2. That it is a sign we are unthankful for mercies when our hearts are lifted up under the enjoyment of mercies.
3. Pride and unthanld'ulness is a sad intimation of approaching wrath and destruction.
VOL. XYII. 2 B
386 SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
4. When a ruler's heart is lifted up, and doth not thankfully improve the mercies received from God, the whole land may smart for it.
I shall speak but to the two first of these points — * Doct 1. That those that have received mercies must be careful to give in answerable returns, or to render according to what they have received. It was Hezekiah's sin that he did not render according.
Here I shall inquire what it is to render according to Mdiat we have received. Observe — (1.) There must be a rendering ; (2.) A render- ing according to the rate and kind of our receipts.
I. A rendering. There is a reflection upon God from all his works. Hell-fire casts back the reflection of the lustre of his justice and the power of his wrath. The world is round, and the motion of all things circular ; they begin in God, and end in God ; their being is from him, and the tendency of their motion is to him : Eom. xi. 36, ' For of him, and through him, and to him are all things.' All things do thus reflect upon God : ' The wrath of man shall praise thee,' Ps. Ixxvi. 10. We should want many occasions of rejoicing in God if it were not for the wrath of man ; thus God is glorified passively. All events turn to a good account ; thus all creatures praise him : Ps. cxlv. 10, ' All thy works shall praise thee, 0 Lord ; ' the creatures offer matter of praise to God.
But we speak of the active rendering and returning praise to God. There are many words used in this matter. Those three which are most solemn are, praise, blessing, and thanksgiving ; which last is the solemn word of the new testament, as being proper to the dispensa- tion of it, God's benefits being now fully manifested and accomplished. There is a difference between these three terms. Praise respects God's excellency, as I may praise a man that never did me good. Blessing, God's benefits ; it is an echo to him : 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 Jesus.' And thankful- ness is not only declared in word, but in deed. These three should always go together. We should gather up God's excellences out of his providences, and acknowledge the mercy, and live the life of love and praise. Or, if you will, in rendering praise to God these things concur — (1.) We must be affected with the mercies ; (2.) Solemnly praise God for them ; (3.) Kenew the remembrance of them ; (4.) Improve them to some good use.
1. We must be affected with the mercy. Formal speeches are but an empty prattle, which God regardeth not. David first calleth upon his heart: Ps. ciii. 1, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.' The noblest faculties must be exer- cised in the noblest work. Is the soul raised into an admiration of God ? church adversaries took up the customary form : Isa. Ixvi. 5, ' Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said. Let the Lord be glorified.' In an instrument of music, the more the sound cometh out of the belly of it the sweeter ; if we expect flame, we presuppose fire. When the heart is full of gracious affections, the tongue will be loosed to praise God : Ps. xlv. 1, ' My heart is inditing a good matter, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.'
2. Solemn praising God for them. It is an honourable work ; love
SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 387
is the grace of heaven, praise the duty of heaven. There is no room for faith nor use of prayer. It is angels' work, as sin is the devil's work. It is good to be preparing for our everlasting estate. It is comely for the saints : Ps. cxlvii. 1, ' Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God ; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.' Usually we thrust gratulation into a narrow room : it is a stranger in our public worship. Self-love will put us upon supplication, and our wants will beget a natural fervency in prayer. We are eager to have blessings, but we forget to return to give God the glory •. Hosea V. 15, ' In their affliction they will seek me early.' This is self-love, not religion. All the ten lepers could say, ' Jesus, Master, have mercy upon us,' Luke xvii. 13, but only ' one of them, when he was healed, turned l3ack, and with a loud voice glorified God,' ver. 15. Pharaoh could pray when God's hand was upon him. Oh ! it is the more honourable thing to give thanks, and it is profitable : Ps. Ixvii. 5, 6,