husband, friend, &c. God is his own liappiness, and admits you to enjoy him. O, what lionour is this, for the subject to drink in his prince's cup ! Psa. xxxvi. 8 : ' Thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.' And all this is not the purchase of your sweat and blood; the feast is paid for by another; only he expects your thanks to the Founder. No sin-offering is imposed under tlie gospel ; thank-offerings are all he looks for. Thirdly, God hath a book of remembrance for your service ; he takes kind notice of the little good that is in yoix, and done by yon ; not the least office of love to his name and house is overlooked, though mingled with much evil : he commends the one, pardons and pities you for the other : ' There is some good found in him toward the Lord God of Israel,' 1 Kings xiv. 13. What an honourable testimony doth God give of Asa, 2 Chron. xv. 17, that his heart was perfect all his days, though we find he took many wry steps! The little strength that Philadelphia had must not be forgot. What a favourable apology doth Christ make for Joshua, accused by Satan for his hlthy garments, — ' Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?' And for his drowsy disciples, 'The flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing!' Now, shall God take notice of the little good in his saints, apologize l"or their infirmities, commend and reward their weak services, yea, eternize their memory with honoin- : ' The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance,' Psa. cxii. 6. And dotli he not deserve to be exalted for his infinite perfections, — praised and loved, who is all good, ever good, and doing good to them ? Shall he be tender of thy name, and thou be regardless of his honour, so as to entomb his precious mercies in the sepidchre of unthankfulness? Fourthly, Consider what an ornament a thankful frame of heart is to religion. This com- mends God to the unbelieving world, who know little more of him than what your lives preach to them ; they read religion in that character you print it, and make their report of God and his ways, as they see you behave yourselves in the world. If you walk disconsolately, or murmur at Divine Providence, how can they believe that the ways of God are so pleasant as they are said to be ? It was a convincing testimony Daniel gave to the goodness of God, when he would praise him thrice a day with the hazard of his life. To see a poor Christian thankful for his little pittance, in the midst of his aftlictions, au ordinary under- standing would reason thus: Surely this man finds some sweetness in his God, that we perceive not, and is better paid for his service than we are aware of. The joyful praises of dying saints in the midst of fiery flames, have made their spectators go home in love, not only with religion, but martyrdom. Fifthly, Consider the honour that is put upon you in this duty. To attend on a prince, though bare-headed, and on the knee, is counted more honour for a nobleman, than to live in the country, and have the service of his fellow subjects. Though we serve God all the day long, yet in acts of worship we have the honour imme- diately to attend on him, and minister to him. Blessed are they who may thus stand about him ! Praise is the highest act of worship, and therefore to be con- tinued in heaven's blissM state, as other graces shall be melted into love and joy, so other duties of worship into praise and thanksgiving. The priesthood was a great honoiu- under the law. God chose Aaron and his tribe from among their brethren to serve at his altar : he would take that gift from their hand which he would not at a king's : but in this gospel state every believer hath a more honourable priesthood, because he brings better sacrifices, the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving; and while thou art honouring God, thou honourest thyself. Sixthly, Considei-, that thy praises will render thy prayers more grateful and successful. Let the river of God's mercies be returned to pay his tribute to him, its source and fountain, that it may refinid more abun- dantly to us again. The saints in their greatest straits, when they have most to beg, deliver their prayers with praise. Jehoshaphat sends his priests prais- ing God into the field, and God fights for him. David in the cave,^ — ' My heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise.' Daniel, when a trap was laid for his life, praiseth God thrice a day. Christ himself, when he woidd raise Lazarus, lif:s up his eyes and blesseth God, — ' I thank thee, O Father,' &c. When he was to sufl'er, he sings an hymn. A thankful heart cannot easily meet with a denial; ' Let the high praises of Ciod be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand,' Psa. cxlix. 6.
IN Tllli SPIUIT. •743
EPHESIANS vi. IS. In the Sphit,
We are come to the third hraneli in tlic apostle's directory for prayer, tlie j)riiici])le or spring from whence it is to flow, — ' The Spirit, — praying in the Spirit.'
CHAPTER I.