A Peace Offering to God, Postscript – Quotations
A Post-script to the Reader.
A Thankefull man is worth his weight in the golde of Ophir. Could I bee as thankfull as I ought to be, which, sure I am, I neuer shall bee, yet can the thanks of a meane man procure but meane honour to God. Could I be as thankfull as is possible for any one man to be, yet single thanks is like a single voyce, which makes but simple musick. But could I stirre vp thankfull intentions & affections in eueryevery Reader, for example in thy heart, whose eye is now vponupon this aduise, then wouldest thou also endeuor to worke the like in others; and so a small number by multiplication might prooue a large summe: as a great debt is often paid by a collection from many hands, which one poore mans abilitie could neuer hauehave reached vntounto. That we may be aright thankfull, it is requisite that with one eye we obserue our sinnes and euils both publike and personall; and with the other our favours and blessings, that the one may acquaint vsus with our vnworthinesse; the other may preuent male contented vngratefulnesse. Many a man would be much more thankfull then he is, if he had but an hint of excitation and helpe of direction: as many a Scholler, if hee had but a fewe Heads of Common places, would bee rich in obseruations, which for want of such a sleight helpe vanish in the reading, and perish in the meditating. Behold therefore, I giuegive thee here a Register or Inventory, which I wish thee to keepe, and vse as a Table of thanks due to God in kind, and negligently by thee paid. Which when thou perusest, thou mayest vnderunder eueryevery Head in the space left of purpose, record, not all and eueryevery fauour, which is impossible, but the most memorable, and thankworthy; putting a speciall Selah of thankes vponupon them, as Dauid vponupon his deliuerance from the Beare, Lyon, and Goliah. It cannot but reuiue thy memory, and quicken thy affections, so often as thou shalt seriously reuiew it.
A Thankefull mans Calender.
COnsider in what timesPublique. and places the lot of my life hath fallen. In what kings reigne, in what nation, in what town, vnderunder what Magistracy, and Ministery.
What Parents,Domesticall. Schoolemasters, and Tutors? what wife, children, and seruants hath God blessed mee withall?
What sicknesse hauehave I been deliuered from?Personall & priuatiue What dangers, casualties by sea or land? what suites and vexations by law, or otherwise?
What measure of health,Positiue, Corporall. and strength of body?
What talents of Wealth,Externall. Birth, Office, Authoritie, Repute?
What faculties of Vnderstanding,Mentall. Memory? what helpes of Arts, Sciences, Education, &c.
When & how my conuersion to God was wrought?Spirituall, what assurance of Gods louelove in Christ, what peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost, &c.
VVhat Progresse, growth, and encrease hauehave I made in grace, and in good duties of my place and calling?
VVhat victory ouer tentations, and speciall sinnes, olde and inueterate customes of euill?
VVhen thou hast written downe some particulars, then minister these Interrogatories betweene God and thy selfe, to thy conscience:
VVhat times formerly, or now vsually do I take to ponder and take notice of Gods blessings? what daily obseruation make I of them? how many houres spend I weekely, or monethly in reuoluing the memory of them? what occasion take I to speake of them in company, to Gods glory, rather then mine owne ostentation?
VVhat gaine hauehave my talents brought in to my Masters bankes?
What benefit hauehave my brethren by them? of what vse is my life, parts of minde and body, &c. to my Countrey, Church, or Commonwealth?
What Almes and good deeds hauehave I done, or intend to doe?
What shall I render to God for all his benefits? how shall I adde to my former thankfulnesse? what good seruice may I doe him more then I hauehave, that men may glorifie my heauenly Father?
Bradwardini grata ad Deum Precatiuncula, lib. 3. De causa Dei.
DA mihi mendicanti & misero, qui tuus sum magis quam meus, imo non meus sed tuus, vt tibi patri luminum, cuius dona gratuita sunt omnes boni motus, actus, habitus, carentiae malorum actuum, bona positiua, priuatiua, gratias, quae mihi possibiles sunt agam maximas gratissimus. Da vt facilius corde & opere faciam quam ore proferam. Da iterum at que iterum precor, nihil vt mihi dulcius sit & delectabilius quam haec effectuosissimè affectuosissimè adimplere, incessanter semper & vbi que ab aete no in aeternum. Amen.
Quoties tentatio superatur, periculum declinatur, vitium subiugatur, annosa & inueterata animi passio sanatur laqueus deprehenditur, aut multum cupita virtus obtinetur, toties personare debet vox laudis ad singula beneficia. Bernardus in Cant. Serm. 1.
August in Psal.
Quid est, tota die impleatur os meum laudibus? Sine intermissione te laudem, in prosperis quia consolaris, in aduersis quia corrigis antequam essem quia fecisti, quum essem quia salutem dedisti, quum peccassem quia ignouisti, &c.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Ward, A Peace Offering to God (1624)