creation ? We should bless God for the faculties bestowed upon us. Are we elevated above any of our fellows by the communication of spiritual blessings to our souls? We are bound to praise God for such " an unspeakable gift." If we forbore to speak His praises, methinks " the very 'stones would cry out against us."]
2. He owes it to the world —
[How are the world to be instructed in the knowledge of God, if those to whom that knowledge is imparted are silent respecting him ? We owe a debt to them. " What oiu" eyes have seen, our ears have heard, and our hands have handled of the Word of Life," we are bound to declare to them. We are not at Hberty to put our light under a bushel ; but must " make it to shine before men, that they also may glorify our Father who is in heaven." " When we are converted," we are bound in every possible way to " strengthen our brethren."]
3. He owes it to himself —
[Suppose a man to " have been forgiven much, will he not love much?" and will not love vent itself in the praise of the object beloved ? Especially if a man have been made a partaker of God's righteousness, wdll he not sing aloud of that righteousness ? No doubt he will : and, if the angelic hosts would account it a painful sacrifice if silence were im- posed upon them, and they were forbidden to shew forth the praises of their God, so would it be with the believing soul, in proportion to the measure of grace that had been conferred upon him.]
To all, then, I say,
1. Be particular in your applications to God for mercy —
[Do not rest in mere general confessions or general peti- tions ; but search out the hidden iniqiiities of your hearts, and spread them distinctly before God in prayer. We have not all committed the sins of David : but are we not all sinners ? And if we would search the records of our conscience, might we not find some evils which call for more than ordinary humiliation? Or, if in acts we have been free from any remarkable transgression, have we not felt such motio?is of sin within us, as might, if God had given us up to temptation, have issued in the foulest transgressions? We need only recollect what our Lord tells us, that an impure and angry thought is constructive adultery and murder ; and we shall see little reason to cast a stone at others, and abundant reason for humiHation before God. I say, then, search out, every one of you, your besetting sins, and implore of God the forgiveness of them.]