God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances

5. Those Sins are the testimonies of the highest Ingratitude conceivable. Ingratitude is the worst of Sins; and sinning after Deliverance is the worst Ingratitude. This is unkindness that pierces the heart of God, to rebel against him, dealing with us as the dearly beloved of his Soul. How ungrateful is't to assassinate a Prince, to whose care we owe our Lives and Fortunes? To rip open the bowels of her, to whom we owe our being? So is it to dishonour a God, that is both our Protector and Benefactor, our Preserver and Deliverer. David was ⟨p. 41⟩greatly incensed at the Ingratitude of churlish Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.21. Surely in vain have I kept all this fellow had in the wilderness, and he requites me evil for good. Will not the Almighty thus complain of an ungrateful people; Surely in vain have I kept them from the hands of their bloody Enemies, in vain I have delayed the execution of Judgment, since all my return is Dishonour for Deliverance, sinning for saving of them? May not God speak to us, after the manner our blessed Saviour spoke to the Jews? For which of my good works do you stone me? For which of my good Works do you sin against me? Will you oppose me, because I appear so often for you? Will you hate me, because I help you? Will you rebel, because I relieve you? Is this the fruit of my Goodness? The Lord was greatly offended with his Vineyard, Isai. 5. because after all his care to make it fruitful, it brought forth wild grapes. I looked it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. When God bestows any Mercies upon us, his eye is upon us to see what improvement we are making of them: He looks to see what •hou dost with thy Time, thy Talent; ⟨p. 42⟩His eye is upon thee, to see what use thou makest of Means, Deliverances, and all thy Enjoyments: And when he uses good means, he looks for good fruit; and if we ungratefully bring forth wild Grapes, we shall highly provoke him, and to our disadvantage displease him. How intolerable a Sin must it needs be, to fight against God with his Goodness? to mischief his Honour with his Mercies? Should you be an instrument of raising a decayed Friend, and he turn your Enemy, and use the estate procured by you, to manage mischievous designs against you, would you not count it intolerable baseness?