Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

682 That abundance ef J thingteaafeth pride. vpon vs : contrariwife we are moa gratefull when weereceiue iris benefits with a (paring hand,and betterelceme them, whé We enioy thembut Tome fewdaies in the yeere,then if wee had continuall vfe ofthein throughout ourwhole hues. And as our eyes doe worfe fee thofè obieets whirls are clofell to them, and thofe better which in a conuenient diflance arc remoued from them; fo we are moll blind in feting and acknowledging thofe benefits which we hold dole in our poffeffion, but better ligh- ted when they arc a little remoued from vs. By reafon of which our groffe ingratitude,the Lord is faine to pull from vs fome of his gifts, that wee may be thankfull vnto him for the ref!; to withdraw them for a time,that we may learne better to eleeme them for euer afterwards; and to depriue vs altogether offome ofhis benefits,that we who neuer thought of them, while! we had thetn,may glue them deferued praitè at parting; & that we who were not thankful for that which we efteemed not while(} wee had it,may by the want learnt the value, and duly efiee- sning it,maynow be thankfull,if it be relpred againe;or ifnot s.Chron. a 1.4. fo,yet at leafi becaufe once we had it. And thus Rehaboam was & 1:.t.6. more thank full becaufe hee had two tribes left vnto him,then a Chron ;q. when he raigned ouer all the twclue. And Mana(fes returneth I,,. r3. praile to God for his reftoring, who neuer thought of Gods mercie before hewas refirained. Yea who may not obferue in his owne experience,that the more men abound in all worldly profperitie,the more vngratefull they are vnto God for his bit fings ; and that where he foweth the molt feede of his rich be- nefits,there he commonly reapeth leal! fruits of thankfulneffe? who feeth not that theywho are in honourable callings, take lea! care to honour God? and whereas they being aduanced aboue others,fhould as much excel! them in thankfulnefhe, as they doe in place: and in a liuely acknowledgement of his mer- cies towards them, fhould confeffe his goodneffe before the fonnes ofmen, and being let in theft high places, should like lights,fhinc to the glory ofGod in their hues and conuerfati- ons; they commonly are more vnthankfvll then thofe,who are in the meanell condition, and become examples and prefidents ofall f nne,and in lead of acknowledging the mercie ofGod in their honour and preferment, are roadie to rob him ofhis glory,and to attribute all,either to their progenitors,the favor of