An Exposition of Hosea 11-13, Exposition · Chapter 13 · Verse 6
VER. 6.
According to their Paſture, ſo were they filled: they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
YOU have formerly heard the gracious providence of God towards his people while they were in the wilderneſs, I knew them in the wilderneſs, in the Land of great drought. God glories much and mentions often, the care over, and goodneſs to his people in the wilderneſs; when they had got out of the wilderneſs into the Land of Canaan where there were much Paſtures, they Expoſ.thought themſelves to be well, now they could live of themſelves, they could provide for themſelves, and ſo they liv'd to themſelves, and in a little time deſtroyed themſelves, the truth is they were in a worſe condition then, than when they were in the wilderneſs, for ſaith he, According to your Paſtures, ſo you were filled, and then you forgot me, and therefore I'le be as a Lyon to you, and as a Leopard and a Bear.
We do not hear ſuch terrible things againſt them when they were in the wilderneſs.
I knew them in the wilderneſs, but now it's otherwiſe.
From the connexion note firſt,
It's better to want the comforts of the creature, and to have Gods Obſ. 1.care and protection, than to have abundance of the creature, and to live of our ſelves. We do not love a depending life, but it's ſafeſt; many have more of Gods preſence with them, and protection over them when they are in the wilderneſs, when they are in adverſity, than they have when they come into proſperity, when they come to enjoy abundance of the creatures; God knows them when they are in afflictions, and they knew God, but when they come into proſperity, God doth neither know them ſo much, nor they know God ſo much.
Examin I beſeech you, when you were low any of you, ſay, had you not more of Gods preſence with you Applic.then, than you have now? did not God know you more then? did not you know God more then? had not you more ſweet communion in thoſe times than now you have? Oh! God made you know him by gracious viſitations of his Spirit, and there were gracious workings of your ſpirit towards him. Are not you grown flat, dead, and droſſie, and carnal now more than before? do not you ſeek greedily after the world to fill your ſelves? and do not you begin to be exalted in your own hearts? do not you begin to be puft up? have you none of your friends ſo? If you know but any of your friends that when they were lower than now they are, knew God better than now they do, and God knew them, and there was more ſweet converſe between God and them than now there is, put them in mind of this text, I knew them in the wilderneſs, in the Land of great drought, but now according to their Paſtures they are filled, and their hearts are exalted, and they have forgotten me: God deliver them from the remaining part of the text, I'le be a Lyon, and a Leopard, and Bear to them to tear them. You ſeldom find in None of the Saints worſe for Affliction: many for Proſperity.Scripture any of Gods Saints worſe for afflictions; give me any one example, for my part I know not one in all the Book of God that came worſe out of an affliction than when they went in; But I can tell you of many, even of Gods dear people that came worſe out of proſperity than when they came in; therefore it's obſervable in 2 Chron. 17. 3. it's ſpoken in commendation of Jeboſhaphat, it's ſaid that Jeboſhaphat walked in the firſt waies of David his Father; David his Father at firſt was in an afflicted David.eſtate, afterwards in a more proſperous eſtate; he was hunted like a Partridg at firſt, but when he came to proſperity, his waies were not ſo good, therefore the holy Ghoſt doth put a commendation upon his firſt waies rather than upon his after waies. I fear it may be ſaid ſo of ſome, that their firſt waies when they were low were a great deal better than their after waies. This for the connexion. According to their Paſtures, ſo were they filled.Text.
According to the fatneſs and riches of the Land when Expoſ.they came into it they were filled; they fell upon whatſoever ſenſual content they could enjoy to the uttermoſt, according to what means they had for to ſatisfie the fleſh. According to their Paſtures.
They would improve all the means and opportunities they had for to give content to the fleſh, ſo that they were filled. Thus you ſee men that love to live in the ſatisfaction of the fleſh up to the height of their means, according to all means that they have to ſatisfie the fleſh, this way, or the other way, they will be ſure to have ſatisfaction if it be to be had; therefore you ſhall ſee men that have eſtates, they pleaſe the fleſh to the uttermoſt they can think of; if they go abroad and ſee any thing that may give content to the fleſh, they reſolve to have it if they can when they come home. According to all the means that they have ſo they will have the fleſh ſatisfied. Oh! how happy were men if they were ſo wiſe for their ſouls, if according to the means of grace we ſought to fill our ſouls: Oh how doth the Lord lead us in green Paſtures, and yet what empty ſouls have we!
According to their Paſtures, ſo were they filled.
But can we ſay, that according to our green Paſtures that God leads us in, ſo are we filled? Oh! we live in green Paſtures, and yet are empty. Here we ſee that men regard their bodies, regard the ſenſual pleaſures of the fleſh abundantly more than ſpiritual, as if there were a greater good in ſenſual delights, than there is in all ſpiritual comforts.
According to their Paſtures they were filled, they were filled; twice we have filled, filled.
A little will ſerve the turn in Spiritual things for men, but they will fill, and fill up again themſelves in Note.ſenſual things.
It notes the greedineſs of their ſpirits in falling upon thoſe Contentments they had to the fleſh. When they came into a fertile Land they were filled, they were filled; ſuch is the nature of men that are carnal, to fall with greedineſs upon contentments to the fleſh, and to think on nothing but filling themſelves, filling, filling, in Pſal. 78. 29. you may ſee what their diſpoſition was, even before they came into ther fat Paſtures, when God but in the wilderneſs granted them fleſh, ſo they did eat (ſaith the text) and were well filled: ſo it is in your books: but it is, They were filled very much, they were filled exceedingly, Valde, they were filled, that's the propriety of the Hebrew phraſe there; Oh! they filled themſelves to the uttermoſt they could. And you may ſee a diſcription of the greedineſs of mens hearts to carnal contentments, when they have any opportunity to enjoy them, in Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou ſee thine eyes upon that which is not? you have it thus in your books, Wilt thou ſet Prov. 23. 5. Noted.thine eyes upon that which is not? (ſpeaking of riches) Now it is according to the Hebrew, Will ye make your eyes to fly upon that which is not? A carnal heart when he ſees any way of enjoyment of carnal contentments, he makes his eyes to fly upon them, to fly upon them with eagerneſs, there was a mighty greedineſs.
According to their Paſtures they were filled.
They thought of nothing but filling themſelves, whereas there ſhould have been the mixture of other thoughts, when God brought them into their fat paſtures, there ſhould have been ſuch thoughts as theſe mixed with the enjoyment of the comſorts that God gave them, It's true, that we may enjoy what God gives us, comforts, yet, but we muſt not only ſeek to fill our ſelves, but we are to labor to mix theſe kind of thoughts with the good things that we do enjoy: As thus now;
Here I come to enjoy abundance of good in the creature, What thoughts we ſhould have about enjoying outward comforts. 1.Whence have I all this? is it not from God? They did not think of this, ſo be it that they may fill themſelves, like the Swine under the Acorn Tree ſeeks to fill the belly, but never looks from whence the Acorns come; ſo carnal hearts, they fill themſelves, but never look from whence they come; whereas a gracious heart may take the comforts of the creature that God affords, but while it's receiving of them, it looks up to God the Principal of all.
Secondly, What do I think God aims at? God gives me abundance of the creature, but what is Gods end? is 2.it only to ſatisfie my fleſh? hath God no further end than this?
Thirdly, I come now to fit my ſelf with theſe contentments, but what opportunities have I by theſe to do 3.good more than before? Surely theſe are not given me meerly to pamper the fleſh, theſe are given me as large opportunities of ſervice for God.
Fourthly, Now I come to enjoy abundance, What's the rule that God hath ſet in the Word for the ordering 4.of my heart in what I do enjoy?
Again, I come to have much now in the world more 5.than before; but O my unworthineſs! how unworthy am …of theſe comforts I have? unworthy of the leaſt bit of bread, and yet my Table is furniſhed, and I am filled: Oh! but carnal hearts they fall upon their diſhes, and powr down their full cups, and never think of their unworthineſ, how unworthy they are of the leaſt drop of water.
Sixthly, God gives me abundance of the Creature: but 6.what is it that makes the difference between me and others? others there are that are empty enough, their bellies are empty, their houſes empty, their cupboards empty; but I am filled, Why ſhould God deal thus with me rather than with others?
Again, I come to enjoy abundance here in the Creature: 7.But is there not danger, is there not a ſnare in what I do enjoy? have not I a naughty vile heart? How if theſe ſhould prove to be temptations to me to draw my heart from God; were I not better be without them? It's made (in the Epiſtle of Jude, 12. verſ.) an argument of one that is carnal and wicked, that he doth feaſt without fear, he fals upon what is before him and fils himſelf, but without fear; whereas we ſhould never enjoy fulneſs in the world, but we ſhould mix fear with it: theſe thoughts ſhould make us fear the ſnare that there may be in abundance.
Further, I have abundance; but what uncertainty 8.is there in all theſe things? I have it now, but how quickly may it be gone? theſe things taken from me, or I from them.
Again, I have much, and therefore I have a great accompt 9to give to God of theſe Paſtures that now I have, this Fulneſſe that now I enjoy will make my accompt to be ſo much the greater.
I have much, Oh but conſidering how little ſervice I 10.do for God, may not I fear that this I have it is to be my portion?
I have much, but have I not much engagements with 11.what I do enjoy? that fulneſs that I have, doth it not more fully engage me unto God than others? Carnal hearts are void of theſe thoughts in the enjoyment of their fulneſs, they care not, ſobeit they can but fil themſelves, how they get what they have, or uſe it.
Oh my brethren, our hearts ſhould be filled with theſe thoughts in our fulneſs; But it is with moſt as we reade in Iſa. 56. 12. Come ye, ſay they, I will fetch Wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong Drink; and to morrow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant: there's all that they care. And eſpecially thoſe fall moſt greedily upon carnal contentments that have been kept ſhort a long time. So it was here.
I knew thee in the wilderneſs: But according to their Paſtures they were filled; they were filled, they minded nothing but filling themſelves, now they gormundize, now they fill themſelves; As it's uſual with them that have lived very ſparingly and meanly before, if they come to a ful dyet they fill themſelves greedily more than others, ſo as to diſtemper themſelves, and occaſion Plagues and grievous Note.diſeaſes by filling themſelves greedily when they come to fuller dyet than formerly they did enjoy; when a man hath faſted to ſtarving almoſt, he had need be very careful what he doth when he comes to a full Table: Phyſitians will not ſuffer men that have faſted long to eat much; It's that which brings many diſeaſes in Souldiers and others, becauſe ſometimes they want much, and ſometimes they have abundance, and ſo they ſpoil themſelves: As we read of Saul's men that they fell upon the Cattel ſo as they did eat the blood they were ſo greedy of it. Oh let us take heed of this, this ſhould be a ſeaſonable Leſſon to thoſe that have known what emptineſs hath meant in theſe times, and now they are going into their Countries again, and to enjoy their Poſſeſſions, Oh let them take heed how they fal upon the comforts of the Creature greedily, Oh they ſhould rather prepare themſelves before hand, and ſeaſon their hearts with thoſe thoughts, that may keep them from the danger that there is in fatneſs; and when they come to their Houſes and Lands, and begin to ſtock them again, they ſhould think, Oh! what were thoſe ſins of mine when I was here before in my houſe, and enjoyed fulneſs? how little honor had God by my fulneſs before! Oh! let me now remember all my murmurings and repinings when God took away my eſtate, and let me ſeek to make peace with God even for them; In the time of my diſtreſs, I cried to God then, and I was afraid that I ſhould never come to enjoy my eſtate again, and hath God given it to me again? Oh let me improve it better for his Service than ever I have done. Such kind of thoughts men ſhould have when they come to their eſtates again, and not to fall upon them, and only ſeek to make up all again, and think of nothing elſe. There's a great deal of danger here, God hath waies to make men caſt out their ſweet morſels when they regard nothing but the filling of themſelves. It follows; And their hearts were exalted.Text
This their fulneſs puft them up; Pride is an ordinary diſeaſe that follows fulneſs. Saith an Ancient, It's hard to be in honor without ſwelling; Pride is the diſeaſe of proſperity, in Pſal. 73. 3. I ſaw the proſperity of the wicked, Difficile eſt eſſe in Honor ſine Tumore. Bern.and ſo on, he deſcribes their proſperity, and in the 6. verſ. Therefore pride compaſſes them about as a chain, violence covereth them as a garment: and hence that caveat of the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 6. 17. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded. Charge them ſaith Why the rich and great are apt to be high minded. 1.the Apoſtle, for it's uſual for men that are rich, that are full, to be high minded. Charge them.
Firſt, Becauſe that theſe things in the world, they are great things in their eyes, yea, they are the only good things to a carnal heart, they are his happineſs, and therefore he bleſſes himſelf in them, and that puffs him up.
Secondly, When they enjoy fulneſs in the world, 2.then their luſts are ſatisfied, then they have fewell for their luſts, and their luſts grows mighty high.
Thirdly, They can live of themſelves and depend upon none, and this it is that puffs them up, in Pſal. 10. 5. 3.(ſpeaking of proud men in proſperity) They puff at their Enemies, they care for no body in the world, they can live of themſelves; others depend upon them, and they depend upon none, and this puffs them up.
Fourthly, They conceive ſome excellency in themſelves, why they have more than others, as if it were becauſe 4they had more excellency in themſelves, and were more worthy than others; and they are not every body, but are culd out among others as the prime and chief, as if there were more worth in them: this puffs them up.
Fifthly, They ſee all others deſire what they have, 5.they ſee a great diſtance between them and others, and thoſe that are under them do highly eſteem of them, They call the proud, happy, they have many flatterers. They were fill'd, and their hearts were exalted, not only above Note.men, but above God. Pſal. 73. 9. They ſet their mouths againſt Heaven, and their tongue walketh through the Earth. (ſpeaking of wicked men in proſperity) They wil ſpeak againſt every one when they are high themſelves, ſcorning at the waies of God, and at his Saints; When is the time wherein wicked men that are of ſcornful ſpirits, do ſcorn and ſpeak moſt roughly againſt the people of God and the waies of God, but when they are fill'd, when they are at Taverns and have fill'd themſelves with Wine and good Cheer, then they ſcorn, and blaſpheme, and ſet their mouths againſt Heaven, and their tongues walk throughout the City and Country, againſt Parliament and all; their tongues are free at that time, it is when they are filled. Hence that Scripture in Pſal. 35. 16. Pſal. 35. 16. Noted.With hypocritical mockers in feaſts, they gnaſhed upon me with their teeth: in the time of their feaſts when they were filled, then they were mockers, and then they gnaſhed upon me. Oh abundance of evil is done by ſcorning and contemning at Feaſts, and in that reſpect their Wine that then they fill themſelves withal may be called by the name of that in Deut. 32. 33. Their Wine is the poyſon Deut. 32. 33. Applied.of Dragons, and the cruel venem of Aſps; for as it fills their bodies with heat, ſo then their ſpirits are fill'd with rage, and mallice; and eſpecially thoſe who were heretofore low, if They come to be fill'd, Their hearts are moſt exalted: Oh! the ſad examples we have of this at this day, many that were not long ſince we know in a low and mean condition, and they have gotten places, they have got eſtates and power in their hands, Oh how are their hearts exalted! Would you ever have thought to have liv'd to the time to have ſeen ſuch a change in their ſpirits as at this day? how do they diſcover their pride Notes of the pride of ſome new Officers. 1now they are got up?
Firſt, in their eſtrangement towards thoſe that they were familiar with heretofore, they go aloof off from you, they are fill'd, and now their hearts are exalted.
And then Secondly, their carriage is very high and 2.lofty, you muſt wait now if you would but ſpeak to them.
Thirdly, now they need no advice or counſel; they 3were wont to communicate themſelves to you, and to be willing to hearken to advice and counſel, yea, but they are fill'd now and their hearts are exalted, as if the exaltation of their eſtates put more wit into their heads.
Fourthly, Now they are harſh; to thoſe that are under 4.them they ſpeak harſhly and ruggedly, and care not for any under them; when they lived formerly among their neighbors then they would complain of harſhneſs and ridgidneſs of others, but ſince they are filled they are as harſh as any; and ſo before, when they were low they cryed out of oppreſſion, but when they come once to be in place themſelves and be filled, then they go the ſame waies that others go; hence that in Pſal. 73. 8. Concerning Pſal. 73. 8. Obſerved.oppreſſion, they ſpeak loftily. If you complain of oppreſſion, you have lofty expreſſions from them; It's ſpoken of wicked men in proſperity.
Fifthly, They ſhew their pride; when they are filled they cannot beat contradiction now as they were wont 5.to do, they cannot endure reprehenſion now.
Again, Thoſe mercies that not long ſince they would 6.have highly prized, now they ſlight them, now they are mean things.
And laſtly, All the uſe they make of what they do enjoy 7now more than before, it is to get higher and higher, there's all the uſe they make of all. Thoſe that have bin low and mean in their eſtates heretofore, now they begin to be filled, their hearts are exalted, and thus do they diſcover the exaltation of their hearts. Oh! but this is a great and a ſore evil, for ſo 'tis rebuk'd by the Prophet. Oh thou that haſt thy heart exalted, being fill'd it is a Why we ſhould not be exalted by proſperity. 1.ſign thou haſt a poor, low ſpirit of thine own, to be lifted up with thoſe things that thou doeſt enjoy.
For Firſt, What low and mean things are they? What are they but crums that the Maſter of the Familie caſts to Dogs? They are ſuch things as make thee never a whit 2.the better, nor the more excellent; Indeed it's ſaid, that knowledg puffs up the heart, for that puts an excellency upon the man: The heart of the wicked is little worth, let him have never ſo much proſperity. Thoſe things that thou prideſt thy ſelf in, they are no other than may be the portion 3.of a Reprobate, and have been, they are no other than may ſtand with Gods eternal hatred of thee, and Gods eternal wrath againſt thee: Yea, they are ſuch things as 4.may come from Gods wrath, and like enough they do, and it's a ſign they do when thou art filled with them, and thereby puft up by them, it's a ſign that there's a curſ mixed with what thou haſt filled thy ſelf withal. If a man comes to a Table and eats, and then he ſwels preſently upon it, God be merciful to me, am I poiſoned, ſaith An apt ſimilehe? If thou filleſt thy ſelf, and art puft up, it is an argument thy proſperity is poiſoned, there's the curſe of God in it: Had not you rather have the courſeſt dyet that is wholſom, than the daintieſt diſh with poiſon in it? Is it not better to have the Ruſſet Coat that is not dangerous, than a Velvet Coat that hath the Plague in it? Thy condition, if thou kneweſt it, it may be was a great deal better before. Oh that any Conſiderations might prick the bladders of mens ſpirits that are ſo puft up with outward proſperity; Thou art leſ, filled with ſpiritual good than 5.before, That that is ſubſtance thou haſt loſt, and thou art filled with wind. Ere long what thou haſt muſt be taken 6.away; And perhaps the right to what thou daeſt enjoy, it is but the right that a Malefactor hath to his ſupper, before the 7.day of his execution; The evil of any one ſin is a greater evil than all thy proſperitie is a good; If it doth but occaſion 8.any one ſin to thee, it doth bring more evil upon thee than all the filling thou haſt is good unto thee: Thou art filled, but often-times it falls out ſo, that the 9.very time for God to let out his wrath upon wicked men, it is when they are moſtfilled. We have a notable Scripture for that in the 20. of Job, 22, and 23. Verſes: In the fulneſs of his ſufficiencie he ſhall be in ſtraights: Job, 20. 22, 23. notedIt is an excellent phraſe, they think they have ſufficient now to live of themſelves, but in the fulneſs of their ſufficiency they ſhall be in ſtraits. and in verſ. 23. When he is about to fill his belly God ſhall caſt the fury of his wrath upon him. And in Pſal. 78. 29, 30. So they did eat and were filled, for he gave them their hearts deſire, they were not eſtranged from their hoſts, but while the meat was yet in their months, the wrath of God came upon them and ſlew the f…teſt of them, ſaith the text. Oh there's no cauſe of lifting up thy heart becauſe of thy fulneſs that thou; haſt for when thou art fulleſt then is the time of Gods hotteſt wrath to be let out upon thee, it doth but prepare thee for ſlaughter: How much better is it for the Beaſt to feed upon the Common and live, then to be brought into fat Paſture and prepared for the Butcher? When thou wert Similefeeding upon the Common, thou wert in a way of preſervation, but now thou art come into the fat paſture it is to prepare thee for ſlaughter, be not exalted in thine own heart becauſe of thy fulneſs. And it may be God 10hath reſpect to others in thy fulneſs, it's not in regard to thee. And hereafter thou mayeſt perhaps curſe the time 11that ever ſuch an eſtate befell thee, curſe the time for thy fulneſs: Perhaps upon thy ſick bed thou maieſt lie and wiſh, Oh that I had kept my ſhop ſtill, and been in my low condition ſtill, I had gone out of the world with a great deal leſs guiltineſs than now I am like to go out of the world withal, Oh be not exalted becauſe thou art full. —Therefore have they forgotten me.Text
Proud men forget God, Pſal. 10. 4. the wicked Expoſ.through the pride of his countenance will not ſeek after God, They have forgotten what need they had once of 1.of me, They have forgotten what cries they ſent up to me, what moans they made before me, They have forgotten 2.how gloriouſly I wrought for the helping of them, They have forgotten all their Engagements to me, They 3. 4. 5.have forgotten to acknowledg me, or ſanctifie my Name in all the good they do enjoy, Oh this is a ſore and a great evil, and yet an ordinary evil, aſſoon as we have our turns ſerved, God is minded no more, Pſal. 78. 42. They remembred not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the Enemy; they remembred it not: Oh! it ſhould have been in their memory, to have Sanctified the Name of God in their great deliverance; but when they were delivered they remembred it not. Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will hear you, and you ſhall glorifie me ſaith God. We call upon God in the time of trouble, and God hears us, and delivers us, but the latter part is forgotten; And they do it ſoon too, in Pſal. 106. 13. They ſoon forgot his works, ſaith the text, ſomtimes before the work is quite accompliſh'd, Oh! the Lord deliver us from this great evil, ſhall I ſay, Deliver us? I may ſay, Not deliver us from this evil only, but out of it, for it is upon us alreadie; Oh! the great things that God hath don for this Land wth in this ſix years, never ſince Joſhua's time, or Moſes's time was there a ſtory of Gods wonderful Applied to England.working for a people, ſo as the ſtory of this laſt ſix yeers will be if it be faithfully recorded, and yet though the Lord be going on in his waies and hath not yet finiſh'd it, we have forgotten, Oh doth it not appear ſo? what do men look after? everie man his own advantage, and own ends, and ſeeks to fill themſelves, minding nothing elſe. And what mighty haughtineſs of ſpirit there is in many men within this ſix yeers, Oh how have we forgotten the Lord, and forgotten thoſe Inſtruments that God hath made uſe of for good unto us! God had more honor from us when there was not the hundredth part done for us as now there is, now we (as it were) ſhake our ears, and let God do as he will, we hope we can do prettie well to ſhift for our ſelves; Oh! the Lord deliver this Citie out of this, and from this evil of forgetting the Lord when we are fill'd: You begin to have more full trading now than formerlie, now the Countrie begins to be open, and they repare to the Citie for all: Oh the Lord deliver this Citie from ſurfetting by their fulneſs, and from this of forgetting the Lord: Oh that we could but ſay, that the Lord having reſtored the trading to the City, having ſuch ful trading as now they are like to have, Oh to ſanctifie the Name of God more than ever they did; Oh how do you remember God everie time you ſee Cuſtomers come into your A Meditation for Trades-men in the City, &c.Shops, everie time you ſee the Waggons come out of the Countrie into your Streets, how do you bleſs God, and how is God honored among you? Oh that it were ſo, it's a ſore and grievous evil to forget the Lord, after the Lord hath granted us fulneſs, it's a horrible ingratitude, as if there were nothing to be regarded but our ſelves.
Firſt, It's againſt many charges that God gives beforehand to forwarn us of it. If you reade the 6th of Deuteronomy, 1.11. Verſ. and the 8. Chap. 12. Verſ. you ſhall find there how the Lord charges this people; When you come into the Land, and your houſes are full of good things, and you eat of the good of the Land, beware you forget not the Lord; beware, and forget not; beware, and forget not, again and again this is inculcated, ſhewing how prone we are to forget the Lord in our fulneſs. Oh! that thoſe of you that providence hath brought this morning, would conſider of theſe Scriptures, now God is beginning to come in with more fulneſs than before, Oh beware that you forget not the Lord God in the midſt of your fulneſs, Oh! let there be as much, or more prayer in your familie than there was in former times, that you may have a ſanctified uſe of the fulneſs that now you enjoy; yea, it's worſe than beaſtlie, The Ox knows his Owner, and the Aſs his Maſters crib, but Iſrael hath forgotten me. If the Ox be but fed, he knows his Owner: Who is it that feeds you? is it not the Lord? and will you forget him? Oh! this will loſe the bleſſing of all you do enjoy, and your hearts will grow very wicked beyond what you can imagine, you cannot imagine the evil that your hearts will grow to, if you forget God in the enjoyment of that eſtate that God ſets you in.
And it is a ſin that God knows not how to pardon: for ſo 2.he expreſſes himſelf, Ier. 5. 7. How ſhall I pardon thee for this? Why is it that God ſhould ſay ſo? as if he ſhould ſay, Though I be a God of infinite mercy, yet here's a ſin I know not how to pardon, why ſaith he, when I had fed them to the full, they committed a dultry, and they abuſed that fulneſs, Oh! how ſhall I pardon thee!
And if ever you have need of God again, how will conſcience be ſtop'd? With what face can you go to God again 3.to ſeek for help, if God ſhould bring you low, Conſcience will preſently ſay, You were once emptie and God fill'd you, and what honor had God from you? no, your hearts were exalted, and you forgot God.
And 'tis a moſt fooliſh thing for you to do ſo, you depend 4.upon God in the midſt of all your fulneſs as much as before, everie moment you lie at Gods merciemercy; though perhaps you are not ſenſible of it, yet certainly it is ſo.
A fooliſh thing it is then to forget the Lord, Your forgetting 5.God will make you forget your ſelves, and juſt it may be with God to forget you and to change the waies of his adminiſtration towards you; Oh take heed then of being exalted, and of forgetting the Lord in your fulneſs.
Truly Brethren, God had rather have his people fall into Note.any ſin almoſt than into the ſin of pride and forgetfulneſs of him, and ſpecially that of pride, Therefore you find in Scripture, That God will rather ſet the Devil upon his people than to have their hearts exalted; as Paul, leſt he ſhould be lifted up above meaſure he had a prick in the fleſh, the buffeting of Satan, God had rather ſee the Devil buffeting of his people than to ſee the hearts of them to be exalted.
Yea, he had rather ſuffer them to fall into any other ſin. Note.Charge your ſouls then againſt this, as David in Pſal Pſal 103. 2. Urged.103. at the beginning, Bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, and all that is within me bleſs his holy Name; bleſs the Lord, O my ſoul, and forget not all his benefits: See what a charge he puts upon his ſoul, Oh my ſoul thōu haſt received many benefits from the Lord, and there is this deadneſs in thee, if thou beeſt but left to thy ſelf, thou wilt forget the Lord, and this will be a ſore evil in thee, Oh my ſoul, forget not all his benefits. Oh that you would go home and charge your ſouls not to forget the Lord and all his benefits; let Husband put Wife in mind with this charge, and Wife the Husband, but eſpecially your ſelves in ſecret, between God and your ſelves, to charge your ſouls, not to forget his benefits.
The more we remember God in the bleſſings we have, the more ſweet will our bleſſings be to us. You have a 6.great many mercies, but when you forget God, you loſe the verie ſweetneſs of all your mercies; Oh! when you can ſee a merciemercy, and ſee the God of that merciemercy, then it's ſweet; when I can ſee a merciemercy, and the Fountain from whence it comes, and whither it tends, then the merciemercy is ſweet; Oh! therefore you deal fooliſhlie in forgetting the Lord.
And the more ſafe you will be;7.
And the more eminent you will be in grace, Oh what a lovely object is it to behold a man or woman in the 8.mideſt of all outward enjoyments to be Heavenlie and Spiritual; I ſay, the Graces of ſuch, Oh! they gliſter like Diamonds, like moſt precious Pearls indeed; and therefore remember the Lord in al the good things that you do enjoy. It follows;