A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 11
CAP. XI.
Of the daily exerciſe of Thankeſgiuing; and how it ought to bee performed.
§. Sect. 1 What things are required in the duty of thankſgiuing.
ANd as we are thus to pray daily & continually, by making our ſuites and petitions vntounto God, ſo alſo by thankeſgiuing, returning thankes and praiſe for all the benefits and bleſſings which wee receiue at his hands. VntoUnto which duty, diuers things are required; firſt, that it bee done in the name of Chriſt, according to that of the Apoſtle, By him therefore let vsus offer the Epheſ. 5. 20. Heb. 13. 15. Ro. 1. 8. & 7. 25.ſacrifice of praiſe to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giuing thanks to his name. Secondly, that it be done in a right manner; vntounto which is required, that it be done, firſt, not onelyonly in outward profeſſion with the lips, but alſo inwardly with the ſoule, with all the powers and faculties of it, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule, and all that Pſal. 103. 1. & 104. 1.is within me, bleſſe his holy name. Firſt, in our vnderſtanding we are to take notice, and rightly to conceiue of Gods benefits, not onelyonly in ſome generality, but alſo of thoſe particular bleſſings, which we daily and continually receiue from him; that we may not be vngratefull, through ignorance and heedleſneſſe, but hauehave thankefull mindes, and ſo, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, ſing praiſes with vnderſtanding. Neither muſt we onelyonly know Gods Pſal. 47. 7.benefits and bleſſings, but alſo acknowledge them to be his free gifts, and that he is the principall Author and fountaine of all the good which wee Jam. 1. 17. Habac. 1. 16.either preſently inioy, or hope for in time to come; giuing him the whole glory of his gifts, and not attributing them to ſecondary cauſes and inferiour meanes; which are onelyonly his inſtruments by which hee conſerreth theſe gifts vponupon vsus. In our iudgements, we muſt rightly value, and highly eſteeme of Gods benefits, as well when we inioy them, as before we had them, or when they are taken from vsus; not extenuating, but rather ampliſying his gifts to the aduancing of his glory, and increaſing of our thankfulneſſe. Pſal. 16. 6.In our memories we muſt thankefully retaine the remembrance of Gods manifold mercies and ineſtimable benefits, that wee may continually Deut. 6. 11, 12. & 8. 14.take occaſion thereby to praiſe him for them; eſteeming it one of the worſt kinds of vngratitude, to forget our benefactour, or the gifts and bleſſings which wee hauehave receiued from him. And this God often impoſeth vponupon his people, that they ſhould not forget him nor his bleſsings; and Pſal. 103. 2.Dauid vponupon his owne ſoule, Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule, and forget not all his Pſ. 9. 1. & 138. 1. & 86. 12.benefits. But aboue all, we muſt be thankefull vntounto the Lord with all our hearts; according to that of Dauid; I will praiſe thee, O Lord, with my whole Pſal. 119. 7.heart. Or if we faile herein of that perfection which the Law requireth, yet at leaſt let vsus doe it in vprightneſſe and integrity, which will be accepted of God in Ieſus Chriſt. VntoUnto which thankfulneſſe of the heart is required, firſt, that it be done in humility, giuing God the whole praiſe of Pſal. 115. 1.his owne workes, and acknowledging his glory and greatneſſe, his goodneſſe and graciouſneſſe, who dayneth and vouchſafeth of his free grace to reſpect vsus who are duſt and aſhes, baſe and contemptible, ſinfull and miſerable, Gen. 32. 10. 1. Chro. 17. 16.and are ſo farre off from deſeruing the leaſt of his mercies and benefits, that we hauehave iuſtly merited the greateſt of his iudgements and puniſhments. Secondly, we muſt ſhew our thankfulneſſe, with all due reuerence, in reſpect of Gods glorious Maieſty, acknowledging it to bee a ſingular priuiledge, that ſo mighty a King, and Soueraigne Lord of heauen and earth will receiue any thing at our hands. Thirdly, wee muſt performe it with all alacrity and cheerefulneſſe, reioycing much, in that he giueth vsus not onelyonly the occaſions of this duty, but hearts alſo to doe it in ſome poore and weake meaſure.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt giuegive thankes in all things.
And after this manner muſt we ſhew our thankfulneſſe vntounto God: The obiect of our thankſgiuing, or the cauſe and occaſion of giuing thankes, 1. Theſ. 5. 18. Epheſ. 5. 20.is, all things, according to that of the Apoſtle, In eueryevery thing giuegive thankes; And againe, giuing thankes alwayes, for all things, vntounto God the Father, in the name of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. That is, we muſt giuegive thankes for all good things, which are ſo in their owne nature, or which through Gods wiſedome, power, and goodneſſe are made ſo vntounto vsus; for poſitiue good things, as all Gods bleſſings and benefits, both temporall, ſpirituall, and eternall; or priuatiue, when God in his louelove and mercy freeth vsus from thoſe euils of puniſhment which our ſinnes hauehave deſerued, or at leaſt, doth not inflict them in that meaſure and degree which hee might iuſtly impoſe vponupon vsus: in which reſpect, the Church in her greateſt afflictions Iam. 3. 22.tooke occaſion of prayſing God, and acknowledging his mercies, in that they were not vtterly conſumed: And doth alſo turne theſe light and Rom. 8. 28.momentany afflictions to our good, as the mortification of our ſinnes, the inriching of vsus with ſpirituall graces, the furthering of our ſaluation, and the increaſing of our heauenly ioy and happineſſe.
§. Sect. 3 That we muſt giuegive thankes at all times.
And this thankefulneſſe in all things we muſt ſhew at all times, that is, daily and continually, priuately and publikely, ſecretly in our hearts, and outwardly in our words and workes, ſo often as we hauehave any occaſion and opportunity offered vntounto vsus, either ordinary or extraordinary: by conſideration, either of poſitiue or priuatiue benefits; both at ſet times of prayer, and thorowout the whole day, by lifting vp our hearts with thankſgiuing vntounto God, for the continuall benefits, which in eueryevery part of the day hee conferreth vponupon vsus: As our deliuerance from euils, with which wee ſee others ouertaken, our preſeruation from many dangers, to which wee are daily ſubiect: for the aſſiſtance of his grace and holy Spirit, againſt the tentations of our ſpirituall enemies; for keeping our hearts in his feare, and from wandring with the world, in the by-wayes of ſinne and wickedneſſe. For giuing vsus hearts to ſeeke and ſerue him, and for accepting of vsus and our imperfect actions, in the perfect obedience of Ieſus Chriſt. For multiplying and continuall renewing of all his bleſſings and benefits vponupon vsus, and thoſe that are neere and deare vntounto vsus, both in temporall and ſpirituall things, and for thoſe aſſured hopes which he hath giuen vsus of heauenly and euerlaſting happineſſe in the world to come. For thoſe which hee beſtoweth publikely vponupon the Church and Common wealth, and priuately vponupon our families and our owne perſons. And this daily and continuall thankfulneſſe and thankſgiuing vntounto God, is required of vsus in the Scriptures. The Apoſtle exhorteth vsus, to ſpeake to our ſelues in Eph. 5. 20.Pſalmes, and Hymnes, and ſpirituall Songs, ſinging and making melody in our hearts to the Lord, giuing thankes alwayes for all things, &c. And that wee ſhould by Christ, offer the ſacrifices of praiſe to God continually, that is, the Heb. 13. 15.fruit of our lips, giuing thankes to his name. And this was Dauids daily practice, as he often profeſſeth; I will bleſſe the Lord (ſaith he) at all times his praiſe ſhall continually be in my mouth. And againe, EueryEvery day will I bleſſe Pſal 34 1.thee, and I will praiſe thy name for euer and euer. Which reſolutions, becauſe Pſal. 145. 2.he could not atchieue by his owne abilities, he craueth helpe and aſſiſtance from God: Let my mouth bee filled with thy praiſe, and with thine honour all Pſal. 71. 8, 15.the day; and then hee promiſeth to performe it; I will (ſaith he) praiſe thee more and more. My mouth ſhall ſhew foorth thy righteouſneſſe and thy ſaluation all the day, for I know not the numbers thereof.
§. Sect. 4 Reaſons which may mooue vsus vntounto daily thankſgiuing.
Beſides which teſtimonies and examples of holy Scriptures, there are many reaſons which may moue vsus to the dayly and continuall practice of this holy duty. As firſt the excellencie of it, ſeeing it is the continuall exerciſe of the holy Angels and Saints in heauen, in which a great part of their happineſſe conſiſteth, and wee ſee in the Reuelation, where great multitudes of the Saints cry alowd, and ſay, Bleſsing, and glory, and Apoc. 5. 13. & 7. 12.wiſedome, and thankeſgiuing, and honour, and power and might, bee vntounto our God for euer and euer, Amen. And this exercize they continue day and Apoc. 4. 8.night, ſaying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Secondly, it is moſt comely and decent, in reſpect of God, who being the chiefe goodneſſe all glory and praiſe of due belongeth to him, as being the end of all things, and the Author and fountaine of all our Pſal. 92. 2.our good. And therefore Dauid often repeateth it, and maketh it the foote of his ſong, that we muſt giuegive thankes to the Lord and praiſe him, becauſe he Pſal. 1…6. 1. & 147. 1.is good, and his mercy endureth for euer. In reſpect of vsus alſo, who daily receiue benefits at his hands: for ſeeing he reneweth his mercies vponupon vsus eueryevery Pſal. 33. 1. Lam. 3. 23.morning, as the Church confeſſeth, and followeth vsus with his fauours, throughout the whole day, what better beſeemeth vsus, then to be thankfull to ſuch a gracious Benefactour, and to hauehave our hearts filled with thankfulneſſe, and our mouthes with his praiſes? Againe, we are ſpirituall Prieſts vntounto God, to offer vntounto him daily ſacrifices: and what better beſeemeth Apoc. 1. 5.our office, then to offer vntounto him praiſes and thankſgiuing, which Pſal. 50. 14.are the ſacrifices wherein his ſoule doth chiefly delight? For it is a principall part of his ſeruice, which moſt redoundeth to his glory, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Whoſoeuer offereth praiſe, glorifieth mee; and is daily Ʋerſ. 23therefore to be performed by vsus, as our Sauiour teacheth vsus in his perfect forme of prayer, the firſt petition whereof, is, that Gods name may bee hallowed and glorified; and the concluſion, an acknowledgement that the Kingdome, power, and glory, doe belong vntounto him alone. Thirdly, it is the mayne end for which God beſtoweth all his bleſſings vponupon vsus, that Deut. 8. 18.wee ſhould yeeld vntounto him the praiſe and glory of his owne gifts; The which we will performe, if we be not too too vngratefull, ſeeing they are ſo ineſtimable and manifold, and yet he in louelove of them all requireth nothing of vsus, but that we daily ſhew our ſelues thankfull debters. Yea, in truth we hauehave nothing elſe to returne vntounto him, ſeeing all wee hauehave is his already; as wee ſee in the example of Dauid, who, though he were a King, Pſal. 16. 3.yet confeſſeth after long deliberation, his nullity and inſufficiency in this kinde, and therefore concludeth, that he would render vntounto him thanks Pſal. 116. 12.and praiſe. Yea, it is the end why God hath giuen vsus our tongues, that with them we ſhould glorifie him; whereof it is, that the Pſalmiſt calleth his tongue his glory, becauſe it was the inſtrument of glorifying God; and therefore they are vtterly vnworthy this excellent gift of ſpeech, wherein Pſal. 30. 12. & 57. 8.we excell all the creatures, who doe not in the vſe of it, ayme chiefly at this end for which it was giuen them.
§. Sect. 5 Of the meanes whereby wee may be ſtirred vp to thankfulneſſe.
Now the meanes of yeelding vntounto God this daily and continuall thankfulneſſe, is partly to remooue the cauſes and occaſions of vngratitude, 1. Chro. 17. 16. & 29. 14, 15.and partly to vſe all helpes wherby we may be furthered in this duty. Concerning the former, wee muſt take heede of pride, and all opinion of our owne merits, which will make vsus to thinke that all which we receiue, is leſſe then we deſerue; and contrariwiſe imbrace humility, and wholly deny our ſelues with our owne workes and worthineſſe, and ſo we ſhall be thankefull for the leaſt benefits, when we conſider that they are more then we deſerue. Secondly, we muſt not attribute the good things which we Pſal. 127. 1. Deut. 8. 17.receiue, vntounto ſecondary cauſes and inferiour meanes; as to our owne wiſedome, power, and induſtry, but aſcribe them wholly vntounto God, whoſe gifts they are, for otherwiſe we ſhall not giuegive God the praiſe, but ſacrifice Hab. 1. 16. Iſa. 10. 13.to our owne nets. Thirdly, we muſt not thinke how much we want, but what we hauehave; not how many are preferred before vsus, but how many better then we come behind vsus, and want the good things which wee inioy. The helpes whereby we may be furthered in this duty of thankſgiuing, are firſt, to take notice of thoſe manifold bleſſings which the Lord heapeth vponupon vsus, & euen of his particular gifts, at the very time they are receiued; for whileſt they are new, they more affect vsus, and ſtirre vsus vp to greater thankfulneſſe. Secondly, we muſt highly value them in our iudgements, if not in their owne worth, yet as they are louelove-tokens ſent from God, pledges and pawnes of his fauour, and earneſt-pennies of euerlaſting life and happineſſe; for the better wee conceiue of Gods benefits, the more thankefull will we be vntounto him for them. Thirdly, we muſt keepe bleſſings receiued in former times, in faithfull memories, that we may often recount them, and adding them to the new, wee may become more feruent and cheerefull in performing of this duty; eſpecially thoſe mayne benefits of Gods louelove, our election, creation, redemption, vocation, iuſtification, ſanctification, continuall preſeruation, and aſſured hope of our glorification. The which we ſhall the more readily doe, if we conſider, that it is an eſpeciall meanes to mooue the Lord to conferre vponupon vsus new benefits, when as we are truely thankefull vntounto him for the old, which is the mayne end for which he gaue them, and to caſt vponupon vsus the ſeeds of his bleſſings with a liberall hand, when as we are not barren grounds, but yeeld vntounto him the fruits of thankſgiuing.