[2.] This universal particle comprehendeth all kinds of mercies, spiritual and temporal mercies.
(1.) Common and temporal mercies. These should not be lost in the throng, for he that is not faithful in a little will not be faithful in much. As he that doth not make conscience of small sins will fall into
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greater, so he that is not thankful for the smaller mercies disposeth himself to a stupid carelessness and insensibility of the greatest mercies : Luke xvi. 11, ' If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches ? ' A suspected leaky vessel we try with water first, and then with wine. Besides, they all came from the same love, the greater and smaller mercies : Ps. cxxxvi. 25, 'Who giveth food to all flesh, for his mercy endureth for ever.' The same reason is rendered all along for daily mercies, as well as those mighty ones. Besides, nothing should be contemned where nothing is deserved : Lam. iii. 22, ' It is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed.' We are unworthy of the air we breathe in, as well as of the great mercies of the covenant : Gen. xxxii. 10, ' I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast showed to thy servant ; for Avith my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands.' Therefore, Deut. viii. 10, ' When thou hast eaten and are full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee ; ' Deut. ix. 4, 'Speak not thou in -thy heart. For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land.' Besides, a small remembrance from a great prince is esteemed a great favour : Ps. cxiii. 6, ' Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth.' Again, common mercies come from special love, and are sanctified and blessed to us when received with thanksgiving : 1 Tim. iv. 3-5, ' And commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving ; for it is sanctified by tho word of God and prayer.' We take them out of God's hand, and usa them for his glory. We have Christ's example, which should be noted, because thanksgiving at meals is grown out of fashion. Now we read, John vi. 11, 'And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down.' Our ordinary refreshings are great mercies, and God should be acknowledged in them ; though they be but coarse fare, wo must bless God for it, as well as for choice dainties : ' Five barley-loaves, and two small fishes,' ver. 9. Men sit down and rise up from their meals like brute beasts ; and we are forced to contend with the godless and unbelieving world about the plainest duties. So in ver. 23, ' How- beit there came other boats from Tiberias, nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after the Lord had given thanks.' He doth not only remember the miracle, but the Lord's thanksgiving and blessing. Well, then, God must be owned in every mercy.
(2.) Spiritual mercies. Certainly we are to bless God for spiritual and eternal benefits more than for those which are bodily and temporal; for our thankfulness ariseth from the esteem we have of the mercies which we give thanks for. Now we ought most to esteem and value these benefits as being the choice fruits of God's special love to us : 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.' And these mercies render us most acceptable to God : Eph. i. 6, ' To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted
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in the beloved.' Jesus Christ came from heaven to pm'chase them for lis, and his Spirit worketh them in us ; surely we should be most aflfected with these. Other mercies may be overvalued, especially as we look upon them as provision for the flesh, and so our very thank- fulness may be a snare ; and though religion tips our tongues, our lusts are secretly gratified and pleased, while God is endeared to us, not as giving pardon and life by Christ, but food and plenty of worldly increase.
(3.) Ordinary mercies and extraordinary. Ordinary mercies are our constant diet : Ps. Ixviii. 19, ' Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with his benefits, even the God of our salvation.' Extraordinaiy mercies are our cordials in a fainting fit : Ps. Ixxvii. 10, ' I said. This is my infirmity ; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High ; ' the wonderful experiences we have had of God.
(4.) Positive mercies and privative mercies. Positive mercies : Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, 'For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.' Freedom from all the sins and dangers we might liave fallen into. Privative mercies, because so many miserable objects as we meet with in the world, so many grounds of thanksgiving have we that we are not as they. Did we know how busy the devil is to hurt us, were it not for the sense of God's providence round about us, we would be more thankful to God. Positive mercies are observed, because these come to our notice and view ; we know what we have received : we do not know how many dangers God hath prevented ; but we may know how he hath stored our houses with blessings.