greatnes of thy power, wisdome, iustice, and mercy, which appeares, in thy ti∣tles, words, creatures, & iudgements: and grant that when we vse any of these, we may therein honour thee, and vse them reuerently to thy glorie.
3. The wants which are to be bewailed.
1. THE wants, which we in this place are taught to bewaile, are specially foure. The first is an inward and spirituall pride of our hearts; a sinne that none or very fewe can see in themselues, vnlesse the Lord open their eies. When our first parents were tempted in paradise, the deuill told them they should be as Gods: which lesson not onely they, but we haue learned: and wee conceiue of our selues, as little gods, though to the world we shew it not. This hidden pride, when other sinnes die, it begins to get strength, and to shewe it selfe: and appeares in vaine thoughts, continually on euery occasion ascen∣ding in the mind. As may appeare in the Pharisie, whose thoughts were these when he praied thus within himselfe, O God I thanke thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, vniust, adulterers, or euen as this Publican, &c. And as this was in him, so it is in vs till God giue grace: for so that men may haue praise & glo∣ry in the world, they care not for Gods glory though it be defaced. We must therefore learne to discerne this hidden corruption, and to mourne for it: for it doth poison and hinder al good desires of glorifying god, so long, as it doth or shall preuaile in the heart.
2. Secondly, wee are taught here to bewaile the hardnesse of our hearts: whereby we are hindred from knowing God aright, and from discerning the glory and maiestie of God in his creatures. Mark. 6.52. The disciples, through the hardnes of their hearts, could not see Gods power in the miracle of feeding many thousands with a few loaues, though themselues were instruments of it, and the foode did increase in their hands. Our redemption, what a wonderful worke is it, but how few consider of it, or regard it? If we see a man haue more wit, wealth, or honour, then we haue, wee straight wonder at him: but behol∣ding Gods creatures, we see nothing in them, because we doe not goe higher to acknowledge the loue, power, wisdome, and iustice of the Creator. And this is the cause why Gods name is so slenderly honoured among men.
3. The third corruption is our great ingratitude, for the Lord hath made heauen and earth, and all other creatures to serue man: yet he is the most vn∣thankfull of all creatures. Bestow many iewels, or a kings raunsome on a dead man; he wil neuer returne any kindnes: so men being dead in sinne, deale with God. Commonly men are like the swine that run with their groines and eate vp the mast, but neuer looke vp to the tree from whence it falleth. But the godly are with Dauid, to feele this want in themselues, and to beseech God to open and as it were to vnlocke their lips, that they may indeauour to be than∣full to God. Psal. 51.15.
4. The fourth is the vngodlines & the innumerable wāts that be in our liues, and the sinnes committed in the world. Psal. 119.136. Mine eies (saith Dauid) gush out with riuers of water, because men keepe not thy lawes. The reason is, be∣cause he which liues in sinne, reproches Gods name; euen as an euill childe di∣shonours his father. Now some will say that this cannot be: because our sinnes cānot hurt God. True indeed: yet are they a cause of slādering Gods name a∣mong