that they have never poured contempt on One who had assumed their nature, and borne their iniquities, to deliver them. This is a depravity peculiar to man : and this is a de- pravity that has pervaded every child of man. And to what an awful extent it has prevailed in all of us, let the conscience of every one amongst us bear witness. The character of us all is but too justly depicted in these words ; " When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful0."]
This increases, rather than diminishes, through the abundance of his mercies ; as will be seen, whilst we point out,
II. The general effect of prosperity upon him —
The proper intent of God's mercies is, to fill us with humility and thankfulness before him : but, through the corruption of our nature, success,
1 . Inflates those with pride whom it should humble —
[This was its sad effect on Israel : who, as the prophet complains, " sacrificed to their own net, and burned incense to their own dragd." And if we examine the general effect of prosperity amongst ourselves, we shall find, that success in business, and acquisition of honour, and elevation in society, are for the most part the fruitful parents of pride and arro- gance and self-conceit. See how the purse-proud tradesman swells by reason of his wealth, as though he had been the author of his own success e ; and how all his former servility is turned into a conceit of his own dignity, and a magisterial
oppression of those below himf! Yes, in truth, that
saying is too often realized in every rank of the community, " Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked g."
But can this ever be the effect of spiritual advancement ? Of real piety it cannot : but of what assumes the shape of real piety, it may. Professors of religion, when they have acquired somewhat of a clearer knowledge of divine truth, are very apt to be puffed up with it, and to " become, in their own conceit, wiser than their teachers." Hence it is, that so many set up for " teachers, whilst yet they understand not what they say, nor whereof they affirm :" and many, because they have some
o Rom. i. 21. d Hab. i. 16.
e Compare Deut. viii. 17, 18. before cited, with 1 Tim. vi. 17.
f Perhaps there exists not on earth a stricter parallel between the Jews and us, than in the case of those who are elected Fellows in any of the Colleges of our Universities. Let the text be read in that view, and there will be found in it much profitable instruction to persons so circumstanced. s Deut. xxxii. 15, 18.