The Saints Sacrifice, Section 82 – Section 83
§. 82. Of particular ſence of kindneſſe whereby the heart is ſtirred up to thankfulneſſe.
VI. *§. 76.SEnce of Gods kindneſſe to ones ſelfe doth moſt enlarge the heart to thankfulneſſe. Words of particular relation betwixt God that is praiſed, and the perſons that praiſe him, uſed in formes of praiſe, give good proofe to this point. Such are theſe, aPſal. 30 12.O Lord, my God: b—59. 17.my ſtrength, my defence, the God of my mercy, c—18. 2.my rocke, my fortreſſe, my deliuerer, my buckler, the horne of my ſalvation, mine high tower, &c. That which here is generally implied under this clauſe, all his benefits towards me, is in ſundry particulars exemplified thorowout the whole booke of Pſalmes. Take a few inſtances for many. d—9. 4.Thou haſt maintained my right, and my cauſe. e—18. 16. 17.He tooke me, he drew me out of many waters, he deliuered me, he was my ſtay, &c. In particular, let the five firſt verſes of the 103. Pſalme bee well obſerued for this purpoſe.
Men are moſt ſenſible of kindneſſes done to themſelves, the ſweetneſſe whereof their owne ſoules doe taſte. Now according to the taſte and ſence of a kindneſſe, is the heart quickned and ſtirred up to thankfulneſſe. Though it be an effect of naturall ſelfe▪louelove, to affect the heart with ſuch good things as a man himſelfe is made partaker of, yet is it not againſt ſpirituall love to make an advantage thereof, and to uſe that affection of the heart to kindle and inflame our zeale unto a more feruent manner of praiſing God.
Admonition to obſerve Gods dealing with ourſelves Pſal. 66. 16. Pſal. 78. 70.Among other mercies take eſpeciall notice of ſuch as in particular concerne thy ſelfe: as he that ſaid, I will declare what God hath done for my ſoule. In this conſideration firſt marke ſuch as are moſt proper and peculiar to thy ſelf, wherof thou maiſt ſay, He hath not dealt ſo with others. So did he who ſaid, He choſe Dauid his ſervant, &c. Then obſerve what part thou haſt in ſuch as are common with others. And here conſider what relation there is betwixt thee and thoſe others: whether they bee ſuch as are committed to thy charge, neerely united to thee, of the ſame family, or alliance, or pariſh, or incorporation, or nation, or profeſſion. Neere relations will affect our hearts for benefits beſtowed on them to whom we are united, as if they were beſtowed on our ſelves. Inſtance that affection which was wrought Gen. 24. 27.in the heart of Abrahams ſervant for the good ſucceſſe of his maſters buſineſſe: and the praiſe which he gaue to God for the ſame. If in common bleſſings we finde our ſelves to have a ſhare, we ſhall be the more quickned to give thanks 1. Kin 1 40.for the ſame: as the people that rejoyced at the coronation of Salomon.
Who are they that are now beſt ſettled to giuegive prayſe to God for this admirable decreaſe of the ſickneſſe? Not they who thought it not infectious: nor they who thought they had ſuch antidotes as the plague could not ſeize on their vitall Vnum hoc obſecro, ſingulis dicbus & horis ſupputemus nobiſcum, non communia tantum beneficia, quae toti naturae omnium opiſex contulit, ſed & privata & quotidiana, &c. Chryſ. Hom. 26. in Gen. 8. & Hom. y2. ad Pop.parts: nor they who thought themſelves ſafe enough in the country. But they who conceiving themſelves to be in as great danger as others, perceiued a ſpeciall care of God over them in preſeruing them. That benefit which a man knowes himſelfe to receive from the light of the ſunne, influence of the heavens, ſweetneſſe of the aire, and other like common bleſſings, will make him heartily to bleſſe God for them. Search therefore narrowly wherein Gods benefits have beene towards thee in ſpeciall. Do this daily and hourely, not onelyonly about common benefits which the maker of all conferreth on all, but about private and daily bleſſings, and thou wilt diligently enquire what thou maiſt render to him.
§. 83. Of a fift property of gratitude, to be prouoked thereby to make profeſsion of benefits.
VII. *§. 76.GRatefulneſſe workes acknowledgement of kindneſſe. All the acknowledgements which in Scripture are recorded to be made by any of the Saints, of Gods benefits and mercies towards them▪ are demonſtrations hereof: as of aGen 8. 20.Noah; b—12. 7.Abraham, c—14. 20.Melchiſedech. d—21. 6.Sarah, e—24 27.Abrahams ſervant, f—26. 22, 25.Iſaac, g—32. 10.Iacob, and many others.
Acknowledgement of kindneſſe maketh much to the honour of him that hath done the kindneſſe. But he that indeed hath a gratefull mind deſireth to doe all the honour that he Dominus in ſermonibus gratiarum actionem exigit, non quod ea ipſe opus habe at, ſed vt nos d… ceat gratos eſſe, & agnoſcere tantorum bonorum ſuppeditatorem. Chryſ Hom. 2… in Gen. 8. Diſcovery of ingratitude by concealing kindneſſe.can to the author of the kindneſſe, wherewith he is affected. We heard before (§. 77.) how he requireth what hee may render. Will not then that mind which maketh him ſo inquiſitiue to be further inſtructed in what he may doe more, provoke him to doe that which he can not be ignorant to be acceptable? As for the Lord, he requireth thankſgiuing in our words, not that he hath any need thereof, but that he may teach us to be thankfull, and to acknowledge the doner of ſo great good things as he beſtowes,
Can we now imagine that they who conceale all kindneſſes done to them, are gratefull perſons? were the nine lepers that being cured of their leproſie, made no profeſſion thereof, thankefull? If they were, wherein conſiſted the difference betwixt them, and that one, of whom Chriſt thus ſaith, were there not tenne cleanſed, but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, ſave this ſtranger. (Luk 17. 17, 18.) As great an evidence of ingratitude it is, to keepe cloſe, not to make knowne, not to acknowledge benefits, as can be given.
Exhortation to acknowledge benefits.Shew me then thy gratitude by the effect thereof. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. Even to men are theſe benefits to be acknowledged. Thus iIudg. 5. 24.Deborah acknowledged Iaells kindneſſe: k1 Sam. 25. 33David, Abigails: l—…4. 19.Saul, Davids, and many other, other mens. Much more to God muſt his benefits be acknowledged, in regard of the multitude, greatneſſe, freeneſſe, needfulneſſe, profitableneſſe, and continuance of them, together with many other circumſtances whereby they are much amplified. And ſo much the rather, becauſe acknowledgement is all that we can render to God: and it is all that God doth expect, which yet he doth moſt graciouſly accept. Make this holy profeſſion therfore of the Lords benefits to God himſelfe and to men: make it to God in ſecret and in publike: make it at all times, in all places: make it while the benefits are freſh before thee: lay up his benefits in thy memory, that thou maiſt in future times againe, and againe make it. Acknowledge the benefits which thou haſt received, and thou ſhalt be ſure to receive more. The tenth leper which returned to give glory to God, received thereby another, and a greater benefit, which was the cleanſing of his ſoule from the leproſie of ſinne; as this Luk. 17. 19.phraſe importeth, Thy faith hath ſaved thee. He was cleanſed of his bodily leproſie before he returned. There was then ſomewhat more intended, by the pronouncing of this after his returning to glorifie God. The other nine that returned were cleanſed in their bodies. This was ſaid to him as an evidence of a greater benefit, then that which they receiued. For Gods ſake therefore who is thereby honoured, and for thine owne ſake who gaineſt thereby more benefits, acknowledge Gods benefits, and ſay, His benefits are towards me.