The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
BEing thus instructed in generall… auoyd euill and doe good, the next duetie that thou must performe,Thankesgiuing. is thankefulnes vntounto God. 1. Thes. 5. 18.
And this duty is necessary: because
1 We doe approoue our right in Gods blessings. 1. Tim. 4.Sect. 1. It vse.
2 We make them profitable and durable. Mat. 14. 19, 20.
3 We encrease them, and make them pledges of heauen.
4 We do ease our selues of much begging, and so approch to the life of glory.
5 We acknowledge God to be the giuer, and blesser of them.
6 We do answer the end, why God bestowed them on vsus. Deu. 8.
7 And do by this duty performe a most principall part of worship & glory to our God. Psal. 50. 23.
8 Security and hardnes of heart is hereby preuented.
9 Our faith in God is confirmed and encreased.
10 Spirituall pride and hypocrisie is ouer-mastered.
11 The certainty of our saluauation hereby pledged & cōfirmed.
12 Our account made readie, & so we prepared to meet the Lord.
And it is to be performed daily:
1 Because we daily receiue good at the hands of God. Lam. 3. 23.
2 And by this meanes shal preuent many euils which daily do assault vsus
And this duty is performed on this manner:
First,Sect. 2. How to be practised. The hart must be prepared:
1 With sound notice of the blessing, conceiuing more excellently of God then wee possible can see him by his blessings.
2 True humility for the same, by serious meditation, both of the Maiesty, power and goodnes of God and also of it owne vnworthines.
3 As also it must be purged by … setled purpose of not offending s… bountifull a God.
4 And an holy perswasion, that we hauehave receiued the benefit in the fauour of God.
5 And a… holy desire to set forth the glory of God.
2 The mouth must speake of the mercies of God: And that,
1 Reuerently and holily, no… lightly or loosely.
2 Particularly, as neere as wee may recounting the same. Genes. 32. 10.
3 Publikely, euen in the great congregations vntounto the Church … GOD, yea to the generations to come. Ps. 66. & 102.
4 Priuately betweene God and our owne soules to auoyd hypocrisie. Matt. 6.
5 Wisely and orderly for spirituall blessings, and then for temporall. Ephe. 1. 3.
6 Faithfully, aswel for blessings promised and to come, as for those we hauehave receiued. 2. Chro. 6.
7 Constantly, aswel when God takes, as when he giues. Iob 1. 21.
8 Humbly, acknowledging our selues to bee vnworthy of the least of them. Iacob, Gene. 32.
9 Speedily, if it bee possible to preuent the Lord. Gene. 24.
10 Continually, euen all our life long.
11 Charitably prouoking others to the like duty.
12 Acknowledging Gods graces in others, and without enuie or detraction aduancing the same.
13 Yea, wishing that all may be partakers of the same graces with vsus. Num. 11.
14 Impartially, aswell for the least as for the greatest.
3 We must praise God in our life, & actions. Here obserue these principall duplicate page duplicate page actions of thankefulnesse. Psalme 1.
1 To renue our obedience, … encrease our seruice of God. Psal… 116.
2 Continual mortification of … old man. Psal. 106. 3. Ezr. 10.
3 Casting out the speciall … beloued sinne. Mat. 5. 29.
4 Making much of the mean whereby Gods blessings are sanctfied, & so continued vntounto vsus, nam… ly, the Preaching of the gospell, & Rom. 10. 15.
5 Labouring hartilie the co… uersion of others. Psal. 51
6 Releeuing and forgiuing, … praying one for another. Eph. 8.
7 Beleeuing Gods promises, … waiting patiently the full acco… plishment of them. Psalme 40. … Heb. 11.
8 Erecting monuments and tro…phes of Gods benefits to posteri… Gen. 22. 15. &c.
9 Writing & registring the n… ble acts of the Lord. Psal. 102.
10 Imposing fit names vntounto … children, in remembrance of God mercies. Gen. 41.
11 Paying our vowes vntounto God and men. Psal. 65. 1. Ion. 2. 9.
12 Being content with whatsoeuer God bestoweth vponupon vsus.
Thus are we to performe thankefulnes vntounto God.
Which that wee may performe more happily:
First, Let vsus beware of these euils which are maine enemies to this duety: As,Sect. 3. What euils to be auoided.
1 To imagine, that we deserue any thing Luc. 17. 10.
2 That wee hauehave any thing meerely by our owne labour and industry. Psal. 127.
3 That wee harpe more vponupon our troubles, then Gods fauours and benefits.
4 That we be alwaies begging, but neuer recounting what we hauehave receiued.
5 That we consider what others hauehave, rather then what wee hauehave need of.
6 That we be not secure in the blessings of God, but rather feare our estate most when we hauehave most fauours. Iob 1.
7 That we tie God vntounto these outward things.
8 That we dote and rest vponupon these, and not rather forget them in regard of the things of the life to come. Phil. 3.
9 That we conceiue basely and meanely of Gods mercies, and doe not see & worship God in the least of them.Sect. 4. Helpes to thankefulnes.
Secondly, Let vsus vse these helpes … thankefulnes. As
1 Rest we vponupon God as the giuer of all good blessings.
2 Vse we all holy meanes for the obtaining of them.
3 Leaue we the successe to Go: depending on his prouidence.
4 Thinke we not what God can giuegive, but what is fit for vsus to receiue.
5 Consider wee how small a tribute the Lord requires for all his blessings.
6 What a prerogatiue we attain by thankesgiuing, that God is the receiuer, and we giuers vntounto God, and how much better it is to giuegive then to receiue.
7 Let the creatures prouoke vsus hereto, left otherwise they condemne vsus. Heb. 6.
8 Let our commodity perswade vsus, either if we will hauehave, or vse, or hold Gods fauours comfortably.
9 And lastly consider we the account to bee made in the life to come, which is made vp by thankefulnes vntounto God in this life. Ioh. 3.
And thus far concerning thankefulnes
The chiefe vse and benefit thereof,Sect. 5. The benefit therof. is to keep vsus in a constant course of obedience vntounto God, in the enioying of his blessings. And this is of the Next duety daily to bee performed of vsus: