them eafy, and being difappointed of this, are apt to undervalue the Bleffings that God has bestowed upon them; or laftly, from the wicked and profane Lives of many more, who being immerfed in Brutishness aud Senfuality, have loft almost all Notions, not only of the Providence of God, but of the great Things he has done for us; I fay, what from thefe, and fuch like unhappy Caufes, it comes to pafs, that the great Duty of Praife and Thanksgiving to God, is very much neglected; and, I fear, even among fome, who, in other Refpects, are very careful of their Duty.

'Tis ftrange, I confefs, that fuch a weak and depending Creature as Man is, that owes his Being, and all the Comforts of it, to the great Love and Bounty of his Creator, and that cannot poffibly fubfift one Moment, but by the Will and Power of God, fhould neglect to pay him the conftant Tribute of Praife and Thanksgiving; this I fay, is ftrange, if we confider Man barely as a Creature, made and fupported by the Almighty Arm of God, who upholds all Things by the Word of his Power*,

But then how much more ftrange and furprising will this ungrateful Behaviour of

Heb. i. 3.

1

Man

Man appear to be, if we confider him as a Sinner, redeemed (as St. Peter fays) not with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, -but with the precious Blood of the Son of God. If we look upon him under the different Character St. Paul gives of him* to wit, Once dead in Trefpaffes and Sins, walking according to the Prince of the Power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience, having his Converfation in the Lufts of the Flesh, fulfilling the Defires of the Flesh, and of the Mind: a Child of Wrath, without Chrift, an Alien from the Commonwealth of Ifrael, and a Stranger from the Covenant of Promife, having no Hope, and without God in the World; But now, in Chrift Fefus, made nigh by the Blood of Chrift, no more a Foreigner and Stranger, but a Fellow-Citizen with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God, juflified by Faith, and having Peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift. I fay, if we confider Man with this different View, how much more aftonishing is it, that a Sinner thus redeemed, thus loved and honoured, fhould ever be found wanting in Praife and Thankfgiving! It is the leaft Return that

* Ephef. ii. 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 19.

+ Rom. v. 1.

we

we can make to God, for all his Goodnefs; and yet, if it proceeds from a truly thankful Heart, and is followed with a fincere Obedience, it is what he will most undoubtedly accept.

O let us then be perfuaded frequently and seriously to think upon the great Things God has done for us! Let us endeavour to poffefs our Minds with a true Sense of his wonderful Love to Mankind, manifefted in all his Works of Creation and Providence; but chiefly in that ftupendous Work of our Redemption; let us think upon the Breadth and Length, the Depth and Heighth of that Love of Christ, which paffeth all Knowledge; that our Hearts being inflamed with the Divine Love, we may praife the Lord for his Goodnefs*, and declare the Wonders that He doth for the Children of Men; that we may offer unto Him the Sacrifice of Thankf giving, and tell out his Works with Gladnefs; and may not only refolve with the holy Pfalmift, That his Praises shall ever be in our Mouths: "But that we will "fhew forth thofe Praifes in our Lives, "alfo by giving up ourfelves to his Ser"vice, and by walking before him in Ho

* Pfal. cvii, 21, 22.

"linefs and Righteoufnefs all the Days of our Lives."

This is what our Praises fhould always lead to, or else they will be but vain Oblations: For God is a Regarder of the Heart; and unless there is a Principle of Love and Obedience rooted there, the most exalted Praifes will never reach his Ears.