SERMON XII. ΕΡΗ. V. 20. Giving Thanks always for all Things unto God and the Father, in the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift. I HAVE endeavoured, in three Discourses, to instruct you in the Duties of Patience, Contentment and Resignation: each rifing higher than the other in the Scale of right Disposition, and advancing further from mere Virtue into the superior Region of Piety. Happy, in Comparison of others, are such as possess these Attainments in any good Degree: but even they have another Step to take; for yet shew I unto you a more excellent Waya. It is not fufficient, that we bear Sufferings of every Kind with all the Composure, which our Nature admits; that we reflect on the various Disadvantages of our refpective Conditions without repining; that we yield ourselves up to the just and wife Disposal of the sovereign Lord of the Universe: we are bound also to feel Gratitude and express Thankfulness to our heavenly Father continually for whatever in the Course of his Providence befalls us; and this we are to perform, as Disciples of his blessed Son our Saviour. Let us confider diftinctly the several Parts of this most sublime Precept: for certainly higher we cannot go. I. We are to give Thanks always to God. I. We are to give Thanks always to God and the Father. The different Orders of fenfible Beings were created every one for fuch a Degree of Happinefs, as God saw to be most for the Good of the Whole; and rational Beings were creat'ed to confess and celebrate his Bounty to themselves and the rest of the World. Giving Glory is the due Return for having experienced Goodness. It is therefore necessarily expected from us by him, who hath made all Things for himself himself; and must require them to answer the End, for which they were formed. We are sensible it is extremely wrong and unworthy, when we fail of owning the Favours, which we receive from each other. And what shocking Baseness is it then to forget his Liberality, who hath given us Life and. Breath, and all Things richly to enjoy! For how inconfiderable is whatever any one of us can do for the Person whom he loves best, compared to what God hath done for us all! Our very Capacity of receiving Pleasure from our Fellow-creatures proceeds from our Creator, as well as every other Source of Joy, which we feel to spring up within ourselves. And we feel much lefs of both, than we might and ought. We are so taken up and disquieted, with imaginary or small Misfortunes, with Uneasinesses and Pains for the most Part very supportable, with groundless or excessive Discontents and Resentments, with needless Pursuits, and immoderate Hopes and Fears, that we fuffer Multitudes of Satisfactions, which Providence brings perpetually in our Way, to pass by us unperceived or unnoticed. Yet many of them we should find to be great Bleffings; for we b Prov. xvi. 4. • Acts xvii. 25. 1 Tim. vi. 17. frequently frequently overlook the very greatest that we have: the Means granted us by Reason and Scripture, situated as we are in a Land of Light and Liberty, of improving in religious Knowledge, in Rightness of Heart and Goodness of Life; the Delights of social, and in particular of domestic Friendliness; the continual Feasts, which mere Health and Strength afford, if they are enjoyed with cautious Innocence, prudent Activity, and a chearful Equality of Temper. Inconfiderately throwing away, or fupinely disregarding, such bountiful Provisions for our well-being, is furely the most dreadful Waste, of which we can be guilty. But even the lower Benefits, Entertainments, and Amusements of Life, even those of them in which all Persons may share, such as the very opening of our Eyes and looking around, such as the Ufe of every one of our Senfes, may give us, though singly but little Matters, yet being incessantly within our Reach, arife on the Whole to a vast Amount. We do receive a great deal of Pleasure from them: and we might receive much more, if we would frame our Minds to observe and be pleased with the several Objects and Oc |