A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

CHAP. XXXI.

THe third and fourth are thankfulness, and humility; which are no way inferiour to the former.

Thankfulness and humility are the only means to enrich us with Gods blessings: but pride and unthankfulness, is the only way to make God withdraw, and take from us both himself, and his blessings. Because the King of Assyria said, By the power if mine arme have I done it, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent: therefore, saith the Lord, I have removed the borders of the people, and have spoiled their treasures, and have pulled down the Inhabitants like a valiant man, Isay 10.13. Aesops Crow not content with her own likenesse, borrowed a feather of every bird; and she became so proud, that she scorned them all: which the birds observing, they came and pluckt each one their feather back, and so left her naked: even so does God deal with all proud and ingrateful persons.

There is nothing more pleasing to God, nor profitable to us; both for the procuring of the good we want, or continuing the good we have; then humility and thankfulness: Yea, to the humble and thankful soul, no∣thing shall be wanting. God will sowe there, and there only, plenty of his blessings; where he is sure to reap plenty of thanks and service: but who will sowe those barren sands, where they are sure not only to be without all hope of a good harvest, but are sure to lose both their seed and labour. Ye•• fools as we are, we forfeit many of Gods favours, for not paying that easie quit-rent of thankfulness.

Ingratitude forfeits mercies, as Merchants do all to the King, by not pay∣ing of custome. Because Pharaoh saith, The River is mine own, therefore God saith, I will dry up the River, Ezek. 29.3, to 13. Isaiah 19.5, 6. Deut, 11.9, 10. Tamberlain having overcome Bajazet, he asked him whether he had ever given God thanks, for making him so great an Emperour? he confest ingenuously, he had never thought of it; to whom Tamber∣lain replyed, that it was no marvel so ingrateful a man, should be made such a spectacle of misery When the people sought themselves only, and how to have their houses ceiled and sumptuous, neglecting the house of God and his honour, thus it fared with them: Ye have sowen much, and have reaped little; and he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Ye looked for much, and lo it came to little: and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. I called for a drought upon the land, and upon all that it bringeth forth; and upon all the labour of the hands, &c. Again, when they sought Gods glory, and were thankful,

mark the difference: even from this very day will I bless you, saith God, Hag. 1.4. to 12 & 2, 18, 19. He that is unthankful for a little, is worthy of nothing: whereas thanks for one good turn, is the best introduction to another. Holy David was a man after Gods own heart, and therefore he ever mixeth with his prayers praises. Bless the Lord, ô my soul, sayes he, and forget not all his benefits, Psal. 103.2. And being of a public spirit, he discovers the secrets of this skill, as when he saith, Let the people praise thee, ô God, let all the people praise thee: then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, even our God, shall give us his blessing, Psal. 67.5, 6, 7.

Wherefore be not like the Swine, that feeds upon the Acorns, without ever looking to the Oake; from whence they fall. Or the Horse, that drinks of the Brook, and never thinks of the Spring. Yea, since God is the fountain, from which all our enjoyments flow; let this be our continual determination: He hath given us all the grace, good, and happiness we have; and we will give him all the possible thanks, and honour we can. Yea, teach us, ô Lord, to receive the benefit of thy merciful favour, and to re∣turn thee the thanks, and the glory.

And the like of Humility, Blessed are the meek (saith our Saviour) for they shall inherit the earth, Matth. 5.5. The reward of humility, and the fear of God, is riches, and honour, and life, Prov. 22, 4. If there be a hol∣low in a valley lower then another, thither the waters gather; And the more lowly we are in our own eyes, the more lovely we are in Gods: the more despicable in our selves, the more acceptable in him, as is seen in the example of the Publican, Luke 18.13, 14. And the Prodigal, Luke 15.18, 19, &c. Nor can any thing make us more acceptable to God, then the conscience of our own unworthiness: when with Iacob we can say, O Lord, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant: For with my staff I passed over this Iordane, and now I am become two bands, Gen. 32.10. When with the Publican we can confesse, I am not worthy to lift up mine eyes to heaven, Luke 18.13, 14. And with the Prodigal, I am not worthy to be called thy son, Luke 15. And with the Centurion, I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof, Luke 7.6. And with Iohn Baptist, and Saint Paul, the like, I am not worthy, I am not worthy. This is the way to obtein what we would have at the hands of God: who resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, Jam, 4.6, 10. Prov. 29.23. & 15.33. & 18.12. unto him will I look, saith the Lord, even to him that is: poor, and of a contrite spirit; and that trembleth at my words, Isaiah 57.15. He hath fil∣led the hungry with good things, but the rich he hath sent empty away, Luke 1.52, 53.

So that if thou expectest to have God bless and prosper thee, then be∣ware thou forgettest not, at whose cost thou livest; Beware, lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply,

and thy silver, and thy gold is increased, and all that thou hast is inlarged▪ thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God; and thou say in thine heart, My power, and the might of mine hand hath got me this wealth: but on the contrary, Remember that it is the Lord thy God, that hath given thee power to get wealth, and that it is only his blessing that makes rich. This is Gods own counsel set home with a very strict charge to all that have not a minde to perish, Deut. 28.10, to 20.

Many are the examples I might give you, of such as have been un∣done by their pride. While Saul was little in his own eyes, God made him head over the twelve Tribes of Israel, and gave him abundance; but when out of his greatness, be abused his place and gifts, God took them all away again. And so it had like to have fared with Hezekiah, when he but be∣gan to be puffed up with the wealth, and precious things that God had given him, 2 Kings 20.12, to 19. But most remarkable is the example of Nebuchadnezzar; who when he ascribed all to himself, saying, Is not this great Babel which I have built, with the might of my power, and for the glory of my majesty? was presently deprived of his Kingdom, and all that he had, and sent to graze with the beasts: but when he was humbled to the very ground, acknowledged the Author, and ascribed all to the God of heaven, he had his Kingdom, and all else restored unto him, Dan. 4. The way to obtein any benefit, is to acknowledge the Authour, and devote it in our hearts to the glory of that God, of whom we receive all: For by this means shall God both pleasure his servants, and honour himself. And indeed, that he may be honoured by our wisdom, riches, graces; is the only end, for which he gives us to be wise, rich, gracious. And who hath more interest in the grape, then he that planted the Vine? Who more right to the crop, then he that oweth the ground, and soweth the seed? Therefore, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength; nor the rich man in his riches, Jer. 9.23. For we have not only received our talents from God, but the improvement also is his meer bounty. Of him, and through him, and for him, are all things: to whom be glory, for ever, Amen. Rom. 11.35, 36.

And so much of the fourth means to grow rich.