2. We are chiefly to give thanks for spiritual mercies. They much excel those which are temporal and transitory ; therefore if there be a just esteem of the mercies we pray God for, we will bless God for them : Eph. i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.' Temporal favours we all understand, but a renewed heart is most taken up with spiritual blessings. Ephraim said, Hosea xii. 8, Blessed be God, ' I am become rich ; ' but it is better to say, Blessed be God, I was once a servant of sin, but now I have obeyed God from my heart.
[1.] These are discriminating mercies, and come from God's special love : Eccles. ix. 1-3, ' No man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things come alike to all : there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean,' &c. ; and Ps. xvii. 14, ' From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure ; Ps. cxix. 132, ' Look upon me, and be merciful to me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name;' and Ps. cvi. 4, ' Remember me, 0 Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people, 0 visit me with thy salvation.'
[2.] These concern the better part: 2 Cor. iv. 16, 'Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day ; ' the other concern the outward man : Ps. xvii. 14, ' Whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure; they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance unto their babes.'
[3.] These are purchased at a dear rate : Eph. i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Ciirist, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.' Others run in the channel of common providence.
[4.] These have a nearer connection with heaven : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of our God.'
[.5.] These incline and fit the heart for praise and thankfulness to God : Eph. i. 12, * That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.'
[6.] These are never given in anger, as outward mercies may be : Jer. xvii. 14, * They that depart from me shall be written in the earth.'
[7.] These render us acceptable to God : Ps. xi. 7, * The righteous Lord loveth righteousness ; his countenance doth behold the upriglit ; ' 1 Peter iii. 4, ' The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.'
[8.] We need acknowledge these, that God may have the sole glory of them. There are certain oj)inion8 which rob God of his glory, as that of the Stoics, quod vivamus, &c. — that prosperity is to be asked of God, but prudence belongeth to ourselves. Thus men are taught to usurp the glory of God. This opinion is sacrilegious, as if we should praise God for our felicities, and not for those things that belong to our duty and obedience. The other opinion is among christians, that teach you that Peter is no more beholden to God than Judas for his clilfereuc-
326 SEllMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XVIII.
ing grace ; but, 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' Who maketh thee to differ from another ? and what hast thou that thou hast not received ? Now, if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou didst not receive it ? ' Mat. xi. 25, 26, ' I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of lieaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes : even so, Father ; for so it seemed good in thy sight'
3. Among all spiritual mercies, we are to give thanks to God for our conversion. It is the fruit of election : Jer. xxxi. 3, ' The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.' It is not from our merit, but wholly ascribed to God's mercy : 2 Tim. i. 9, ' Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began.' It cometh not from any power in us, or ability in ourselves, but is the mere effect of his grace. We cannot break off the yoke of sin : Eom. viii. 2, ' The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death ; ' nor can we fit ourselves for future obedience : Eph. ii. 10, ' We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them.' Therefore ascribe all to the proper author.