5. It prevents many sins. I shall name two: —
[1.] Hardness of heart. When we are not thankful for blessings, ihey prove an occasion to the flesh, and so our table is made a snare, Ps. Ixix. 22, and our welfare a tra}). Men go on stupidly receiving- blessings, but do not acknowledge the donor ; but when we own God upon all occasions, the creature is sanctified, and the heart kept humble : 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5, ' Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer ;' an acknowledgment from whom it cometh.
[2.] It suppresseth murmuring, and that fretting, quarrelling, im- patient, and distrustful humour which often showetli itself against God, even sometimes in our prayers and supplications. Nothing con- duceth more to quiet our hearts in a dependence upon God for the future, and to allay our distrusts, discontents, and unquiet thoughts, than a holy exercise of thanksgiving : Phil. iv. 6, ' Be careful for no- thing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.' Bless him for favours already received, and you will leave the burden of your care upon him for tlie future. God is where he was at first, and what he hath done he can do still.
Use. The use is, to press us to the serious and frequent discharge of this duty. It is a duty very necessary, very profitable, and very de- lightful ; but usually we are backward, are not as careful to render thanks for the enjoyment of blessings as we are earnest and importu- nate in the want of them. It cometh to pass partly by the greediness of our desires, as a dog that swalloweth up every bit that is cast to him, and still looketh for moi'e. Vidiati aliquando canem, saith
200 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXXIII.
Seneca, missa a domino frusta panis aut carnis aperto ore cajyfantevi, et quicquid excipit, protinus integrum devorat, et semper ad spem futtcri Mat. This is an emblem of us ; we swallow whatever the bounty of God throws forth without thanks, and still we look for more, as if all the former mercies were nothing ; therefore are warm in peti- tions, but cold, raw, and infrequent in gratulations. Partly when we have mercies, we know not their value by the enjoyment as much as. by the want. ' O^OdX/jboi tl djav Xa^irpov oy^ opcoat, saitli Basil — a thing too near the eye cannot be seen, it darkeneth us with its splen- dour. God must set things at a distance to make us value them. Therefore we are more pi'one to complain than to give thanks. Partly from self-love ; when our turn is served, we neglect God ; as the- raven returned to Noah no more, when there was floating carrion for it to feed upon, Gen. viii. 7. Wants try us more than blessings : Hosea V. 15, ' In their affliction they will seek me early.' Our interest swayeth us more than our duty. Partly from a dark legal spirit, which will not own grace when it is near us, when Christians look altogether in the glass of the law, to exclude the comfort of the gospel, and to keep themselves under the rack of perplexing fears. To remedy this —
1. Let us acknowledge God in all we do enjoy : Hosea ii. 8, ' She did not consider that I gave her corn, and oil, and flax.' We are un- thankful to God and man, but more to God. Comforts that come from an invisible hand, we look upon them as things that fall out of course, and so do not praise the giver ; therefore let us awaken our hearts to- the remembrance of God. Whosoever be the next hand, it is by his pro- vidence ; and there is reason he should be praised and owned. It is not ■he that brings the present, but he that sendeth it, that deserveth our thanks. Beasts will own their benefactor : Isa. i. 3, ' The ox knowetli his owner, and the ass his master's crib ;' and if God be our benefactor, he must be owned and loved. If a man give us but a small sum, or a parcel of land, how do we court him or observe him ! Less reason why God should look upon us, who is so high. A small remembrance- from a great prince, no way obliged, who no way needeth me, to whom I can be no way profitable, is much valued ; and will not I acknowledge God in his gifts ? When you were in distress you acknowledged, he alone could send you help, and had high thoughts of the mercy ; then what promises did you make ? The mercy is the same now that it was then, therefore you should have the same apprehensions of it.
2. Let us not give thanks by the heap, but distinctly ; acknowledge- God's mercies in all cases. Particulars are most affective : let us come to an account for God, and recollect the passages of our lives, what he hath done for body and soul : Ps. cxxxix. 17, ' How^ precious also are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God! how great is the sum of them! ' What he hath done for us before time, in time, and provided for us when time shall be no more ; the beginning of this treaty with us, the progress of his work, the many failings we were guilty of, his patience in bear- ing with us, his goodness in hearing us, his giving, forgiving, keeping us from dangers, in dangers, and deliverances out of dangers. What supplies and supports we have had, what visits of love, warnings, awakenino-s of heart !