Dunton's remains, or, The dying pastour's last legacy to his friends and parishioners ... by John Dunton ... ; to this work is prefixt the author's holy life and triumphant death : and at the latter end of it is annext his funeral sermon.

14. Of Gratitude and Ingratitude.

Thankfulness is the tribute of our Affe∣ctions, which we pay as a Rent-charge to the great Lord of Heaven and Earth, by which we acknowledge his property in us, and our Loyalty to him for all his blessings both for Soul and Body; and nothing can out us of Possession, discard us of our free∣dom, or cancel the obligation of his love to us, but Ingratitude, that monster in nature, which was one of the grand sins, which ejected A∣dam out of his Garden of Paradice, into a wil∣derness of Sin; transformed Nebuchadnezar from a man to a Beast, till he returned bet∣ter manner'd; and smote Herod in his Judg∣ment-seat, because he gave not God the glory. Great God! in whose hands are all the Corners of the earth, and the fulness thereof, in whatsoever possession of thy blessings thy good∣ness please to place me as Tenant for life; O

may I esteem it far beyond my deservings, that I may learn to be thankful: And suffer not, I pray thee, my nature so ill to degenerate into In∣gratitude, as to alienate thy affections from me, to out me of the Eden of thy favour; and let me not be so blockishly dull, as not to acknow∣ledge thy property; or so arrogantly peccant to rob thee of thy honour, lest deservedly I incur thy righteous displeasure, but ingratiate my heart, I beseech thee, with so good a nature, as I may render my self a more perfect Creature, to give thee thy dues belonging to thy honour, and my self the comfort of thy gracious dispensa∣tions towards me.