thinking, and thus prove ungrateful and unthankful? And if this was very finful and criminal with regard to the Heathens, much more muft it be fo with reference to thofe who enjoy the Benefit of Revelation, whereby thofe Ideas of God, and his Perfections, which were almost erased out of the Minds of Men, are revived. DAVID having said, that it was God who made us, and not we ourfelves; we are bis People, and the Sheep of his Pafture; very ftrongly and justly infers our Duty, Enter into his Gates with Thanksgiving, and into his Courts with Praife; for the Lord is good, &c.

Secondly, Another Reafon and Argument to recommend and enforce this Duty, fhall be taken from the peculiar Pleasure that attends the proper Exercise thereof. So the Pfalmift, in the Place before quoted, Praife the Lord, for it is good; fing Praises to our God, for it is pleafant. If the Mind be well difpofed, and hath any due Senfe of Obligation to God, the Fountain of Being, and of all Bleffings, this Teftimony of Gratitude will be a very delightful Employment. What Pleafure does it afford to contemplate the infinite Excellencies of the Ever-bleffed God, and when we have the moft raised Thoughts of him, to adore that Being who is poffeffed of all Perfections; More efpecially if we

have Reafon to fay, this God is our God, our Father, our chofen Portion, and Happinefs! To fing Praises to our God cannot but afford peculiar Pleasure to those who know they have an Interest in him. The Angels of Light, who always behold the Face of our Father who is in Heaven, refound his Praifes with the fublimeft Pleafure, and adore His Majefty with a profound and delightful Veneration. Muft it not be very pleasant to be employed as the Angels around God's Throne are? If Beings of fuch exalted Understanding do with unwearied Joy and Delight fing Praises to him, fhould not we raile all the Powers of our Souls, and join thofe bleffed Spirits in finging Praises to their and our God? Since this is the Work and Employment of Heaven, let us begin it on Earth, that we may be fitted for that World of perfect Devotion and Worship. The more fenfible we are of our Meannels, and God's infinite Greatness and Majefty, the more Pleasure we shall perceive in praifing him. The more God is known, the more he will be reverenced and adored. If there are any who find no Pleafure or Delight herein, 'tis owing to themfelves, that they do not contemplate the Perfections of the Deity, or that they content themselves with some verbal and formal Acts of Devotion; or they have great Doubts

whether

whether he be their God, or they have any fpecial Relation to him as their Father in Chrift. If there be any juft Reason to queftion this, 'tis no Wonder if they are faint, languid, and negligent herein. They cannot fay that 'tis pleasant to them to fing his Praifes, because they cannot fay that he is their chofen Portion & Happiness. A Doubt of this Nature will fink and depress their Minds, and hinder their Joy in him. But as for those who can fay this God is our God, what unspeakable Pleasure must they have in finging his Praises! The Thoughts of his Majefty, Greatnefs, and Power, is no way terrifying to their Minds, but rather delightful; for they know that he is able to do for them above all they can afk or think; and, being infinitely Good, he is inclined to do fo. The Pfalmift's, Words are very weighty and emphatical, Sing Praifes to our God, for it is pleafant. They who have good Reason to fay this God is our God, will always find a peculiar Pleasure in adoring him, and in celebrating the Praises of his Greatness, and Goodness. Such may fay, with the greatest Joy, this God is, our God, and will be fo for ever and ever. This devout Exercise, and fublime Employment, anticipates the Joys of the Bleffed, exhilerates the Mind, gives a Foretafte of Heaven, and prepares for the Society of Angels and perfected Spi

rits. Let the Servants of God accustom themselves more to this holy Exercife, and if they have Minds well difpofed, and have experienced the refined and exalted Pleafure attending this Duty, they will not want Arguments to perfuade them to enter God's Gates with Thanksgiving, or his Courts with Praife: They will rejoice to go with the Multitude to keep Holy-Day; and the greater the Multitude is, the more is their Joy encreased.

Thirdly, Another Reafon and Argument that fhould move all to comply with this Advice and Exhortation in the Text, is taken from the Acceptableness of this Duty and Service to God. This is what is frequently enjoined in the Word of God. How often is this recommended in the Book of Pfalms! He must be a great Stranger to Religion, and to the Word of God, who has not obferved this. I fhall direct you to two or three Places in the New Testament : Epb. v. 4. But rather giving of Thanks. Inftead of ufing any impertinent, obfcene, or foolish Difcourfe, let the Servants of God be employing themselves in commemorating the Goodness of God towards them, in talking of the Divine Benefits conferred on them, and exciting themselves and others to adore and give Thanks to God. This is a Duty becoming Saints, that is, the true Servants

4

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of God, who are devoted to him, and upon whofe Hearts Holiness to the Lord is written. This is plainly the Meaning of the Apostle, if his Words are compared with the former Part of the Verfe. So in I. Thef. v. 18. In every thing give Thanks; for this is the Will of God in Chrift Jefus concerning you. The Meaning is this: In every Condition of Life be not only contented, but thankful; blefs God for all his Mercies, general and special; for paft and prefent Favours, for fpiritual and temporal Bleffings; blefs God not only in Profperity but in Adverfity;" for this latter is order'd by God for the Good and Welfare of his Creatures, tho' we may not presently fee how it can work out any Good for us. Heb. xiii. 15. By him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of Praife to God continually, that is, the Fruit of our Lips, giving Thanks to his Name. As this Duty is frequently enjoined in the Word of God, fo it is highly grateful and acceptable to God. Pfa. xxxiii. 1. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye Righteous; for Praise is comely for the Upright. How acceptable this is to God we may learn, by confulting Pfa. 1. 14, 15. Offer to God Thanksgiving, and pay thy Vows to the Moft High. Call upon me in the Day of Trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. The Defign of the Pfalm is to reprove the common Mifcarriages and Errors of many Profeffors of Re

ligion,