to this hour " the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy-work." Whilst these inferior works unconsciously proclaim his praise, his intelligent creatures more especially engage in this delightful work ; and, so far as they are restored to their original state, account it their highest happiness to glorify their God*^. Conceive of our first parents in Paradise : how, may we suppose, were their minds occupied, whilst they retained their primeval innocency '( No doubt they contemplated, with incessant admiration, the perfections of Him to whom they owed their existence, and the obligations conferred upon them above all the rest of the creation, the angels alone excepted. Now, what reason is there why our employment should not accord with theirs ? Be it granted, that we have cares and labours, to which they, in their state of inno- cence, were strangers : after their fall, they were no strangers either to the one or to the other : yet we cannot doubt but that they endeavoured to blend these holy feelings with their daily occupations ; and, instead of complaining of religion as a task, they found in the exercise of it their richest solace and support. In this, all the most eminent saints have resembled them. David, especially, was in the habit of praising God, as it were, " all the day long," and of putting forth all the powers of his soul in that holy exercise '^. Doubtless it is necessary for us to pour out also our supplications before the Most High : yea, we should *' pray without ceasing:" but yet should we also " in every thing give thanks; for this also is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us*^." The perfections of God are still the same as ever, and our obligations to him are the same; or rather, they are infinitely increased ; inasmuch as the gift of his only dear Son to die for us, is, in comparison of all other gifts, as the radiance of the sun when compared with the twink- ling of a star. I say not then too much, when I affirm, that " praise is comely for the upright^;" and that it is no less our happiness than our duty to abound in it, every day, and all the day long. In truth, this is the felicity of heaven : for all the hosts, whether of saints or angels, are engaged continually in this one employment of singing praises unto God : the one, for for all the wonders of redeeming love ; and the other, for the blessed experience which they have of it in their own souls s.]
That you may enter upon this blessed work with- out delay, I proceed to shew,
II. What abundant occasion for it there is to the re- deemed soul —
" Ps. cxlv. 10. <i Ps. XXXV. 28. and ciii. 1, 2.
e I Thess. V. 17, 18. f Ps. xxxiii. 1. e Rev. v. 8—13.
879.] THE believer's SONG. 557
The mercies vouchsafed to every true convert are here set forth,
1 . In a way of simple acknowledgment —
[With every soul of man has God been angry, seeing that there is not one of all the human race that has not violated his
holy laws But, when we seek for mercy at his hands in
his Son's name, " he turns away from us his anger," and " sheds
abroad in our hearts a sense of his love"
Say now, whether one so " comforted" has not reason to bless and adore his God? See the soul when trembling through dread of his disj)Ieasure : see it when first the light of God's reconciled countenance is lifted up upon it : see it when the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, is sent forth to dwell in it as his temple, and to manifest unto it all the riches of redeeming grace — -Has such an one no ground for praise and joy? Verily, " if he should hold his peace, the very stones would cry out against him."]