The second thing to be observed is the gorse ingratitude 1of our corrupt natures: whereby it cometh to pass that the more God multiplieth his mercies, the more ready we are to rebel against him, and to provoke his wrath by our sins; for whereas Gods manifold benefits multiplied upon us should make us to humble our selves before him, in that he hath made us so deeply indebted to his infinite goodness; we contrariwise abusing them, make them serve as so many steps whereby we may ascend into the seat of pride; whereas they should serve as so many common places to put us in mind of Gods gracious goodness towards us; we abusing them are made hereby more forgetful of God, as though now being throughly furnished, we had no further need of his help; whereas they should serve as so many motives to stir us up to holy obedience, that thereby we may glorify God, the author of all our good; we hereby grow more undutiful, like cockered children towards their Parents, or pampered horses towards their masters, and are ⟨p. 175⟩more ready to fall into the sins of pride, voluptuousness, love of the world, profaneness, and utter neglect of religion and all religious duties; whereas the abundance of Gods blessings which we enjoy, should make us to pity, and take compassion on those who want them, they abused through our corruption, do make us to disdain & contemn them; furious and cruel in revenge, and insolent in offering wrongs and injuries. And hence it is that the Lord doth so carefully warn the Israelites, that when they did enjoy all the blessings of Canaan, they should not forget and rebel against him. Deut. 6. 10. 11. 12. Into which sin they shamefully 2fell, notwithstanding they were thus admonished. So Psal. 62. 10. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Examples of this ungrateful abuse of Gods blessing, we have in Saul, Jeroboam, Naball, Nebuchadnezzar, 3the people of Israel: but never was age more fruitful of these examples, never land more plentiful in these ungrateful presidents, then this of ours; wherein the more the blessings of God abound, the more pride, forgetfulness of God, contempt of Religion, and the utter neglect of all holy duties abound likewise; so that hard it is to find a man bettered by Gods benefits; or more zealous of Gods glory, the more blessings they receive from him;
The second thing to be obserued is the gorse ingratitude 1of our corrupt natures: whereby it commeth to passe that the more God multiplyeth his mercies, the more ready we are to rebell against him, and to prouoke his wrath by our sinnes; for whereas Gods manifould benefits multiplyed vpon vs should make vs to humble our selues before him, in that he hath made vs so deepely indebted to his infinite goodnesse; we contrariwise abusing them, make them serue as so many steps whereby we may ascend into the seate of pride; whereas they should serue as so many common places to put vs in minde of Gods gracious goodnes towards vs; we abusing them are made hereby more forgetfull of God, as though now being throughly furnisht, vve had no further neede of his helpe; vvhereas they should serue as so many motiues to stirre vs vp to holy obedience, that thereby vvee may glorifie God, the author of all our good; vve hereby grow more vndutifull, like cockred children towards their Parents, or pampred horses towards their maisters, and are ⟨p. 175⟩more ready to fall into the sinnes of pride, voluptuousnesse, loue of the world, profanenesse, and vtter neglect of religion and all religious dueties; whereas the abundance of Gods blessings vvhich vve injoy, should make vs to pittie, and take compassion on those who want them, they abused through our corruption, doe make vs to disdaine & contemne them; furious and cruell in reuenge, and insolent in offring wrongs and injuries. And hence it is that the Lord doth so carefully vvarne the Israelites, that when they did injoy all the blessings of Canaan, they should not forget and rebell against him. Deut. 6. 10. 11. 12. Into vvhich sinne they shamefully 2fell, notwithstanding they were thus admonished. So Psal. 62. 10. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Examples of this vngratefull abuse of Gods blessing, we haue in Saul, Ieroboam, Naball, Nebuchadnezzar, 3the people of Israell: but neuer vvas age more fruitfull of these examples, neuer land more plentifull in these vngratefull presidents, then this of ours; wherein the more the blessings of God abound, the more pride, forgetfulnesse of God, contempt of Religion, and the vtter neglect of all holy duties abound likewise; so that hard it is to finde a man bettered by Gods benefits; or more zealous of Gods glory, the more blessings they receiue from him;
- 1Our ungrateful abuse of Gods benefits.Our vngratefull abuse of Gods benefits.
- 2Deut. 6. 10. 11. Psal. 62. 10. 1. Tim. 6. 17.
- 3Hos. 10. 1. and 13. 6.
