glorify him on account of them. David stirred up " his soul, and all that was within him, to bless the Lord, who had crowned him with mercy and loving-kindness1." And we are taught by the prophet the precise terms, as it were, in which it becomes us to express our gratitude to Godm. The very words of our text may serve to shew us in what manner our admiration and gratitude should be combined : if I may so speak, our admira- tion should be lively, and our gratitude profound.]
2. As to the ends — [No other meditation, no subject of discourse, more impe- riously demands your notice than this. You should reflect upon, and " mention" the loving-kindness of God, both /or the instruction of others, and the encouragement of your own souls.
How are others to become acquainted with God, if you, whose understandings are enlightened, do not endeavour to instruct them ? or to what purpose has God imparted to you the knowledge of himself, if you do not impart it to those around you? "Your light is not to be hid under a bushel, but to be put on a candlestick," that it may be a source of benefit to others. It is the command of God that his mercies should be thus treasured up in the minds of all, and be trans- mitted by oral testimony from generation to generation". And the more truly any persons have been devoted to God them- selves, the more active and exemplary they have been in making him known to others0.
And what can be such a source of encouragement to your- selves? There is nothing like this to encourage you to pray : " the goodness of God is revealed on purpose to lead you to repentance p," and to animate your petitions at the throne of grace q. And what can so embolden you to trust in God ? Were you to contemplate nothing but his power, you might be filled with dread, rather than with confidence : but when you consider his goodness also, your hopes of mercy are strengthened, and you are led to commit yourselves to his fatherly protection r. Surely also there cannot be found any stronger inducement to serve him. " What shall I render unto the Lord?" is the natural question that must arise in the bosom of every one that feels his obligations to the Lord8: and if we did not " serve the Lord with gladness and joyfulness of heart for the abundance of the mercies" he has vouchsafed unto us, we should be filled with self-reproach, and be con- strained to acknowledge ourselves deserving of the heaviest condemnation*.]
1 Ps. ciii. 1 — 4. m Isai. xii. 4 — 6. " Ps. lxxviii. 2 — 7.
0 Ps. cxlv. 1 — 8. p Rom. ii. 4.
i Ps. Ii. 1. and Ixix. 16, 17. r Ps. xxxvi. 7.
s Ps. lxiii. 3. ' Deut. *xviii. 45, 47.