[Praise is not a service of the lip and knee, but of the warmest affections of the soul. The " soul, and all that is within you," should be exercised in this blessed work. As you are to " love God with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and strength," so also you are to bless him with all your faculties and powers. You must not however mistake vociferation, and talkativeness, and bodily fervour, for devotion; your expres- sions of gratitude, even when most elevated and joyous, must resemble those which are used among the heavenly hosts ; who " veil their faces and their feet," or " cast their crowns at the feet" of their adorable Redeemer. Not to bless him in this manner, is constructively and really to "forget the benefits" you have received from him: yea, an utter forgetfulness of them were less criminal than such an ungrateful remembrance.]
3. Incessantly —
[" Bless, bless, bless the Lord ! " says the Psalmist to his soul ; shewing thereby that he would have that to be the con- tinual exercise of his mind. Thus should we also labour to have our minds in a constant readiness for this glorious work. We need not indeed be always engaged in the act of praise ; for we have many other acts in which a great part of our time must be occupied : but the frame of our minds should always be disposed for this duty, so as to be ready for it whensoever occasion may call for the performance of it. That we shall feel backwardness to it at times, must be expected : the Psalmist intimates as much, by so repeatedly urging his reluctant soul to this duty. But let us follow his example, and urge our souls, however reluctant, to this blessed work. Let us say with him, " Bless the Lord, O my soul; bless him, bless his holy name!" or like Deborah, " Awake, awake, Deborah ; awake, awake ; utter a song ! "
Thus to bless God is our privilege on earth : thus to bless him is an antepast of heaven.]