The Prevention of Poverty, Chapter 2 – Chapter 3
CHAP. II.
GOD hath bestowed more blessings upon many men, than they have hairs on their heads, yea, God hath given them far larger portions of this worlds wealth, than he hath done to millions of their brethren; they so grow and increase in substance, as if they had found out the Philosophers stone, and had the art to turn copper into gold; or as if with Thales they had the faculty to fore-see what commodities will be cheap, and what dear: and the more God hath bestowed upon them, the greater is their debt of thankfulness, and the greater their duty of obedience: But alass,
They are like the hog, that acornes feed upon,
But never look up from what tree they come:
Or they more regard the gift than the giver; as Martia, Catoes daughter, found it to fare with her Suitors, who being asked why she did not marry, made answer, that she could not meet with a man that would love her more than hers.
Perhaps they will profess they love God, and afford him a kind of verbal thanks; so resembling the Elder-tree, whose slour is more worth than all the tree besides. Or Nazianzons Country of Ozizala, which abounded with gay floures, but was barren of corn; for their thanks is a meet complement, and their lip-love no other than self-love, as any one may see by these few signs. As observe but how easily they are moved at their own injuries, how patient at Gods: let their own credits or riches be troubled, they rage like Lions, let Gods honour be questioned, they are as tame as Lambs: If the aspersion of scandal lights upon their names, there is sute upon sute, from Court to Court, all to begger the raiser of it, let the Lords dreadful name be blasphemed, they are so far from spending a penny, that they will not spare a sillable: like Jonah they are more moved for the losse of their gourd, than for all Nineveh; which could not be if they did in the least love God, or were thankful, as they say they do and are.
Yea, it were well If this were the worst, if they were onelyonly negative, if they did return nothing for all the loving kindness of God, and good they have received from him for they return evill; as may not God say to these, I mean all unholy and unmerciful rich men, as Sarah spake to Abraham concerning Hagar, I have given thee mine handmaid, and How I am despised in thine eyes; And commonly this is the return that rich men make to God; for as oftentimes he who lendeth money unto his friend, looseth both money and friend too, as Seneca observes; so fares it between God and the ingrateful. As our stomacks are usually worst in summer, so are our appetites to grace-wards: weakest in time of prosperity and peace. And as the Moon, when she is fuller of light, is still farthest from the Sun, so the more wealth men have, the farther commonly they are from God. Too much rankness layeth the corn, and trees overladen with fruit are their own ruine. God hath thrown away a little white and red earth upon thee, and thou art like some vain Whiffler, that is proud of his borrowed chain. It had been happy for many a man, if God had permitted them to be poor still; for as Saul was changed to another man presently upon his aneynting, so are men commonly upon their advancement, and according to our ordinary proverb, their good and their bloud rises together: As if you observe, what ever they were before, if they be now but a little crossed, they will swell like the Sea in a storm, and be more troubled at an affront from their inferiour or equall, than for death or hell.
Yea, how many with their greatness have such great thoughts of themselves, that God himself must not displease them: for if an unseasonable shower doth but crosse their recreations, they are ready to fall out with heaven, and to quarrel with God himself (like Mrs. Minkes riding to Ware) as if they were wronged, because he did not take his times, when to rain, and when to shine, resembling therein the Horse, that being over-much pampered will grow sierce, and kick, and not abide his rider. Or the Mules Fole, who when she hath suckt her fill, and hath enough of her damms milk, casteth up her heels and kicks unkindly. But he is a very quarrellous curr, that barks at every horse, and In the silent night the very moon-shine opens his clamourous throat. Now how do we not then wonder and blesse our selves, that such men injoy so much, something, any thing! yet hear all, and you will confess that others are more beholding to God, whom he denies, and keeps short of these bewitching baits of wealth and greatness.
But I have not told you one half of their base ingratitude, for commonly when they have been fatted with Gods blessings, they not onelyonly spurn at his precepts, but as if they studied to be superlative in their provoking of him; they return the greatest and most malitious evill for the greatest and most admired love, even hating God and his people, John 15. 24, 25. yea, they most spightfully and malitiously fight on Satans and sins side against Christ, and persecute his members, and the truth, with all their might, perswading, and as far as they can, inforcing others to do the same; and all this against knowledge and conscience, as I have upon another occasion made it plainly appear, though the Devill so blinds them, that there is no convincing them thereof.
Thus theis sin is many degrees beyond ingratitude it self; it is a wickedness of that nature, that there is no name significant enough to express it. Yea, to receive so many, such good things at the hands of God, and return such, and so much evill, is a desperate wickedness not to be endured.
CHAP. III.
BUt observe what they get by it, and how God (even here) payes them again in their own coin; whereof I will give you several instances, for God does not deal alike with all in this case, but is various in these kinds of retaliation. If I be large upon this point, consider of what consequence and concernment it is, and you will not blame me for prolixity: yea, admit it should be supposed a digression, yet would I hope to have thanks for it.
First, How many are there, to whom God gives abundance of wealth, and after some few years (for their abusing the same, and their great unthankfulness) taketh from them again, even that which he had formerly given them? Yea, how many hundreds are there every year, even in this City, reputed good men, yea, formerly known to be so, which all on a sudden have shut up their shop windows, and broke for thousands. Neither was the talent onelyonly taken from him in the Gospel, that evill servant was but a type of many, that should have their talents taken away.
The Hind in the Fable (O that it were but a fable) being hunted by the Dogs, hid her self under a vine, whose broad leaves covered her, where perceiving many sweet grapes, she in requital began to eat them, but by her breaking and pulling them, she made such a noyse and shaking of the leaves, that she was soon perceived by the hunts-men, and so taken and devoured by the Dogs; such is the gain of unthankfulness. The ingrateful man forfe its all Gods favours even what he hath, and what he might further expect, meerly for want of paying that small quit-rent of thankfulness.
Strabo reports in his 8. Book, that the Sea, raised by an earthquake, overflowed the City of Helice, distant twelve furlongs from it, and drowned all the Inhabitants thereof for their inhospitallity to the Ionians.
The Lords impost for all his blessings is our thankfulness, if we neglect to pay this impost, the commodity is forfeit, and God will take it back, our returns are expected according to our receits.
So that it is hard to determine, whether the ingratefull person be more wicked, or simple; for what man is so mad, as to purchase barren lands that will bring forth nothing but weeds, bryars and thornes? Or who will not be willing to sow plentifully, where he shall reap plentifully?
The best meanes to get more, is to be thankful for what we have, God loves to sow much where he reapes much. Thankfulness for one benefit inviteth another, but to do good to an unthankful body, is to sow corn on the sand, and such speed thereafter. For the earth, which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and briugeth forth hearbs, meet for him by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth thornes and bryars is reproved, and is neer unto cursing, whose end is to be burned, Heb. 6. 7, 8. Whence arises this conclusion, that want of piety is the conviction of folly. But