An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

Fifthly, It is an odious thing for any man to be proud of what he hath done, for God might have done it by another if he pleased. No man is necessary to God, as if his work could not be done unless such a one do it. He hath choice of instruments, and is able to fit those for his business who are most unfit of themselves. It is matter of thankfulness that God will call and use us to do him any service, and enable us to do it; God could have put his talent into another mans hand; the riches, the power, the wisdom, the learning, the parts which thou actest by, he could have put it into other hands; he can make the dumb to speak, as well as the greatest speaker; He can make an Idiot, a Dunce, knowing and learned, as well as the most knowing among the learned. Therefore the learned, the eloquent, have no reason to be proud, but much to be thankful; He can make the weakest to do as much as the strongest; therefore the strongest have no reason to be proud, but much to be thankful; He can raise Children to Abraham out of the stones of the street; therefore the Jews must not be proud, or think that God is beholding to them for being his people; He can ordain strength and his own praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings (Psal: 8.2. Math: 21, 16.) therefore the wise and prudent have no reason to be proud, but much to be thankful. O remember, It is of Gods vouchsafement not of our desert, that we are admitted to his service.

Fifthly, It is an odious thing for any man to be proud of what he hath done, for God might have done it by another if he pleased. No man is necessary to God, as if his worke could not be done unlesse such a one doe it. He hath choyce of instruments, and is able to fit those for his businesse who are most unfit of themselves. It is matter of thankfulnesse that God will call and use us to doe him any service, and enable us to doe it; God could have put his talent into another mans hand; the riches, the power, the wisdome, the learning, the parts which thou actest by, he could have put it into other hands; he can make the dumb to speak, as well as the greatest speaker; He can make an Ideot, a Dunce, knowing and learned, as well as the most knowing among the learned. Therefore the learned, the eloquent, have no reason to be proud, but much to be thankfull; He can make the weakest to doe as much as the strongest; therefore the strongest have no reason to be proud, but much to be thankfull; He can raise Children to Abraham out of the stones of the street; therefore the Jewes must not be proud, or thinke that God is beholding to them for being his people; He can ordaine strength and his owne praise out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings (Psal: 8.2. Math: 21, 16.) therefore the wise and prudent have no reason to be proud, but much to be thankfull. O remember, It is of Gods vouchsafement not of our desert, that we are admitted to his service.