Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

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, ^*She did not know, that I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oil, and multiplied her Silver and Gold, which they prepared for Baal. They ungratefully employed the Blessings of God in the Worship of an Idol against the will of the Donor. So in Hos. 10.1. According to the multitude of his Fruit, he hath increased the Altars, according to the goodness of his Land they have made goodly Images. They followed their own inventions with the strength of my outward Blessings. As their Wealth increased, they increased the Ornaments of their Images; so that what were before of Wood and Stone, they advanced to Gold and Silver. And the like complaint you may see, Ezek. 16.17. Thus,

8. The Divine Goodness is contemn'd, 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 Scepter 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,