In fuch Circumstances it is eafy to imagine how importunate we shall be for relief, A poor ftarving creature will be importunate at the rich man's gate. He would, to fatisfy hunger, be content to mefs with the dogs, and contend with them for the falling crumbs. The Rich man, on the rack of pain, would part with fomething of his treafure for Eafe. The condemned Malefactor would try the most moving interceffions for Mercy. The Dying Sinner would renounce all his fenfualities for Hope.

Thus Natural is it to us on all occafions to fly from Evil; to remove the cause of our anxiety and fear, and engage God and man for our prefervation. What firm Refolutions, and fair promises shall we not make, and poffibly with fuch Earneftness, that one would think it impoffible, they fhould be forgotten," on the return of light and hope? Yet fuch is our unhappy temper, rather fuch is our ingratitude, we bury all in Oblivion. The Glafs is removed, and we forget what manner of Perfons we were.

II.... I observe that when a mercy is vouchfafed, it is too foon forgotten. As unreasonable

B2

James i. 23, 24.

reasonable as this may appear, yet it is not uncommon. If our fears, which alarmed us, are quieted; if our danger, which aftonished us, is over, and our defires gratified, we think no more of obligations and returns.

The Children of Ifrael were remarkable for this difingenuity. Though very apprehenfive of danger, and as folicitous to remove it; though honoured with a feries of miraculous deliverances and triumphs; yet they foon forgot all. The Pfalmift has drawn their true Character. When he flew them then they fought bim, and they returned and enquired early after God. Then they remembered, what one would think they fhould never have forgotten, that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongue; for their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfaft in bis Covenant". They were not rightly dif pofed, nor firmly refolved for a reformation, and therefore all their forms of forrow, all their holy vows, produced no lafting fruits.

We have a famous inftance of their ingratitude in their behaviour towards Gideon. They had been long in fubjection to the Midianites, a pow

a powerful and oppreffive Enemy. God was pleased to deliver them from this fervitude by Gideon. This Great Man, at the head of their councils and arms, gave their enemies an Effectual overthrow. They were all in raptures; felicitated his. conduct, bravery and fuccefs; and offered the Government to him, and his heirs, as a fincere teftimony of their Gratitude. He generously refused that sta tion of honour, content with the glory of having rescued his Country to Liberty and Independency. Surprizing that after all this, they Should not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them; nor fhew Kindness to the boufe of Ferubbaal, namely Gideon1.

Nor is this the Character only of a People, who lived a great many ages fince; but the Same difpofition appears too much in all nations, and in all ages; namely, to lose a sense of Obligation. The Cafe of Sinners on a fick bed is too common not to be known. How fenfible of their folly, when their danger is before them? They will promife, and refolve well, to amend their ways, and live like men and Chriftians, if they might be restored to Life. They have their defire, but forget the yows of their affliction. How ftrange is this Conduct!

Judg. viii. 34, 35.

Conduct! We find it eafy in certain circumftances to yield to the impulse of Gratitude, on a change, we feel the most generous fentiments born down. This must be owing certainly to fome prevailing corruption.

An ungrateful Perfon must have fome favourite luft to countenance, which, though his fear and diftrefs took his attention from, will in a ftate of freedom draw with a strong and powerful bias; let it be fenfuality, hypocrify, pride or avarice. The Fact is plain, whatever be its cause, men are too apt to forget an Obligation. It is almost become a proverb, which ufes to rife out of General Experience and Obfervation, that nothing corrupts and putrifies fo foon as a Benefit. I proceed

III.... To obferve, that God refents fuch a deportment, reasonably expecting from us the returns of Gratitude. But where are the nine? The question carries in it fome token of refentment and indignation.

When God delivered the Jews with a fignal hand, He appointed fome monument, Rite, or Festival to perpetuate the remembrance of it: If He is pleased to deliver, his Expecta

tion

tion is, that we should glorify him. To forget a kindness is difingenuous. To forget it when it was the intention and defire of the Benefactor, that it fhould be remembered, is to add contumacy to Ingratitude. We judge in this manner among ourselves, and reflect with fome Severity on the unequal Behaviour.

Well might God be difpleafed with it when his Honour is thereby leffened, and our Benefit prevented; when things are reduced to such a state, as if they had never been; and all must go for Nothing. It will have this further ill confequence, to provoke God to deny his Help in any future difficulties. If what He has done has no good, nor lafting Effect, will he again appear for fuch unthankful Creatures? If he delivers often, will he deliver always? No fuch Ingratitude muft cut off the Sources of future Expectations and Dependence; and leave us to despair and perish in our own folly.

It is not without the highest reason, that God expects the returns of a grateful Mind from us. Because

1.) We

k Pfal. 1. 15.