Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

By how much the better we think a Creature to be, and place our Affections chiefly upon it; by so much the more deficient and indigent we conclude God: For God wants so much in our conception, as the other thing hath goodness above him in our thoughts. Thus is God lessened below the Creature, as if he had a mixture of evil in him, and were capable of an imperfect goodness. He that esteems the Sun that shines upon him, the Clothes that warm him, the Food that nourisheth him, or any other Benefit above the Donor, regards them as more Comely and useful than God himself; and behaves himself, as if he were more obliged to them, than to God, who bestowed those advantageous qualities upon them.

By how much the better we think a Creature to be, and place our Affections chiefly upon it; by so much the more deficient and indigent we conclude God: For God wants so much in our conception, as the other thing hath goodness above him in our thoughts. Thus is God lessen'd below the Creature, as if he had a mixture of evil in him, and were capable of an imperfect goodness. He that esteems the Sun that shines upon him, the Clothes that warm him, the Food that nourisheth him, or any other Benefit above the Donor, regards them as more Comely and useful than God himself; and behaves himself, as if he were more oblig'd to them, than to God, who bestowed those advantageous qualities upon them.

8. The Divine Goodness is contemned, in sinning more freely upon the account of that Goodness, and employing Gods Benefits in a drudgery for our Lusts. This is a treachery to his Goodness, to make his Benefits serve for an end quite ⟨p. 668⟩contrary to that for which he sent them. As if God had been plentiful in his Blessings, to hire them to be more fierce in their Rebellions, and fed them to no other purpose, but that they might more strongly kick against him: This is the Fruit which Corrupt Nature produceth. Thus the Egyptians who had so fertile a Country, prove unthankful to the Creator, by adoring the meanest Creatures, and putting the Sceptre of the Monarch of the World, into the hands of the Sottishest and Cruellest Beasts. And the Romans multiply their Idols, as God multiplied their Victories. This is also the complaint of God concerning Israel,