries; and that all their benefits and good were from themselves. The Turkish and Tartarian Emperor will say, that all his grandeur and power is from God; that by making it most Divine, he may procure the more reverence and obedience to himself: But when he hath said so for his own interest, he useth the same power against God and his interest; to the banishing of his Word and holy Worship, and the forbidding the preaching of the Gospel of salvation; and to the cherishing of tyranny, pride and lust: As if God had armed them against himself, and made his Officers to be his enemies; and gave them power that they might powerfully hinder mens salvation, and made great, to be great oppressors.

The more God giveth to the carnal and unwise, the more they think themselves engaged against him; because by his commands he seems to take it from them again, by crossing the flesh, which would use it only to fulfil its lusts. Like a Dog that fawneth on you till he have his bone; and then snarleth at you, lest you take it from him; and will fly in your face if you offer to meddle with it. Men readily confess that they have their wealth from God; because it cannot be denyed, and because they would use the name of God, as a cover to hide their covetousness, and unlawful waies of getting: But if you judge by their usage of it, and their returns to God; you would think that they believed, that they had nothing at all from God, but some injuries; and that all their benefits and good were from themselves. The Turkish and Tartarian Emperour will say, that all his grandeur and power is from God; that by making it most Divine, he may procure the more reverence and obedience to himself: But when he hath said so for his own interest, he useth the same power against God and his interest; to the banishing of his Word and holy Worship, and the forbidding the preaching of the Gospel of salvation; and to the cherishing of tyranny, pride and lust: As if God had armed them against himself, and made his Officers to be his enemies; and gave them power that they might powerfully hinder mens salvation, and made great, to be great oppressors.