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blessings in heavenly places in Christ.' Other blessin_o:s rim in the chan- nel of common providence, these in the channel of Christ's mediation,
4. Because these are pledges of eternal blessings, and the beginnings of our eternal well-being. The life tliat is begnn in us by the Spirit is perfected in heaven : John v. 24, ' He that heareth my words, and believeth on him that hath sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life.' It is a spark that shall not be quenched, and the food that feedeth it is the meat that ' perisheth not, but endureth to everlasting life,' John vi. 27. Tliose graces and eternal blessedness are to be linked together, that they cannot be separated : Eom. viii. 30, ' Whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified.' Sanctification is included in the last word ; here in the beginnings by sanctification, and hereafter in the full possession of eternal glory. So 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 the Lord.' It loseth itself in the ocean of eternal glory and happiness.
5. These incline and fit the heart for praise and thankfulness to God. There is an occasion to praise God, and a disposition and a heart to praise God. Outward benefits give us the occasion to praise God, but these not only the occasion, but the disposition ; other bene- fits are the motives, but these the preparations, as they do fit and incline the heart. The work of faith and love do set the lips wide open to magnify and praise the Lord. Grace is the matter of God's praises, and gives also a ready will to praise him, yea, the very deed of praising him : Ps. Ixiii. 5, ' My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.' When they feel the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, thev are inclined to praise God.
G. Temporal favours may be given in anger, but the graces of the S]iirit are never given in anger. God may give us worldly honour and riches in judgment, and indulge large pastures to beasts fatted for destruction ; but he giveth not faith and love in anger, or a renewed heart in anger, but as a token of his special love : ' To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,' Mat. xiii. 11 ; 'To you it is given to believe,' Phil. i. 19. So that for these principally we should praise the Lord. We have a quick sense in bodily mercies, but in soul concernments we are not alike affected. We think God dealeth well with them to whom he giveth greatness and honour ; but doth he not deal well with you to whom he hath given his Spirit ?
7. These render us acceptable unto God. A man is not accepted with God for his worldly blessings ; he is indeed the more accountable unto God, but not of greater account with him : Luke xii. 48, ' For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall the more be required.' The more helps and the more encouragements, the more work and service God expecteth, but they are not more precious in his sight for temporal things' sake. Under the law the rich and poor paid the same ransom ; the rich is not accepted for his riches, nor the poor man despised for his poverty ; but now the saving graces of his Spirit are acceptable with God. It is said, 1 Peter iii. 4, ' A meek and quiet
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spirit is in the sight of God of great price.' God esteemeth this more, and therefore it should heighten the esteem of grace in our hearts, and quicken us more to get and increase it.
8. Tliese benefits should be acknowledged, that God may have the sole glory of them, for he is ' the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift,' James i. 17. It was the opinion of the stoics, Quod vivamus deorum munus est, quod hene vivamus nostrum — Our natural being we ascribe to God, but our moral perfections we are apt to usurp the glory of them to ourselves. Judicium hoc est omnium mortalium, saith Tully. All men think that prosperity and success is to be asked of the gods, but prudence and good management belongeth to us. But these opinions are sacrilegious, and rob God of his chiefest honour ; therefore, to prevent spiritual pride, we must be sure to bless God for spiritual blessings ; our crowns must be ' cast at the feet of the Lamb,' Eev. iv, 10, 11, for he only is worthy to receive honour, and blessing, and glory, and power. Whatever we do, it is from him who worketh all our works in us : Isa. xxvi. 12, ' Thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our works in us ; ' and 1 Chron. xxix. 14, ' All things come of thee, and of thy own have we given thee.' By his grace we are what we are : 1 Cor. xv. 10, ' By the grace of God I am what I am ; ' and Luke xix. 16, * Thy pound hath gained ten pounds.'