Though, I fay, this be true, yet we are under exprefs obligation, to make it part, and a great part of our bufinefs every day,Heb. 13.15. By him therefore; let us offer the facrifice of Praife to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his Name. It was David's refolution to keep his heart under the power, and authority of this Law, Pfal. 145.2, Every day will I bless thee; and I will praife thy Name for ever and

ever.

2. Though it be true likewife, that there be fome days when the Lord calls to mourning: As Ifa. 22. 12. Yet the faddeft hours, that the all-difpofing Providence of the moft wife God, brings us into, bring no discharge from this duty. Neither need we look for it, for these two duties are very well confiftent together. Otherwife, we may be fure, that God, who gives a com mand fometimes to Mourn, would never have given us a command alwaies to Rejoyce; if these two had been contrary one to another. And befides, even in those daies, when divine Difpenfations call for mourning, when things go moft cross to our defires, and affections, yet we have mat ter of Thanksgiving; if it were but for this, That it is never fo bad with us, but it might be worfe. Paul acknowledgeth this to be a mercy, that he had lefs caufe of forrow,

then

then he might have had, Phil. 2. 27, For indeed, he was fick nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me alfo, left I should have forrow upon forrow. Pfal. 118. 18, 19, The Lord hath chaftened me fore: but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go in to them, and I will praise the Lord. This needs not seem

ftrange at all, for even then, when the Providences of God have very much appearance of contradiction to the Promifes, and are therefore most fadly cross to our hopes, and expectations, a gratious perfon, if his Soul profper, and be keptin a gratious frame,may, by the eye of Faith, foresee the good hand of God, working even then, for good unto him: David, in one of the faddeft days that ever befell him, as dark as it was with him, had a glimmering of this, 2 Sam. 16. 12, Let Shimei alone, faid he, let him curfe, it may be the Lord will look upon mine affliction, and will requite me good for his curfing me this day.I can tell you of one,whofe fpiritual fight was clear in this matter: One, that when fad tydings were brought him, that cut deep, and went near his heart: Well, faith he, I will go, and bless God for that good, which, in due time, I believe he will work out, by the heavy burden now laid upon me. He did believe there would Honey be found,

at

at the end of that Rod. Thefe perfons knew full well, that all things that do be fall the Lords Covenant people, are either bleffings in their own nature, or are turned into bleffings, in the Iffue. Pfal. 25.10, All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto fuch as keep his Covenant, and his Fefti monies. He always hath, and ever will fo order all things, as that they fhall all work to bring electing love, and glorifying love together. This Jacob experienced. Compare Gen. 42.36,-Jofeph is not, and Simeon is not, and will ye take Benjamin away? All these things are against me, with Gen. 48.16, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, blefs the Lads And David did hope to find it fo, when his condition was very low, and his fpirit very much funk, and fallen, Pfal. 42. 11, Why art thou caft down, O my Soul, and why art thou disquieted. within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Thus ye have the first Particular; that it is our duty every day. Though, we are fometimes called to Mourning, yet we are always called to Thanfgiving, therefore we ought to refolve with David. Pfal. 34. 1. I will blefs the Lord, at all times; his praise fball continually be in my mouth.

2. When the Soul is always habitually pre

prepared, and, as the matter requires, a bounds in the actual performance of this duty; it is in a profperous, and spiritually thriving frame.

This will appear, if we enquire into the nature of Religious Thanksgiving. For thefe three things we fhall find neceffarily required to the effence of it.

(1.) A Cordial acknowledging of God alone, as the Supreme caufe, and firft mover in all the good we have, of what kind foever it be; by what hand foever, it is conveyed unto us. This is neceffary, for we shall never pay our Rent to him, whom we do not acknowledge our Landlord. We have cause to say of every thing, the least thing we receive, as Pfal. 118. 23, This is the Lords doing.

(2.) A real fenfibleness that it is the Almighty goodness of God, and that alone, that fets his all-difpofing Providence on work to give forth any thing, the least thing unto us, that may be any way useful unto us: And this, in conjunction with an humble fenfe of our own unworthiness, to live in the thoughts of fuch a God, who hath all the World to care for, for our good, even the leaft good. Thus did Jacob, Gen. 32. 10, Tam not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast fhewed unto thy Servant. Gen. 33. 5,-The Children

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4

Children, which God hath graciously given thy

Servant.

(3.) An hearty, and humble refignation of our felves to live unto God, because of his goodness unto us. This is the Law of thankfulness; and so far as a thankful heart lives under this Law, fo far he must be able to fay, as Paul did, Phil. 1.21, To me to live, is Chrift.

Thefe thing are effential to the acceptable discharge of this duty; and fo far as Men fail in any of them, fo far they come fhort in the due performance thereof. And this be ing duly confidered, it is very evident, that that work of praifing God, fo as to give him the praifes due unto his name (as the expreffion is, Pfal. 29.2.) is fo humbling, fo melting, fo felf-abafing, fo God-exalting; taking all from Self, and giving all to God; fo heartengaging, and obliging, that it cannot be otherwife, but that the Soul doth profper, yea exceedingly profper, when it is faithful therein. Read 2 Sam. 7. verf. 1o. to the end: And 1 Chron. 29. from verf. 10. to the end of the 19th. And ye fhall find in both thofe Chapters, that David's heart was never more after Gods own heart, nor ever did his Soul more eminently profper, then at that time, when it was fo warm in this duty. And this would be farther taken notice of, that we never read in all the Scrip

ture