and notliing so terrible as liis wnitli when it takes fire. Be, therefore, in the fear of God, stirred up to bethink yourselves what to do. It is the trick, they say, of insane persons, to spite their dearest friends most ; but what madness is it in thee to fly in the face of God with thy sins, who hath done more for thee than all thy friends, and can do more ajjainst thee than all thy enemies ! But the more to move thee, — First, Consider that God keeps an exact account of all his mercies. You cannot steal (iod's custom. He that could tell the prophet where his servant Gehazi had been, and what he had received of Naanian, will one day tell thee, to a farthing, every talent thou hast received of him. God not only keeps an accomit of thy sins, but of the mercies thou hast received; and thou must be answerable for both. Secondly, Consider how severely he hath dealt with those tlurt never had so much mercy from him as thyself. If heathens are speechless in judgment, when (iod reckons with them for their mercies, O how confounded wilt thou be, that goest from gospel dis- pensations, to hold up thy hand at the bar before the judge of all the world ! ' They are without excuse, because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful,' Rom. i. 20, 21. If the heathen that was not thankful for his penny, cannot lift up his hand in the day of the Lord, where wilt thou appear, that hast so many hundred talents in thy hand to answer for ? But thou askest, how thou art to praise God for his mercies ? Thou hast but one way to pay God, and it is a strange one, even by running deeper into his debt. What I mean is, that God who hath given thee life and being, who hath exercised unspeakable patience toward thee in his daily providence, and hath preserved and maintained thee, (although he has been most wretchedly abused by thee, and for it thy life has become forfeited to his justice,) doth yet exhibit a greater mercy, even the Lord Jesus, whom, if thou wilt, with shame and sorrow for thy past sins, come unto, and accept as thy Lord and Saviour, then wilt thou be in a posture to give God praise for his other mercies : he that rejects this, can never be thankful for any. It is Christ alone can give thee a spirit of thanfulness : there is not a Christless person in the world but is unthankful. O what a blessed gospel is this, that teacheth us here to pay debts by running deeper into the score ; to be thankful for less mercies, by accepting that which is infinitely greater !
CHAPTER LXII.
AN EXHORTATION TO THANKFULNESS.
Secondly, For exhortation to the saints; not to call you to this duty, for undoubtedly it is your practice; but to quicken you in it, and make you more in love with it. First, Consider it is a duty that becomes you : ' Praise is comely for the upright,' Psa. xxxiii. 1. An unthankful saint carries a contradiction with it. Evil and unthankful are the twins that live and die together : as any one ceaseth to be evil, he begins to be thankful. Secondly, It is that which God expects at your hands ; he made you for this end. When the vote past in heaven for your being, yea, happy being in Christ, it was upon this account, that you should be a name and a praise to him on earth in time, and in heaven to eternity. Should God miss this, he would fail of one main part of his de- sign. What prompts him to bestow every mercy, but to att'ord you matter to compose a song for his praise ? ' They are my people, children that will not lie ; so he was their Saviour,' Isa. Ixiii. 8. He looks for fair dealing at your hands. Whom may a father trust with his reputation, if not his child ! Where can a prince expect honour, if not among his favourites? Your state is such, that the least mercy you have is more than all the world besides. Thou, Chris- tian, and thy few brethren, divide heaven and earth among you. What hath God that he withholds from you ? Sun, moon, and stars, are set up to give you light ; sea and land have their treasure for your use ; others are encroachers upon them, you are the rightful heirs to them ; they groan lliat any others should be served by them. The angels, bad and good, minister unto you ; the evil, against their will, are forced, like scullions, when they tempt you, to scour and brighten your graces, and make way for your greater comforts ; the good angels are servants to your heavenly I'ather, and disdain not to carry you in their arms. Your God withholds not himself from you ; he is your portion, father ,
Y4Q WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.