Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That abundance of eerld y things eauff tb pride. 683 oftheir prince,or their owne wifedome and well deferuing. So who are more vngratefull vnto God, then thofe who moll a- bound in riches? for fo farre are they for themoll part from de- firing to thew their thankfìtlnefle in difpofing ofrheirrichesto the glory ofGod that gaue them, in aduancing the meanes of his feruice,and in the workes ofcharitie, that they feldome fo much as in their hearts acknowledge him for the author ofall their welfare, but kille their owne hands,facr:feeto their nets, Hatxt.r6. asid &erne incenfe vnto theiryàrne;becanfe by them their portion is fat,and their meat plenteous: attributing veto their own witsand indeuours the praife of all which they pofleffe, as though by them alone they had out-firipped others, and made themfelues owners of this plentie. Finally, who are Idle thankfullvnto God, then they who inioy mon pleafures, and euen wallow themfelues in worldly 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 in his mercies hee doth abound towardsthem ; and to are their minds,hearts,and affe&ionsfettered with theirfenfualitie,and belittled and clog- ged with thefe carnal! pleafures, that they are not able to lift them vptoheauen in any hohe meditation, orto returne true thankfulnes vnto God, as being the fountaine of al their good. By alh ich it appeares,thatthere worldly benefits doerather hinder,then further vs in thankfulneffe towards ourbenefa6tor, and confeueqtly remaining vngratefull debters, w ho are not willing foinuch as to returne thankes for paiment, we deriue vnto our felues,the iun difpleafure of our Lord and Mafter,and bring vpon vs afearefull- reckoning againnthe day of his ap pearance,ofwhich wee might bee difcharged,ifwe would but' thankfully owe thebenefits whichwe haue received. In regard hereof one faith, that from thefe earthly good things when they grow great,there doe arife great euils, when as being pre- ferred before others in the vfe of ourmatters talents,we doe vfe his gifts,as not giuen, returning no glorie to ourbenefaelour. For fo thofe who Teemed greaten in refpe& of gifts recciued, Bernard. for not returning thanks, are reputed lean in Gods eftimate, tet84. &c. Yea in truth,by fo much a man is worfe,by how much hee is better ;if he afcribe vnto himfelfe that wherein he exceìleth, and faro)) God ofhis deferued praife : euen as he is the greaten malefablor,