Gods free mercy to England presented as a precious and powerful motive to humiliationGods free mercy to England presented as a pretious and powerfull motive to humiliation

1. Consider, What a mercy it is for God to make you men, when he might have made you toads. I doubt not but you have heard the story of the two Bishops, that being riding to the Council of Constance, and espying by the way a poor Country man weeping, turned towards him, and asked him, why he wept, he answered, I weep to see t•is toad (that lay upon the ground before him) because I never blessed God sufficiently, for that he made me a man and not a toad. This answer made them go away astonished and ashamed for their own unthankfulness. And it may justly work the like effect in us.

1. Consider, What a mercy it is for God to make you men, when he might have made you toads. I doubt not but you have heard the story of the two Bishops, that being riding to the Councell of Constance, and espying by the way a poore Country man weeping, turned towards him, and asked him, why he wept, he answered, I weepe to see t•is toad (that lay upon the ground before him) because I never blessed God sufficiently, for that he made me a man and not a toad. This answer made them goe away astonished and ashamed for their owne unthankfulnesse. And it may justly worke the like effect in us.

2. Consider, What a mercy it is to be not only a man, but a rich man, a Gentleman, Knight, or Lord, &c. There is none here, but such whom God hath lifted up above thousands in outward mercies. What a shame is it for a poor Cobbler to do more service for God, than it may be some of you do, that have received so much from God. May not Christ say to you as he did to the Jews? I have done many great works among you, for which of these do you stone me? I have done many great things for you, I have given you health, wealth, credit, wit, and honour, and for which of these is it that thou blasphemest my name, and despisest my Sabbaths, and refusest to obey my Commandments? It is said of Heliogabalus, that he provided silken halters to hang himself withal, and ponds of sweet water to drown himself withal, gilded poisons to poison himself withal. O let not your honours and riches, &c. be silken halters to strangle your souls! let not your pleasures be ponds of sweet water to drown your souls! let not your preferments be gilded poisons, to poison your souls! Say as Nabal did (but in a better sense) shall I take my health which God hath given me, to sin against my God with it? God forbid. Shall I take the wit that God hath given me, to plot against God and his cause with it? God forbid.