of all his Creatures, for the Earth is full of bis Goodness, we from hence form the most amiable Idea and Sentiment of him in our Minds. They who will allow themselves Time to meditate on the Divine Goodness, and the Fruits of it which they are favoured with every Moment, will find fuch an Impreffion on their Souls as will powerfully attract and draw them to love a Being of fuch overflowing Goodness; and the Confideration of his Mercies, which are new every Moment, will naturally, and almost irresistibly prevail on them who have any Ingenuity in their Tempers, and are capable of underftanding their Obligations to God, not only filently in their own Minds to acknowledge his unmerited Goodness to their Souls and Bodies, but in the most publick Manner to celebrate his Praises in full Affemblies, that they may move and excite others to join with them in Teftimonies of Gratitude, Thankf giving, and Praife. Thus the devout Pfalmift calls on all the Inhabitants of the Earth to fing Praifes to God with Gladness, to enter into bis Gates with Thanksgiving, and into his Courts with Praife; for the Lord is good, &c. The boundless Goodness of God in beftowing the Comforts of this Life, and inspiring us with the Hopes of eternal Life, and never ending Felicity in his Prefence, fhould raise the nobleft Sentiments of Love, Devotion, and Gratitude.

II. I go

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II. I go on, in the Second Place, to fhew in what Manner, and with what Temper and Difpofition of Soul, we fhould offer our Tribute of Praise and Thanksgiving to God. There are these Three Things which will serve to explain and fhew us how to do this in an acceptable Way and Manner.

ift, This must be done with the united Powers of our Souls.

2dly, With an humble Senfe of our Unworthiness of the Divine Favours and Bleffings.

And, 3dly, With Faith in Chrift, our great High Priest, whofe continual Interceffion_procures for us the Favour and Acceptance of God our Heavenly Father.

ift, When we offer our Tribute of Thankf giving and Praise to God, whether it be in private, or in the publick Affembly, all the Powers of our Souls fhould be united, and engaged in this heavenly and delightful Exercife. Pfalm ix. 1, 2. I will praife thee, O Lord, with my Heart; I will fhew forth all thy marvellous Works. I will be glad, and rejoice in thee; I will fing Praifes to thy Name, O thou moft High. The most pompous Expreffions, if they flow not from a Heart affected and impressed with a Senfe of the Good

nefs

nefs of God, are but vain Lip-Service, which will be difregarded by him who requires Truth in the inward Parts, and hath Pleafure only in Uprightness. The Understanding, which is the fuperior Faculty, should be well furnished with the Knowledge of God, and of his adorable Perfections, efpecially his Goodness, and with a juft and warm Senfe of our Obligations to him. Thus we shall offer a Rational and Spiritual Service, which is suitable to his Nature, and fing his Praises with Grace and Understanding. What does it fignify to praise God with the Mouth, if the Heart be unemployed, and not at all affected with his boundless Love and Mercy; or to use lofty and fublime Words, when, notwithstanding, the Soul is no way touched with any proper Sentiments of Love and Devotion, and the Mind or Understanding hath fuch a mean and poor Furniture of the Knowledge of God and of his Goodness, that the warmer Paffions of the Soul want the proper Spring and Motive to Gratitude, without which Thankfulness and Gratitude to God cannot be Rational, neither will it be permanent and lafting. Whenever, therefore, we address to this holy Duty and Exercise, (which we shall often do, if we have any good Measure of a Devotional Spirit) we fhould, with the holy Pfalmift, call on our Souls, and all that is within us, to bless God's

holy

holy Name: Reason thus with ourselves in a Way of Preparation for this folemn and spiritual Work and Service; use such a Soliloquy as this: Thou art now, O my Soul, about to engage in a Duty and Service which is the delightful Employment of Angels and perfected Spirits; do not, therefore, compliment him, who is the Fountain of Being and Happiness to the whole Intelligent Creation, with fome verbal Praifes, but fee that all the Rational Powers of the Mind, and warmer Paffions of thy Soul, be employed in celebrating the Praises of God.

2dly, With an humble Sense of our Unworthinefs of the Divine Favours and Bleffings. With this lowly Temper of Mind the fincere Servants of God, whenever they offer'd Thanksgiving and Praife, came into his Prefence. Though they delighted in God, and fang his Praises with glad and joyful Hearts, and afcribed all Glory to him, and owned their Obligations to his Goodness, yet at the fame Time they retained just Apprehenfions of their Unworthinefs in themselves to receive fuch Favours and Benefits from him. I. Chron. xvii. 16. David the King came, and fat before the Lord, and faid, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine Houfe, that thou hast brought me hitherto! So JACOB, whom God had bleffed

in a remarkable Manner, owns his Unworthiness, Gen. xxxii. 9, 10. And Jacob faid, 1 am not worthy of the least of all the Mercies, and of all the Truth, which thou haft fhewed to thy Servant. Whenever we afcribe Glory to God for his Benefits and Bleffings conferred on us, we should have a humble Sense of our Unworthiness of receiving them: And the deeper Apprehenfion we have of this, - the greater Degree of Gratitude to God will fill our Souls; as I fhall further fhew in the Sequel, when I mention fome Methods neceffary to be observed for the raifing and encreafing this Spirit of Thankfulness.

3dly, With reference to CHRISTIANS, their Tribute of Praise must be offered to God by Faith in Jefus, our Meadiator, and great High Prieft, whose continual Interceffion procures for us Favour and Acceptance with our Heavenly Father. What Bleffings we receive from God come to us through the Mediator, or in Confideration of what He hath done and fuffered for us. God bleffes us with all spiritual Bleffings through Chrift our Saviour; and we are accepted, or taken into a State of Peace and Reconciliation, by Faith in him. The Gift of God is eternal Life through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Our Thanksgivings and Praises will not be accepted, unless they are offered in the pre

vailing