July 30, 2013

Benjamin Austin (fl. 1641-1650) on God's Favors to the Wicked

"Who afore would not have supposed these murmuring Israelites to be in a happy estate, they did ask only for flesh and were fed with quailes, they desired cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic, God feedeth them a whole month with the daintiest food. Their bellies were now filled with God's hid treasure, and they had more then heart could wish. But at the length this proveth a curse, as all God's blessings are to the wicked: who punisheth men the more, because they make not the right use of his manifold favours, which he continually heapeth on them. God giveth them to show his love, and to draw men unto him, but proud man receiveth them as due debts, and not as any favours from the most High, and therefore are they not profited, not benefited by them."

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