Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. A sense of it will keep us humble. A sense of it would effect that, for which it self was intended, viz. bring us to a Repentance for our Crimes, and not suffer us to harden our selves against him. When we should deeply consider, how he hath made the Sun to shine upon us, and his Rain to fall upon the Earth for our support; the one to supple the Earth, and the other to assist the Juice of it to bring forth Fruits: How would it reflect upon us, our ill requitals, and make us hang down our heads before him in a low posture, pleasing to him, and advantageous to our selves? What would the first charge be upon our selves, but what Moses brings in his Expostulation against the Israelites; ^*Do I thus requite the Lord? What is this goodness for me, who am so much below him; for me, who have so much incensed him; for me, who have so much abused, what he hath allowed? It would bring to remembrance the horror of our Crimes, and set us a blushing before him, when we should consider the multitude of his Benefits, and our unworthy behaviour that hath not constrained him, even against the inclination of his Goodness, to punish us. How little should we plead for a further liberty in Sin, or palliate our former faults? When we set Divine Goodness in one Column, and our Transgressions in another, and compare together their several Items; it would fill us with a deep consciousness of our own guilt, and devest us of any worth of our own in our approaches to him: It would humble us, that we cannot love so obliging a God, as much as he deserves to be loved by us: It would make us humble before Men. Who would be proud of a mere Gift, which he knows he hath not Merited? How ridiculous would that Servant be, that should be proud of a rich Livery, which is a Badge of his Service, not a Token of his Merit, but of his Masters Magnificence and Bounty, which though he wear this day, he may be stripped of to morrow, and be turned out of his Masters Family?

2. A sense of it will keep us humble. A sense of it would effect that, for which it self was intended, viz. bring us to a Repentance for our Crimes, and not suffer us to harden our selves against him. When we should deeply consider, how he hath made the Sun to shine upon us, and his Rain to fall upon the Earth for our support; the one to supple the Earth, and the other to assist the Juyce of it to bring forth Fruits: How would it reflect upon us, our ill requitals, and make us hang down our heads before him in a low posture, pleasing to him, and advantageous to our selves? What would the first charge be upon our selves, but what Moses brings in his Expostulation against the Israelites;