A95851:78
Mercies memorial
Mercies memorial: or, Israel's thankful remembrance of God in their high estate, for his merciful remembering of them in their low estate. In a sermon before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right Worshipful the Aldermen, and the Companies of the city London, on the 5th. of November, 1656. / By Ralph Venning.Mercies memorial: or, Israel's thankful remembrance of God in their high estate, for his mercifull remembring of them in their low estate. In a sermon before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right Worshipful the Aldermen, and the Companies of the city London, on the 5th. of November, 1656. / By Ralph Venning.
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1656
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
when thou shalt have eaten, and be full, then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the Land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; there is not such another time of danger as the full time. Hence it was that holy Job was jealous of his children lest they were evil in a good day, lest at the time of feasting they should curse God. Man seldom turns his back more upon God then when he hath the greatest ⟨p. 22⟩obligations even before his eyes to keep him close to God; O therefore remember this that mercies are not given only for us to use to our comfort, but they are given for us to improve for Gods glory. The Greeks have two expressions to set out riches by, the one [Greek or Hebrew], things had, or things in possession, the other [Greek or Hebrew], things used; or things improved: now [Greek or Hebrew] they account the best, which is things used, it is the improvement of mercy, that makes mercy a mercy indeed. Hath God delivered us out of the hands of our enemies, that we should commit abomination? no, but that we should serve him with holiness all the days of our lives; if not, what can we expect, but that he should take away our mercies from us, and remember us no more. O therefore take heed that you do not (while you are eating, and drinking in remembrance of God) that you do not forget God. It is but too common, that eating and drinking takes away mens stomachs as to spiritual things. Tis very sad that mercies which are given us to endear God to us, that we might love him the more, and serve him the better, should be so abused by us as to love him the less and serve him the worse; that we should take the corn and the wine and the oil, the silver and gold which God gives us, and prepare them for Baal, as they did Hos. 2.8. and they Ezek. 16, 17-21. But now what will you have us to do? you will say. Why
when thou shalt have eaten, and be full, then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the Land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; there is not such another time of danger as the full time. Hence it was that holy Job was jealous of his children lest they were evil in a good day, lest at the time of feasting they should curse God. Man seldom turns his back more upon God then when he hath the greatest ⟨p. 22⟩