3. When we do not observe his providence. The blind world sets up an idol called chance, and doth not acknowledge God at the otlier end of causes, as swaying all things by his wisdom and power. (1.) In afilictions. They think they come by chance and ill-luck, 1 Sam. vi. 9, and Isa. xxvi. 1 1 ; as if instruments and second causes
138 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 4.
did all, and the Lord were an idle spectator and looker-oa, and had no hand in all that befalleth us. Job better, ' The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh.' He doth not look only to the Chaldean, the Sabean, the thief, but the Lord. In all afflictions we should look beyond the creature, and not complain of ill fortune and chance, or stars, or con- stellations, or anything on this side God. (2.) In mercies. It is ungodliness when we do not see God in all our mercies. Wicked men receive blessings, and never look up. They live upon God every moment. They have ' life and breath and motion,' and hourly main- tenance from him, and yet ' God is not in all their thoughts.' As swine raven upon the acorns, and never look up to the oak from whence they fill], so they look no higher than the next hand ; but God's chil- dren may be compared to chickens, that sip and look upwards. The Lord complaineth of Israel, Hosea ii. 8, ' She did not know that I gave her corn and wine and oil, and silver and gold.' There cannot be a greater sign of an ungodly spirit than this unthankful profane- ness. This is that which God expecteth from reasonable creatures, by way of homage, that we should own him as author of all the good which we enjoy. Other creatures live upon God, but they are not capable of knowing the first cause as we are. Idolatry and atheism had never crept into the world if men had considered who it was that gave them ' fruitful seasons and showers of rain, and filled their hearts with food and gladness,' Acts xiv. 16, 17. And surely nothing feedeth piety, and maintaineth a constant awe of God, so much as thinking of God every time we eat and driidv and enjoy any new mercy from him. But alas ! usually we forget God when he remembereth us most. He is never so much dishonoured as in eating and drinking, and in the plentiful enjoyment of outward comforts.
4. Another part of ungodliness is when we do not acknowledge his dominion over all events, sanctifying the things we use and under- take by asking his leave and blessing. It is robbery to use goods without the owner's leave, so to use any creature, food, or physic with- out 'sanctifying it by the word and prayer,' 1 Tim. iv. 3-5; that is, knowing our liberty and right from the word of promise, and asking God's leave and blessing in prayer ; or to go about any business or journey, or fixing our abode w' ithout inquiring at the oracle ; all this is ungodliness. It is our duty still to consult with God : ' Ye ought to say. If the Lord will,' &c., James iv. 15. It is a piece of religious manners. We forget to bid ourselves good speed when we do not acknowledge the dominion of God in all these cases : Prov. iii. 6, ' In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' God's children dare not resolve upon any course till they have first consulted- with God.
Secondly, God will be acknowledged as the chiefest good, and so we are guilty of ungodliness : —
1. If we do not often think of him. If we did not want hearts, we cannot want objects to put us in mind of God. Ou fiuKpav, ' he is not far from every one of us,' Acts xvii. 27. But though God be not far from us, yet we are far from God. He that is everywhere is sel- dom found in our hearts. We are not so near to ourselves as God is near to us. Who can keep his breath in his body for a minute if God
VeR. 4.] UPON THE EriSTLE OF JUDE. 139
were not there? lie is within us and round about us in the effects of" his power and goodness, but we are at too great a distance from him in our mind and affections. How many trifles occupy our minds ! But the Lord can seldom find any room there : ' God is not in all their thoughts,' Ps. x. 4. Yea, when thoughts of God rush into our minds, they are like unwelcome guests — we wish to be rid of them. Wicked men abhor their own thoughts of God, because the more they think of God the more they tremble, as the devils do. There- fore the apostle saith, ' They like not to retain God in their know- ledge,' Rom. i. This is far from the temper of God's children. David saith, Ps. civ. 34, ' My meditation of him shall be sweet.' It is the spiritual feast and entertainment of a gracious soul to think of God. None deserveth our thoughts more than he, and we cannot put them to better use. He thought of us before the world was, and still ' great is the multitude of his thoughts to us-ward.' Therefore it is vile ingratitude not to think of him again. When we hate a person we cannot endure to look upon him, and the hatred of the mind is showed by the aversation and turning away of the thoughts.