3. We do not honour God as the first cause when we do not observe his providence, either in good or evil, either in our crosses or blessings. The blind world sets up an idol called chance and fortune, and does not acknowledge God at the other end of causes, as swaying all things by his wisdom and power. If evil come to them, they think it is by chance and ill-luck ; as the Philistines said, 1 Sam. vi. 9, ' It is not his hand that smote us ; it was a chance that happened to us.' So pro- fanely do most men judge of providence, and of the evil of the present life, that it is a chance: Isa. xxvi. 11, ' Lord ! when thy hand, is lifted up they will not see.' Men look to instruments and second causes, and do not regard God. If things go ill, they snarl at the stone, but do not look at the hand of him that throws it ; as if all this while God were but an idle spectator and looker-on, and had no hand in all that befalls us. Job doth better : chap. i. 21, ' The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.' Chryso- stom hath a sweet gloss upon it ; he doth not say, 6 /cXeTrr?;? dcfjelXaro, 6 XaXSdto^ a(f)et7utro, the thief, the Chaldean, the Sabean, hath taken away, but the Lord. In all afflictions we should look beyond the creature^ and not complain of ill-fortune, or chance, or stars, or constellations, or altogether of men, or instruments, or anything on this side God ; he is the first cause in any evil that befalls you, therefore see God's hand in it. So also in mercies and blessings, it is ungodliness when we do not see God in them. Wicked men receive blessings and never look up. They live upon God every moment ; they have life, breatli, motion, health, and hourly maintenance from him, yet God is not in all their thoughts ; as swine raven upon the acorns, and never look to the oak from whence they fall, and so they may enjoy the comfort of the creature, they are content, but never look higher than the next hand. The spouse's eyes are compared to dove's eyes. Cant. iv. 1 ; and some make this gloss upon it (which is pious, thou2:h it doth not interpret the place), doves peck, and look upward. When we sip and peck upon every grain of mercy, we should look up and acknowledge God. The Lord complains of this ungodliness in his people : Hosea ii. 8, ' For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold.' There cannot be a greater sign of an ungodly spirit than this unthankful profaneness. We all live upon the mere alms of God, have all our comforts and blessings from him ; and all that God expects is but acknowledgment, that we should take notice of him as the author of all the good we enjoy. Other creatures live upon God, but they are not capable of knowing the first cause ; but he hath given us a mind to know him, and capacities and abilities, there- fore this is the rational worship which he expects from us. God hath leased out the world to the sons of men : Ps. cxv. 16, ' The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's ; but the earth hath he given to the children of men ? ' But what is the rent God hath reserved to himself? Gloiy, praise, and acknowledgment. But too usual is that observation Vol. XVI. ¥
82 SERMON'S UPON" TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. IV.
true, Qui majores terras possident, minores census solvunt — Those that hold the greatest lands usually pay the least rent ; so those that enjoy most mercies seldomest acknowledge God ; then- hearts are full and at ease, and they forget God. Men are most led by outward enjoyments ; they love then- bodies best, and the comforts of the body most. Now, that we may not want arguments to love and praise God, God tries us by these worldly enjoyments which concern the body, to see if we will acknowledge him ; but usually we raven upon the sweet of comfort, but look not from whence it comes. This was the trial God used to the gen- tiles, showers of rain and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness : Acts xiv. 17, ' Nevertheless he left not himself without a witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruit- ful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.' Every time thou eatest and drinkest thou shouldst think of God. But alas ! seldom do we give God the honour of his providence ; we forget God when he remembers us. None more unworthy of any good, and more unthankful to God for it, than man.
4. Another piece of ungodliness is when we do not acknowledge his dominion over all events. If he be the first cause, he will have his government to be acknowledged. How so ? By using and under- taking nothing in the course of our affairs till we have asked his leave and blessing. The apostle saith, 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5, ' Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanks- giving ; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer ; ' that is, by the word we know our liberty, and in prayer we ask God's leave and blessing in all things that we use. To use another man s goods with- out his leave is robbery ; and so it is to use food, physic, or any creature till we have asked God's leave ; all should be sanctified by the word and prayer. When we go about any business, or undertake a journey, or fix our abode in the world, we ought to be inquiring of God ; for things that seem to be most trivial and casual, God hath the greatest hand in them, therefore we must still inquire at the oracle. It is a piece 6f religious manners first to inquire of God ; and therefore they are taxed : James iv. 1.3, ' Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain ; for that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that,' ver. 1.5. You forget to bid yourselves good-morrow or good-day, or good-speed, when you forget to consult and advise with God in prayer. The heathens would begin nothing weighty but they would still consult with their gods ; for their prin- ciple was, the gods regarded greater matters, but took no notice of those of a smaller consequence. Now by this means would the Lord preserve a constant remembrance of himself in the heart of the creature. It keeps up the memory of God in the world to acknowledge him as one that hath an overruling hand in all the businesses and aflairs of this world : Pro v. iii. 6, ' In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' The children of God dare not resolve upon any course till they have asked counsel of God. Thus God will be ac- knowledged as the first cause ; and so men are guilty of ungodliness if they do not know him, depend upon him, observe his providence, and acknowledge his dominion over all events in the world.