II. How necessary, profitable, and becoming christians this duty is*
1. How necessary a duty it is appeareth —
[1.] By the light of nature and God's express will in his word. It is evident by the light of nature. Ingratitude is counted an unnatural sin: 2 Tim. iii. 2, 3, ' Disobedient to parents, unthankful, unho^)^ with- out natural affections.' This holdeth as to ingratitude to God, for nature teacheth men to promise praise when they beg mercies : Hosea xiv. 2, ' Keceive us graciously, and so we will render the calves of our lips.' This is our promise to God, and it is God's paction with us : Ps. 1. 15, ' And call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee> and thou shalt glorify me.' Therefore it is unjust to detain this honour and glory from him.
[2.] By his express will revealed in the scripture : 1 Thes. v. 18, 'In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.' This should be to christians instead of all reasons, intuitu voluntatis ; upon the first sight of God's will they should obey. It is not only ' his will,' but ' his will in Christ.' In the new way of government by a redeemer, thankfulness is most suited to the frame of the gospel, and is the main principle of that obedience it calleth for at our hands. The evangelical covenant require tli thankfulness for the mercy provided for us in Christ, as the great duty which includeth all other duties.
2. How necessary a duty it is appeareth by the great profit that Cometh of it.
[1.] To keep us always in a remembrance of God, and that invisible hand that reacheth out all our supplies to us. The stupid carnal world looketh to the next hand, but thankfulness bringeth God into sight and remembrance. There are two notions that keep religion alive in the world — that God in a way of justice is the author of all the evil wo suffer : Amos iii. 6, ' Shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it ? ' and that in a way of mercy God is the author of all the good we enjoy : James i. 17, ' Every good gift and every perfect gift
426 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXV.
is from above, and cometli down from the Father of lights ; ' Acts x'w. 17, ' Nevertheless he left not himself without a witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.' All the comfort, protection, peace, and plenty that we have come of God. This humiliation and thanks- giving keep up the notice and remembrance of God in the world. The world had never fallen into atheism and idolatry if these two principles had been well minded.
[2.] The observation and acknowledgment of his benefits breedeth in us a love to God : 1 John iv. 19, ' We love him, because he loved us first ; ' Ps. cxvi. 1, ' I will love the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications ; ' Luke vii. 47, ' She loved much, because much was forgiven her.' Our thankfulness then must needs excite our love to God, for the more solemnly we remember his love to us, the more we will love him again.
[3.] It doth encourage our hope. God hath given great things to us, and hath promised greater. Now by remembering what is past, we are the more invited to expect what is to come : 2 Cor. i. 10, ' Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver ; in whom we trust that he will jet deliver us ; ' 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18, 'Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preach- ing might be fully known, and that all the gentiles might hear ; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion: and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom;' Eom. v. 10, 'For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son ; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.'
3. How necessary a duty it is appeareth because it prevents many sins.
[1.] Hardness of heart and security in enjoying the blessings of God's common providence : to the unthankful they prove occasions to the flesh ; so their table is made a snare to them : Ps. Ixix. 22, ' Let their table become a snare before them ; and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.' But by thanksgiving the creature is sanctified: 1 Tim. iv. 4, 'For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving ; ' for in thanksgiving we distinctly remember the author and end of these mercies.
[2.] It suppresseth murmuring, or that querulous, fretting, impatient humour which venteth itself even in our prayers and complaints, and sourcth all our comforts. Murmuring is the scum of discontent, by which we entertain crosses with anger and blessings with disdain. It is very incident to man, who is a querulous creature. Now in thanks- giving we see how much more cause we have to give thanks than complain ; this fretting humour is cured when we see how much we are bound to bless God. In murmuring we overlook our mercies, and in thanksgiving our discontent. When we have received so much good, shall we take it ill if the Lord exercise us with a little calamity ? So much undeserved good, shall we take it ill if we feel a little deserved evil ? Job ii. 10, ' What ! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? '