There are too many People in the World of the Humour of This _River_,
that assume to Themselves what they receive from others, without ever so
much as Thinking of the Heavenly Goodness that is the Author of Life it
self, and of all the Blessings that Crown the Comfort of it.
This Fable is a kind of an Expostulatory Debate betwixt Bounty and
Ingratitude; betwixt the Divine Goodness, and the Vain-Glorious Pride
of Corrupt Nature. And the Iniquity of our Proceeding is much the Same,
both towards God and Man. We are readier to Claim to our selves, then to
Ascribe to Others, and most Dangerously given to Mistake the Gratuitous
Blessings of Heaven, for the Fruits of our Own Industry and Virtue. The
Fountain of all Goodness, and of all Good Things is God, Blessed for
ever: But in the Dispensation of his Mercies to the World, some things he
does by Himself, others by the Intervention of Natural Means, and by the
Mediation of such Instruments as he has appointed for the Conveying of
Those Benefits to us. According to this Order, Kings are, by Deputation,
the Fountains of Honour and Preferment: And we find Men as Backward
every Jot to Acknowledge Temporal, as they are to Acknowledge Spiritual
Gifts and Bounties: So that we have Thankless Favourites as well as
Graceless Christians. What a _Babel_ do they make now of the Nature of
Things, rather then Own the Course of Providence in the Distribution of
them! Insomuch that the Faculties that were given us for the Glory and
Service of our Master, as well as for the Comfort of our Lives, and the
Salvation of our Souls, are turn’d Point Blank against the very Reason
and Intention of them. Sharpness of Wit is Emprov’d to the Dishonour of
Him that Gave it. Atheism and Blasphemy Dress’d up like a Science, and
the Understanding that was given us for the Finding out of the Truth, is
Employ’d upon Paradoxing, and Ridiculing it. They Value themselves with
the _River_, upon a Conceit, that the Fish, the Beauty, the Conveniency,
is All their Own: And what is All This now, but either to Disclaim
the Original, or to Defame it? That’s Obscure, they say, Neglected,
Over-grown, and either Not taken Notice of, or not Found: And what’s the
Issue now of This Vanity, and Distraction? A Judgment Treads upon the
Heel on’t; for Providence stops the _Current_, lays the Channel Open, and
Exposes it to Detestation and Scorn, in all its Filthiness.