Thatabundanceofeerldy things eaufftbpride. 683 oftheirprince,or their ownewifedome and well deferuing. So whoare more vngratefull vntoGod, then thofe who moll a- bound in riches? forfo farre are they for themoll part fromde- firing to thew their thankfìtlnefle in difpofingofrheirrichesto the glory ofGod that gaue them, in aduancing the meanes of his feruice,andin the workesofcharitie, that they feldome fo much asin their hearts acknowledge him for the author ofall their welfare, butkille their owne hands,facr:feeto theirnets, Hatxt.r6. asid &erne incenfevnto theiryàrne;becanfeby them theirportion is fat,andtheir meatplenteous:attributing veto their ownwitsand indeuours the praife of all which theypofleffe, as though by themalone they had out-firippedothers, and made themfelues owners of this plentie. Finally, who are Idle thankfullvnto God, then theywho inioymon pleafures, and euen wallow themfelues inworldly delights? For fo wholly are they taken vp with their (ports and panimes, that they haue no time to confider how gracious the Lord is, nor how inhis mercies hee doth abound towardsthem ; and to are their minds,hearts,and affe&ionsfetteredwith theirfenfualitie,andbelittledand clog- ged with thefe carnal! pleafures, that they are not able to lift them vptoheauen in any hohe meditation, orto returne true thankfulnes vntoGod, as being the fountaine ofaltheir good. Byalh ich it appeares,thatthere worldly benefitsdoerather hinder,thenfurthervs in thankfulneffe towards ourbenefa6tor, and confeueqtly remaining vngratefull debters, whoarenot willing foinuch as to returne thankes for paiment, we deriue vnto our felues,theiun difpleafureofour LordandMafter,and bringvponvs afearefull-reckoning againnthe dayofhis ap pearance,ofwhich wee mightbee difcharged,ifwe would but' thankfullyowe thebenefits whichwe haue received. In regard hereofone faith, that from thefe earthly good things when they grow great,there doe arife great euils, when asbeing pre- ferred before others in thevfe ofourmatters talents,we doe vfe his gifts,as notgiuen, returning no glorie toourbenefaelour. For fo thofewhoTeemed greaten in refpe& ofgifts recciued, Bernard. for not returning thanks, arereputed lean inGodseftimate, tet84. &c. Yea in truth,by fo much a man is worfe,byhowmuchhee isbetter;ifhe afcribe vnto himfelfe that wherein he exceìleth, and faro)) Godofhisdeferued praife : euenas he isthegreaten malefablor,
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