As If the Lord had said, I will make them know that I can take these things away, seeing they would not know, or at least not acknowledge ⟨p. 173⟩that I am he who gave them. Carnal men attribute their good things, and the filling of their houses with them to any thing rather then to God. They thank their friends or their good fortune; they thank themselves, their policy, their industry, for what they have. They ascend not up to God in thankfulness for what they have. They who say, What can the Almighty do for them? How should they acknowledge, that the Almighty hath done any thing for them? The Prophet (Hab: 1.16.) speaks of men those portion was fat, and their meat plenteous; but to whom did they refer all this? whom did they acknowledge for their benefactor, or as the cause of those great successes? The Prophet tells us, They sacrificed to their nets, and burnt incense to their drags. The words carry an allusion to fishing, in which work or art netts and drags are the instruments of the fisherman; so that to sacrifice to the net or to the drag, is to give the honour and thanks of all our attainments to second causes, and creature helps, to our own wit, power, and industry, &c. To these saith the Prophet they sacrificed; That is, they honoured them in the place or stead of God; Sacrifice it proper and peculiar to God, and therefore he that offers sacrifice to any thing, makes it his God, or puts it in the place of God; They who thank themselves for the good they have, are a God to themselves. And thus we find The Assyrian ascribing all to his own power (Isa. 10.14) By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent, and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man; he did not think that the Lord did it by his hand, but (saith he) by the strength of my hand I have done it: 1my right hand, is my God, my wisdom is my God. These, these, have removed the bounds of the people, and robbed their treasures. See how the Lord checks this insolency (v. 15.) Shall the axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith, or shall the saw magnify it self against him that shaketh it? Men (I grant) are living instruments, yet they can do no more then instruments without life (the axe and the saw) unless God act them, or act by them.
As If the Lord had sayd, I will make them know that I can take these things away, seing they would not know, or at least not acknowledge ⟨p. 173⟩that I am he who gave them. Carnal men attribute their good things, and the filling of their houses with them to any thing rather then to God. They thanke their friends or their good fortune; they thanke themselves, their policy, their industry, for what they have. They ascend not up to God in thankfulnes for what they have. They who say, What can the Allmighty doe for them? How should they acknowledge, that the Allmighty hath done any thing for them? The Prophet (Hab: 1.16.) speaks of men those portion was fatt, and their meate plenteous; but to whom did they referre all this? whom did they acknowledge for their benefactor, or as the cause of those great successes? The Prophet tells us, They sacrificed to their nets, and burnt incense to their drags. The words carry an allusion to fishing, in which worke or art netts and drags are the instruments of the fisherman; so that to sacrifice to the net or to the dragge, is to give the honour and thanks of all our attainements to second causes, and creature helps, to our own wit, power, and industry, &c. To these sayth the Prophet they sacrificed; That is, they honoured them in the place or stead of God; Sacrifice it proper and peculiar to God, and therefore he that offers sacrifice to any thing, makes it his God, or puts it in the place of God; They who thanke themselves for the good they have, are a God to themselves. And thus wee finde The Assyrian ascribing all to his owne power (Isa. 10.14) By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdome, for I am prudent, and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put downe the inhabitants like a valiant man; he did not thinke that the Lord did it by his hand, but (saith he) by the strength of my hand I have done it: 1my right hand, is my God, my wisdome is my God. These, these, have removed the bounds of the people, and robbed their treasures. See how the Lord checks this insolency (v. 15.) Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therewith, or shall the saw magnifie it selfe against him that shaketh it? Men (I grant) are living instruments, yet they can doe no more then instruments without life (the axe and the saw) unlesse God act them, or act by them.
- 1Dextera mihi deus. Virg: 1.10. Sanct: