ought to be thankful for them ; how much more then for pecuhar gifts, for right-handed favours ? Tell me, are not the gifts that Christ hath given thee rare gifts? What hadst thou been if Christ had not made • a difference between thee and others, by those glorious gifts that he hath conferred upon thee? Thou lookest upon some, and seest they are very ignorant. Oh ! what hadst thou been if God had not bestowed that grace of knowledge upon thee ? Thou lookest upon other persons that are unclean, profane, and filthy. Why ! such a wretch wouldst thou have been, if the Lord had not made a difference between thee and them, by bestowing himself, his grace, and Spirit upon thee.^
It was long since determined in the schools, that 'penitents had more reason to be thankful than innocent ; sin giving an advantage to mercy to be doubly free in giving and in pardoning •' and so the greater obligation is left upon us to thankfulness.
Luther hath a very famous story, in his writing upon the fourth commandment, in the time of the council of Constance. He tells you of two cardinals, that as they were riding to the council, they saw a shepherd in the field weeping. One of them being affected with his weeping, rode to him to comfort him ; and coming near to him he de- sired to know the reason of his weeping. The shepherd was unwilling to tell him at first, but at last he told him, saying, ' I looking upon this toad considered that I never praised God as I ought, for making me such an excellent creature as a man, comely and reasonable. I have not blessed him that he made me not such a deformed toad as this.* The cardinal hearing this, and considering that God had done far greater things for him than for this poor shepherd, he fell down dead from his mule ; his servants lifting him up, and bringing him to the city, he came to life again, and then cried out, 'O St Austin! how truly didst thou say, the unlearned rise and take heaven by force, and we with all our learning wallow in flesh and blood.'- The application is easy.
Thirdly, The next use is,
[3.] //" the Lord liath given the best gifts to his people, then oh that his people vjould not give God the vjorst, hut the best of everything.^
Oh ! give the Lord the best of your strength, the best of your time, the best of your mercies, and the best of your services, who hath given to your souls the best of gifts : Num. xviii. 29, ' Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave-offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof, out of it.' So I say, of all thy offerings offer God the best, who hath given to thee the best and greatest gifts. So in Exod. xxxv. 22, ' For the service of the tabernacle they brought bracelets, and ear-rings, and tables, all jewels of gold : and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.' They gave the best of the best, and so must we. Oh do not offer to God the worst of your time, the worst of your strength, the worst of your mercies, the
' There are but few upon whom God bestoweth his love. It was always a principle in morality, that sweet and intimate friendship cannot be extended to many. Friends usually go by pairs.
2 Augustine, Confessions, b. viii. c. 8. ' Surgunt indocti et ca-lum rapiunt, et nos cum doctrinis nostris sine corde, ccce ubi volutaiinir iji caruo et SiUiguiuo.' — G.
^ It is the most wicked avarice to defraud God of the oblation of ourselves, saith Chry8- ostom.
EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 119
worst of your services. That same is a very dreadful text : Mai. i. 8, 13, 14, compared, ' And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil ? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil ? offer it now unto thy governor ; will he be pleased with it, and accept thy per.son ? saith the. Lord of hosts.' Saith God, Will men be put off thus ? No, I know they won't ; and why then should you deal worse with me than with men ? Thy governors will have the best, ay, the best of the best ; and will you deal worse with me, saith God, than with your governors ?' Will you thus requite me for all my favours, 0 foolish people and un- wise ? is this your kindness to your friend ? Ver. 13, 14, * Ye said also. Behold, what a weariness is it ! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts: and ye have brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick ; thus ye brought an ottering : should I accept this of your hands ? saith the Lord.' Oh ! that God had not cause to complain thus of many of your souls, to whom he hath shewn much love. But mark what follows: ver. 14, 'But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in_ his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.' If you have better in your hands, and yet shall go to put off God with the worst, the curse will follow. Think of it and tremble, all you that deal fraudulently and false-heartedly with God. Ah, Christians ! you must say, World, stand behind ; sin and Satan, get you behind us, for the best gifts, the choicest favours that ever were given, we have received from the Father of lights ; and therefore by his gifts he hath obliged our souls to give him the best of our time, strength, and services ; and therefore we will not be at your call or beck any longer. Oh, say, the Lord hath given us the best gifts, and ' Cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacri- ficeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing.'
[4.] Fou'iildy, This should bespeak the people of God to trust and lean upon God for lesser gifts.
Hath God given thee a crown, and wilt thou not trust him for a crumb? 2 Tim. iv. 8. Hath he given thee a house that hath 'founda- tions, Avhose builder and maker is Godi' Heb. xi. 15. Hath he -given thee ' a kingdom that shakes not' ? Heb. xii. 28. And wilt thou not trust him for a cottage, for a little house-room in this world ? Hath he given thee himself, his Son, his Spirit, his grace ; and wilt thou not trust him to give thee bread, and friends, and clothes^ and other necessary mercies that he knows thou ueedest ? Rom. viii. 32, Mat. vi. 32. Hath he given thee the greater, and will he stand with thee for the lesser? Surely no. Wilt thou trust that man for much, that hath given thee but a little ? And wilt thou not trust that God for a little, that hath given thee much ? Wilt thou not trust him for pence, that hath given thee pounds ? O sirs ! hath the Lord given you himseff, the best of favours ; and will not you trust him for the least favours ? Hath he given you pearls, and will not you trust him for pins ? &c. Doth not the apostle argue sweetly ? Bom. viii. 32, ' He that spared
• If a man should serve the Lord a thousand years, saith Austin, it would not deserve an hour of the reward in heaven ; no, not a moment, much less an eternity. And there- fore, says he, we had need do as much as we can, and do all that we do as well as we can, tc.