Use. Oh ! then, let us be more abundant in thanksgiving and praise. It is God's will concerning us in Christ : 1 Thes. v. 18, ' In every- thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concern- ing you.' But there are other reasons to persuade us ; as — (1.) Our profit both spiritual and temporal. It argueth a good spirit, great faith and love, when we look to God in everything, and a submissive spirit when we take anything kindly at his hands, the nations had never fallen to idolatry if they had kept up thankfulness, and con- sidered God in all their mercies : Acts xiv. 16, 17, ' Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways ; nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.' Setting up the idol chance was the great cause of perverting mankind. Besides, this is noble and delightful work, the work of angels, our work in heaven. Well, then, observe what matter of praise God vouchsafeth to you continually. If you did want many of the comforts you now enjoy, how miserable would your lives be ! A thing too near the ball of the eye is not seen well ; our comforts must be set at a distance to make us value them. (2.) Our continual dependence. It is with us as, it was with the raven and the dove which Noah sent forth out of the ark, Cen. viii. 7, 8 : the raven, feeding on the floating carrion, returned no more : but the dove, finding not whereon to rest the sole
100 SKKMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
of her foot, returned with an olive branch. Carnal men, if they can get anything- from God to support them, and they have their stock in their own hands, they care no more for him, but live apart from God : Jer. ii. 31, ' Wherefore say my people, We are lords, we will come no more unto thee ? ' (3.) Consider how thankful others are for less than what we enjoy. There are many that would be glad of our leavings, but usually those that enjoy the greatest possessions pay the least rent, and God receiveth more praise from a poor cottage than from a rich palace. But I proceed to the second point.
Doct. 2. That in thanksgiving to God we should especially own his spiritual benefits.
These are usually overlooked, but yet these deserve the chiefest acknowledgments.
1. Because these are discriminating, and come from God's special love, which floweth forth to his own people. Corn, and wine, and oil are bestowed upon the world, but faith and love upon his saints. David prayeth, Ps. cvi. 4, ' Kemember me, 0 Lord, with the favour which ihou bearest unto thy })eople.' To have the favourite's mei-cy is more than to have a common mercy. Protection is the benefit of every common subject, but intimate love and near admission are the privileges of special favourites. Now by the common effects of his providence, love or hatred cannot be known : Eccles. ix. 1, 2, ' No man knowetli either love or hatred by all that is before them ; all things come alike to all,' &c. The things w'ithout us, and the things before us, and the things promiscuously dispersed, will not discover his special love to us. Christ gave his purse to Judas, the worst of the disciples, but his Spirit to the rest as the choicest gift.
2. Because these concern the better part, the inward man : 2 Cor. iv. 16, * For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.' He doth us more favour that healeth a wound in the body than he that seweth up a rent in the garment. Is not the body more than raiment ? So is not the soul more than the body ? Yea, further, and the soul furnished with grace, than the soul furnished only with natural gifts and endowments ? 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3, ' Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal : and though I have the gift of prophecy, and under- stand all mysteries and all knowledge ; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing : And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I gi\e my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.' I am nothing without saving grace ; therefore these are the mercies for which God will be praised.
3. These are brought about with more ado than temporal favours. God as a creator and upholder of all his creatures doth bestow tem- poral blessings upon the ungodly world, even upon the heathens that know him not, that never heard of Christ ; yet saving grace he be- stoweth only as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was to purchase these blessings by his death and bloody sufferings before we could obtain them : Eph. i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual