There is nothing that may not in some view or other be made a ground of praise and thanksgiving. In the text we are led to notice,
1. Those which are general —
[The goodness of God, as manifested in the wonderful dis- pensations of his providence, is that which first offers itself to our consideration. How bountifully does he supply the return- ing wants of his creatures even while they are continuing in rebellion against him ! How marvellously has he preserved us in life from our earliest infancy to this day ; and kept in tune, as it were, in the midst of continual shocks and dangers, an instrument of ten thousand strings ! With what kindness has he restrained the evil dispositions of men, which, if suffered to rage without control, would produce a very hell upon earth"! As for the godly, they would soon be extirpated from the face of the earth, if the sons of Belial were permitted to execute all that is in their hearts. And who amongst us would not have perpetrated many more evils than he has, if God had not im- posed an invisible restraint upon him, and diverted him from his purpose0?
But on this occasion p we must particularly call to mind the wonders God has wrought for us, in preserving vis from domestic tumults and foreign invasions ; and in making us victorious, when our allies have been all subdued, or have even combined against us with the common enemy for our destruction. In a more espe- cial manner should we admire the goodness of God in so suddenly disposing the hearts of our enemies to peace, and in bringing the calamities both of war and scarcity to a happy termination.
The riches of his grace are also deserving of the deepest attention. Surely it is not possible to overlook the wonderful work of redemption which God has wrought for sinful man. What shall I say of the gift of his only-begotten Son to die for
us ? • — What of the gift of his Holy Spirit to instruct
and sanctify us ? What of all the promises of grace
and mercy and peace to the believing soul ? And what
of that eternal inheritance he has prepared for us in heaven ? Truly he dealt not so with the fallen angels: but to " the children of men" he has communicated richer blessings than words can declare, or that any finite imagination can conceive.
n In proof of this we need only look back to the slaughters and massacres, the rapes and ravages, and all the other horrors of the French Revolution.
0 See the instances of Abimeleeh, Gen. xx. 6 ; of Laban, Gen. xxxi.24; of David, 1 Sam. xxv. 32—34.
p The peace in October, 1801. In lieu of this, any particular mer- cies, which the season suggests, may be specified.