A Help to Holy Walking, Treatise · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Directions for Days of Tanksgiving, or Holy Feaſting.
THE next Duty which I ſhall mention, is Holy Feaſting, which is no part of God's Worſhip, but is helpful to the Duty of Thankſgiving, as Faſting is to Humiliation; it hath been in uſe in the times of the Law, and is not uſeleſs in the times of the Goſpel, where there is juſt Cauſe for ſuch Spiritual Rejoycing. God in the Time of the Law appointed ſeveral Feaſts to be Obſerved by the Jews, upon ſeveral Occaſions. Some Daily, as the Morning and Evening Sacrifice; ſome Weekly, as the Sabbath, in Commemoration of the Work of Creation, and to Typifie out our Eternal Reſt in Heaven. Some Occaſionally, as the Thankſgiving of Moſes, Deborah, and Barak, &c. Some Yearly; and theſe either greater or leſſer Feaſts; the greater Feaſts were three; the Paſſeover, appointed to be kept in Memorial of Iſraels Deliverance out of Egypt, which Typically holds out our Deliverance by Chriſt, who was the true Paſcal Lamb ſlain for the ſins of the People; of this Feaſt we may read, Exod. 12.1, &c. & 23.15. Ezek. 42.21. and elſewhere. The next was Penticoſt, which was obſerved fifty days after; wherein every Family Offered two Loaves of the firſt Fruits: This is called the Feaſt of Harveſt, Exod. 23.16. The third was the Feaſt of Tabernacles, Inſtituted in Memory, that the Children of Iſrael Lived forty Years in the Wilderneſs, and had no certain Dwelling Houſes, but Lived in Tents, and yet God made Proviſion for them; and hereby they were Taught, and we may Learn, if we are Strangers and Pilgrims here, and have no conſtant abiding City, but expect one in the Spiritual Canaan; we may find this Feaſt mentioned, Deut. 16.13. Joſh. 7.2. Exod. 23.16. where 'tis called the Feaſt of In gathering, at the end of the Year. At theſe three Feaſts all the Males were Commanded to appear before the Lord, Exod. 23.7. The Annual Feaſts of leſſer Account, were two; the Feaſt of Trumpets, and the Feaſt of Expiation, both mentioned, Lev. 23.24.27. In which alſo it was not allowed to do any Work; nay, it was forbidden upon pain of Death: Other Feaſts were to be Obſerved after certain Years; for as every ſeventh day was Holy to the Lord, ſo was every ſeventh Year: For as Man and Beaſt was Commanded to Reſt upon the ſeventh day; ſo the Land was to Reſt every ſeventh Year, that it might gather Heart, and that the Poor of the Land might be fed of thoſe things which the Earth did Naturally bring forth, without Labour; and after ſeven times ſeven Years, which is forty nine, the next, which is the fiftyeth Year, was the Jubilee, or Year of Gladneſs, wherein Debts were forgiven, Land ſold, returned to the Owners, and Hebrew Servants were Releaſed, and made Free, Lev. 25.9. To which Chriſt ſeems to allude, John 4.18,19. who was ſent to Preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord, &c. Some Feſtivals alſo were appointed by Man, upon great Occaſions, and were Yearly Obſerved by the Church; as the Feaſt of Purim, Commanded by Eſther the Queen, and Mordecai the Jew, upon the Account, and in Memorial of the Famous Deliverance of the Church in their time from the wicked Conſpiracy of Haman, Eſt. 9.17. And alſo the Feaſt of the Dedication of the Temple, either after the Babyloniſh Captivity, Ezra 6.16. Or after it was polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes, and again Dedicated by Machabeus, 1 Mac. 4.5,6. Which Feaſt Chriſt himſelf ſeems to approve, by his Preſence, John 10.22. And in Goſpel times we have our Feaſts alſo; as every Seventh day for a Sabbath, of which I have already Treated: Several other Feſtivals in later Ages have been Obſerved, which Antienter Antiquity make no mention of, as ſeveral in Memory of Chriſt's Birth, Reſurrection, Aſſention, &c. Several to our Lady, and many in Memory of Saints; of which I ſhall ſay no more, but what the Apoſtle doth, Rom. 14.5,6. One Man eſteemeth one day above another; another eſteemeth every day alike, let every Man be perſwaded fully in his own mind, &c. Let us not Judge one another in thoſe things; but were thoſe obſerved as days of Thankſgiving ought to be, they would not be ſo eagerly contended for by ſome, nor ſo eagerly contended againſt by others. The Papiſts ſuperſtitiouſly forcing them upon us, as parts of Gods worſhip; and their Idol worſhip thereupon hath made ſome perhaps, run too far on the other ſide; but many ſpending them as Feaſts to Bacchus, hath made many abhor the other occaſional Feaſts we have had, as the fifth of November, &c. commanded by Authority to be greatly obſerved, and others as occaſion falls out; which if you would keep well, or any of the forementioned Holy-days, obſerve theſe Directions following.
1. Direct. If thou wouldeſt offer up to God a pleaſing Sacrifice upon ſuch a day as this is, get thy heart rightly qualified, and rightly prepared; there is bad Muſick like to be where the Inſtrument is out of tune: this Duty is more difficult than Prayer; pinching wants, and eminent dangers, puts a Man on to prayer, as we ſee by the Mariners in Jonah's Ship; but ſelf-denyal is required in praiſing him: ten Lepers could join in a petition for help, and but one returned to give thanks. Thy heart muſt be qualified with Grace, or thou canſt not praiſe God upon ſuch occaſions as thou oughteſt: for what haſt thou to do to take the Word, or Name of God in thy Mouth, if thou hateſt to be reformed, Pſal. 50.16. 'Tis every ones duty, for every one receives mercy, and 'tis a Rent due to the chief Land Lord, but every one cannot do it; Praiſe is comely for the upright, Pſal. 38.1. It ſhould be a Congregation of Saints where God is praiſed, Pſal. 149.11. I do not perſwade others from the Duty, no more than I do from Prayer, but perſwade them to cleanſe their hearts before they come to the Duty: for none but the Righteous can do the work of the day as they ought, neither indeed have they cauſe to rejoice when God is their Enemy; and for ought they know, they may Lodge next night in Hell: that rejoicing is the work of the day, is evident Lev. 23,40. Deut. 12.12. and many other places. Theſe only are exhorted to rejoice, Pſal. 33.1. Rejoice in the Lord ye Righteous, and ſhout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. Phil. 3.1. & 4.4. Pſal. 107.22. Declare his works with rejoycing. But how can we rejoyce, or praiſe God for Redemption, Vocation, Adoption, and the hope of glory, when we have no intereſt in them? Thy evidence muſt be cleared up, or thou art unfit for this Duty. Thoſe, and thoſe only, that have an intereſt in Chriſt, and a Title to Glory, aſſured to them, can eat their Bread with Joy, and drink their Wine with a merry heart: for …od accepteth their works. Others may ſpeak as much, and ſeem as confident, like the Phariſee; but there is a difference: the true Chriſtian ſpeaks humbly, the Phariſee proudly, and boaſtingly: the one is humbled for his remaining corruption, the other brags, though no ſin is kill'd. Paul cryes out, O wretched Man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the Body of Death? The Phariſee thanks God, he is not as other Men are, or as the Pulican: The one thanks God for what he hath, the other for what he never had. How oft may we hear Men give thanks, for their Election, Vocation, Sanctification, &c. when there is little appearance of it, when their lives evidence, that they are neither called, nor ſanctified: the one praiſeth God in pity to others, the other in contempt, Phil. 3.8. To me who am leſs than the leaſt of Saints, is this Grace given. I thank thee, ſaith the Phariſee I am not as other Men are: One returns thanks out of Cuſtome; the other out of Conſcience. For preparation to the work, diſpoſe of, and lay aſide, all thy Worldly occaſions, as much as poſſible; that they interupt thee not in the work: and take daily notice of, and ſtore up in thy Memory, what God hath done for thy Body, and for thy Soul, for thy Family and Relations, for the Land of thy Nativity; and the Church in general. How ſhall we praiſe God, if we neglect, and forget his benefits? Pſal. 103.2. his Works and wonders, Pſal. 78.7. this is commanded, Pſal. 105.5. Exod. 13.8. The neglect of this is charged upon Iſrael, Pſal. 78.11. they forgat his Works, and the Wonders that he ſhewed them; and how many are deeply guilty of this fault? They heedleſly receive mercies, and take no notice whence they come, or let them ſlip out of memory; even thoſe they were ſomtimes affected with: and thou ſhouldeſt not only remember them, but meditate upon them, to aflect thy heart with them; take notice of the mercy, juſtice, and goodneſs of God in them, value them according to their worth, as Jacob did Gen. 22.9.10. Lord, ſaith he, I am leſs than the leaſt of thy mercies, which thou haſt ſhewed me: for with my Staff I paſſed over this Jordan, and now I am become two Bands. David when he beheld the glorious Lamps of Heaven, the wonderful works of God, brake out into admiration, Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of Man, that thou regardeſt him? Pſal. 8.3.4. Outward mercies, but eſpecially Spiritual, ſhould, & will affect the heart, if laid home by meditation.
2. Direct. When thou keepeſt a day, keep it to the Lord, and not to thy ſelf. Let thy ultimate end and aim be Gods glory, and the main deſign thou driveſt on be his praiſe: 'tis true in all Duties this ſhould be regarded; but eſpecially in this: for this Time is ſet apart meerly upon that account, to praiſe him with an inlarged heart; and if thou propound lower ends than theſe, God will not own thy work. Theſe days are appointed to praiſe God, and not as many abuſe them, and pamper the Fleſh; 'tis the Apoſtles advice, and doubtleſs our Duty, 1. Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatſoever you do, do all to the praiſe and glory of God. And if in our ordinary courſe we ſhould drive on this deſign, much more in this extraordinary Duty, in ſo ſolemn a day, and exerciſe; here the joy of the Lord ſhould fill the heart, Spiritual and not Carnal Joy, & the praiſe of the Lord ſhould fill our Mouths, not vain laughter: we ſhould ſpeak out the great works of God, which he hath done for our Souls; and whatſoever ſuits not with this, is unſuitable for the occaſion; but 'tis a ſad thing, that many that pretend Conſcience in the obſervation of Saints-days, blame all thoſe thot look upon them as indifferent. I ſay, that thoſe to whom honeſt Labour, at other times Lawful, is held a great Tranſgreſſion, yet make no Conſcience at all of ſerving God upon theſe days; but ſpend their time vainly, and prophanely, neither to the benefit of Soul, or Body. Theſe think they ſerve God better at an Ale-houſe, at a Cock-pit, or Bear-baiting, or Stage-play; at Cards, or Dice, or other unlawful Games, than they can in an honeſt Calling: But is this the Feaſt that God hath choſen, to eat and drink, and riſe up to play? This may ſerve turn, if we worſhiped ſuch an Idol as Iſrael then did, Fxod. 32.6. But ſhall we ſerve our God with ſuch ſervice, as the Heathen did Baccus? He is a Spirit, and muſt be worſhiped in Spirit, and in Truth; and is eating and drinking, to Gluttony and Drunkenneſs this Spiritual Service that is commanded? Shall we praiſe God for his Creatures, by intemperance, and abuſe of them? Yet are not theſe the Exerciſes of ſome of the greateſt Sticklers for ſuch Feſtivals? Look into an Ale-houſe, and ſee whether more meet not there upon ſuch days as theſe, than the whole Week beſide; and many an Oath ſworn, and many a Lye told, and many a vain word ſpoken, at ſuch times, and upon ſuch occaſions; yea, much Drunkenneſs, Debauchery, Quarrels, Fightings; and ſometimes Murder, is there committtd. And is this Gods Feaſt, or the Devils Sacrifice? It more ſuits an Heathen Idol, than an holy God. Is this the place where God is like to meet thee? or wouldeſt have Death meet thee here? or is the Diſcourſe of the Company ſuitable to the work of the Day, wilt thou thank God for thy Reaſon, when thou haſt loſt the uſe of it by drinking; and transformed thy ſelf into a Beaſt? or canſt then remember Gods benefits to praiſe him for them, when thou canſt not remember what thou doſt? 'Tis far from me to Judge any Man that keeps thoſe days, as days of Thanksgiving ought to be kept: And 'tis far from me to approve of them as they are kept. I know the Godly are allowed to eat their Bread with Joy, and drink their Wine with a merry heart; but it is Spiritual, not Carnal Joy: They ought upon Thanksgiving days, to ceaſe from their Labour; but that is not all, then they keep it but as a Beaſt: But as a Faſt is a help to humiliation, and makes Prayers the more fervent; ſo Feaſting in an holy manner elevates the Soul, and makes praiſes the more hearty, when we freſhly taſt Gods goodneſs in the Previſion made for us: Labour in both is forbidden, as 'tis an hindrance in the Duties in hand: but 'tis ſad that God is more diſhonored in thoſe days pretended to be ſet apart to honour him in, than in all the days of the Year beſides; but God will not own ſuch Servants, nor accept of ſuch Service, when Men think there is nothing but work forbidden upon that day, or nothing more than idleneſs required; but many would glorifie God much better in a Lawful Calling, than at an unlawful Exerciſe, or unneceſſary Recreation. I know Recreation is Lawful, as I hope in due time and place to demonſtrate and give Directions in it: But why ſhould we take Gods time for our uſe? if theſe days be appropriated to Gods Service, let them be ſpent in his Service; if for our Recreation, let us never put the Title of Holy-days upon them, let them be left indifferent, to be uſed, or not uſed, at pleaſure, or People kept from diſhonouring God in them.
3. Direct. In the obſervation of theſe days ſee thy grounds be good, and that thou haſt a lawful calling to it; or otherwiſe God will not own it. 'Tis true, Thanksgiving is a work of every day; but every day is not to be obſerved as an holy Feſtival to God: come not ſuperſtitiouſly to it, as the Papiſts, nor profanely, as the Senſualiſt, nor wickedly, as the profane Enmies to God, and Godlineſs: See thou be invited to it, by real mercies received; and in giving thanks, miſtake not Judgements for Mercies, and Mercies for Judgments; 'tis, true, we ought to Obſerve all God's Providences, and Bleſs God for all Chaſtiſements, as well as others, that is for the good which we receive by them, as Job 1.21. But this ſhould be with Humiliation, not Exultation: If thy Foundation be rotten, the Building cannot be good; there are many that heartily rejoyce, and give thanks alſo to God, after their manner, for the downfall of the Church, and the extirpation of the Power of Godlineſs. I fear our times are not barren of Examples, of this Nature: This was the Sin of the Ammonites, and will be the Sin of thoſe that are guilty, Ezek. 25.6. Becauſe thou hast clapped thy Hands, and ſtamped with thy Feet, and Rejoyced in thine Heart, with all deſpight againſt the Land of Iſrael, therefore I will ſtretch forth my hand againſt thee, and deliver thee for a ſpoil to the Heathen, &c. See, God takes it ill, when Men exult over his People in diſtreſs; and if they praiſe him for Correcting them, 'tis unpleaſing Service to him; his Ends are their Reformation, not their deſolation, Zach. 1.15. I am ſorely diſpleaſed with the Heathen that are at eaſe, for I was but a very little diſpleaſed, and they helpt forward the Affliction: There is a Prophetick Prayer put up againſt Edom, which in Jeruſalem's Troubles Cryed, Raſe it, Raſe it, even to the Foundations thereof, Pſal. 137.7. God made the King of Aſſyria a Rod in his Hand to Correct his People, but he intended to deſtroy them; but God threatens when he hath done his work upon Mount Sion, to puniſh the ſtout Heart of the King of Aſſyria, Iſa. 10.5, &c. When Afflictions lye upon the Church of God, do not, with the Wicked cry Aha, ſo would we have it, Pſal. 35.25. Theſe are mourning Times, and God expects that thou ſhouldeſt ſympathize with them in their Suffering: When one Child is beaten, the other ſhould not Rejoyce; they know not but their turn may be next: If Judgment begin at the Houſe of God, where ſhall the Wicked and ungodly appear? Iſa. 22.12,13. In that day did the Lord of Hoſts call to weeping, to mourning, to baldneſs, and to girding with Sack cloath, and behold Joy and Gladneſs, ſlaying Oxen, and killing Sheep, &c. But this Iniquity ſhall never be purged off till they dye, ſaith the Lord. God alſo threatens thoſe that Rejoyce in mourning times, Amos 6.4,5,6,7. Let the manner of the performance of this thankfulneſs be what it will, never ſo ſpecious in the Eyes of Man, if the ground of thy rejoycing be the Ruine of the Church, the Affliction of the People of God, the extirpation of the power of Godlineſs, or the Liberty of Prophaneſs, or Increaſe of it; 'tis abominable in the ſight of God, and thy Feaſt will pleaſe God no better than Jezebels Faſt, where God's Laws were broken, under pretence of his Honour. The like pretence we may read, Iſa. 66.5. Hear the Word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his Word, your Brethren that hate you, and caſt you out for my ſake, ſaid, let the Lord be Glorified, but he ſhall appear to your Joy, and their ſhame. Some think God is Glorified, when indeed he is diſhonoured; Men ſhall kill you, ſaith Chriſt, and think they do God good Service: Oh, the miſchie of Ignorance, and Superſtition! But the Godly, in all Ages, have made the Flouriſhing of the Church, and the down-fall of implacable Enemies, the Cauſe of ſuch Rejoycing; and not when one part of the Church ruins another, and imbrues their Hands in one anothers Blood; this is Cauſe of Lamentation. When Iſrael had deſtroyed their Brother Benjamin, though in a juſt Quarrel, and by God's appointment, yet they lift up their Voyce and wept, becauſe one Tribe was Cut off, Judg. 21.2.6. And 'tis ſaid, they Repented for their Brother Benjamin's ſake. 'Tis Cauſe of mourning when Proteſtants ſhed each others Blood, and the Enemies laugh at it, in their Sleeves: And for Perſonal Mercy, ſee it be ſuch as God hath really given thee, and not like the Phariſee, for thoſe thou haſt not. As for Election, Redemption, Vocation, Juſtification, Sanctification, and the hopes of Glory, theſe well deſerve thy greateſt praiſe, but boaſt not of them before thou haſt ſome good ground to believe thou haſt them; God will not thank that Man, that thanks him for Gifts and Graces, which he never did, and, perhaps, never will beſtow upon him.
4. Direct. As for thy Carriage upon ſuch a day, it ſhould not be ſuch as Men Ordinarily uſe upon their Feſtivals, or Holy-days, looſe, Propane, Idle, or Careleſs, but ſuch as is ſuitable to the Work in Hand, and helpful in the Praiſing, and magnifying God, which is the main Work of the day. Remember therefore into whoſe Preſence thou comeſt, and with whom thou haſt to do; apprehend him by the Eye of Faith, taking notice of thee, and deport thy ſelf accordingly; he knows thy Heart, and tries thy Reins, and knows thy Ends and Motives better than thy ſelf: Do nothing therefore un-beſeeming his Preſence, or which thou wouldſt not have him take notice of. And having, as before is directed, Treaſured up the Experiences of God's Mercies in thy Memory, and warmed thy Heart by Meditation upon them, and by this means Tuned thy Heart to his praiſes: When the day is come which is ſet apart, when thou wakeſt in the Morning, and it ſhould be betimes, (for thou haſt a great work to do) Conſecrate thy firſt thoughts to him, and let not the Devil, the World, nor Sin Rob him of that Honour; but begin the day by ſome warming Meditation ſuitable to the Occaſion, or by ſome Laudatory Ejaculation: Diſcourſe with him before thou Diſcourſe with the World, and raiſe thy Heart hereby to the higheſt pitch thou art able; for having diſpoſed thy Worldly buſineſs as much as poſſible, and ſet it out of thy way, that it interrupt thee not in thy Duties; behave thy ſelf as if thou hadſt nothing to look after but thy God, and thy Soul; Entertain not a thought, if poſſible, of them, till thy Work be done. 'Tis impoſſible to ſerve God as we ought in ſuch a Duty in a Croud of Buſineſs; the whole Man is little enough, and too little for the Work; for thou wilt find it a harder Duty than Prayer: Thy own Neceſſities, ſelf-love, and ſelf-Intereſt, may animate a Man to Prayer, but Praiſing God is a ſelf-denying Duty; and though in ſome things thou maiſt take more Liberty than in a Faſt, as in the Liberal uſe of the Creature; and in ſome things more than on a Sabbath, as in outward expreſſions of Joy; yet thy Heart ſhould keep as cloſe to God in this, as in any other Day, or Duty, and be as much inlarged to God: And though thou maiſt adorn thy ſelf, and 'tis fit thou ſhouldeſt, yet beware of Priding in thy Cloaths, this is unſuitable to a ſelf-denying Duty: And though thou maiſt eat the fat, and drink the ſweet, and eat thy Bread with Joy, and drink thy Wine with a Merry Heart, yet immoderation is unlawful: Thou maiſt drink, to chearfulneſs, not to exceſs; to help thee in the Work, not to hinder thee in thy Duty: Prepare thy Heart in the Morning, as by Meditation, ſo by Prayer for Direction, and aſſiſtance in the Work; to gather in thy ſcatter'd thoughts and affections, and ſequeſter them from the World, for the Service of the Day; and forget not to praiſe him for private and particular Mercies, which thou haſt Received, for returns of Prayer, &c. Jacob did thus for Temporal, as well as Spiritual Favours, Gen. 32.10. God would have us ſenſible of theſe as well as Church or State Mercies. Call alſo thy Family together in due time, Read ſome Scripture ſuitable to the occaſion, let them underſtand that they alſo are concerned in the Duties of the Day. Sing ſome Pſalm of praiſe to this purpoſe: Let him that is merry ſing Pſalms, James 5.13. Praiſe God with them, and for them; and re-count to his Praiſe the many Family Mercies thou haſt received; take notice of your unworthineſs, the more to exalt the Mercies received: But Confeſſion of Sin, ſo as to Afflict the Soul with them, is not ſuitable to the day. Bring thy Family in due time to the Publick (if it be publickly Obſerved, otherwiſe carry it on in Private) and pay your Vows in the great Congregation; and behave your ſelves in the remaining part of the day, as be-you were Directed in the Obſervation of the Sabbath; for this time is Conſecrated, and made Holy to God, and ſhould be wholly ſpent in his Service: And thou ſhouldeſt be as careful of thy Thoughts, thy Words, and thy Affections, as though it were a Sabbath; for there is no danger of keeping them too intent upon God: When thou comeſt into the Congregation thou maiſt ſay, as Jacob, Gen. 28.17. This is no other but the Houſe of God, and the Gate of Heaven; for here is done the work that ſhall be done in Heaven: As for the oher expreſſions of Joy, as Ringing of Bells, ſhooting off Guns, making of Bone-fires, &c. they are ſo far Lawful, as they help forward the Work, and raiſe the Heart to an higher pitch of Joy, and rejoycing in the Lord.
5. Direct. Having thus diſpoſed and prepared thy Heart for the Work, and ſet thy ſelf as in the Preſence of the ever-living God, that ſees, and knows, and takes notice of thee; ſet thy ſelf then upon the work, of Glorifying God, and render thanks to him from thy Heart, for all the Benefits thou haſt Received; Praiſe is comely for the Saints: And this Religious Thankfulneſs, of which we ſpeak, is thy Duty. Now, 'tis either External, or Internal; the Internal is to carry a thankful Heart to God, and this is every days Duty: External is, when the Thankfulneſs of the Heart is expreſſed in Words, or Actions; the former without the latter, is not ſufficient; the latter without the former, is little worth. Now, the External manifeſtation of thy thankfulneſs, is either Private, or Publick; Private by thy ſelf, or Family; Publick in the great Congregation; and this alſo is either Ordinary, or Extraordinary; Ordinary, and this ſhould be done at every time when we come together to Worſhip of God: The Extraordinary is upon Extraordinary Occaſions; as ſome great Deliverances, or the obtaining ſome great Mercies, or the bringing down ſome great Enemies of the Church; this the Church ought to bleſs God for, and Offer this Sacrifice of Praiſe in the Name, and Mediation of Chriſt, who prays over all our Prayers for us, and Offers our Praiſes performed with the Incenſe of his own Righteouſneſs. Now, 'tis requiſite, as I ſaid before, that a Catalogue of thoſe Mercies, God hath given in as a return of Prayers, be laid up, either in a Book, or in the Memory; for if we neglect, or forget them, how ſhall we ſpeak of them, to God's praiſe; 'tis not enough to remember them, but we muſt alſo mention them to his praiſe: Thus David, I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul: He acknowledgeth God the Author of his Mercies, and doth not Sacrifice to his own Nets, as many do, and burn Incenſe to his Drags, Hab. 1.16. But as the Church, not unto us, Lord, not to us, but to thy Name be the Praiſe; he acknowledges frequently his own worthleſsneſs, that he may exalt God. Lord, ſaith he, what is Man, that thou ſhouldſt be mindful of him? Or the Son of Man, that thou regardeſt him? Pſal. 8.4. I am leſs than the leaſt of thy Mercies, ſaith Jacob: I am leſs than the leaſt of thy Saints, ſaith Paul. Yea, when it comes, let it be a Free-will Offering; do it chearfully, readily, willingly, as the Saints and Angels do it in Heaven, heartily, not heavily; God Loves a chearful giver, and matters not grumbling Service: Be as willing to return Thanks, as ever thou waſt to have the Mercy. Set thy Heart on Work in this Duty, ſtir up thy ſelf, like the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 103.1, Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me Praiſe his Holy Name: Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his Benefits. 'Tis not enough to Praiſe him with the Lips, or bring our Bodies before him, but the Heart and Life ſhould Praiſe him; the Heart ſhould Indite thy Praiſes, and thy Tongue utter them, and thy Life and Converſation Seal to them; thou ſhouldſt do thanks, and Live thanks, as well as ſpeak thanks; this is every days Duty, eſpecially when we receive ſignal Mercies, we ſhould return anſwerable thanks; when National Mercies, National thanks ſhould be returned, Pſal. 50.15. Moſes did ſo at the Deliverance at the Red Sea, Exod. 15.1. Deborah and Barak did ſo, Judg. 5.12. The Jews alſo, when delivered from Haman's Plots, Eſt. 8.11.17. And there is great reaſon it ſhould be ſo; for Praiſe is due to none but God, and to him the Vow ſhould be performed; all our Springs are in him, and all our Mercies are from him; yea, every good and perfect gift, and this is the very End, for which he gives them, and 'tis all he requires for them; this Pepper-corn of Homage is all his Rent, who is the great Land-Lord; and though it be due from all, yet he expects it from his own People eſpecially; he will extort his own from others in another way, and none but his People can do it to pleaſe him: This is to his Saints a fore-taſt of Glory, where it muſt be their conſtant Work. 'Tis a beneficial Duty alſo, for Thankſgiving for one Mercy, is a real, yea, a prevailing Requeſt for another; Thoſe that Offer praiſe, Glorifie God: And yet we ſee how negligent moſt are in this Duty; few take notice of the Mercies they Receive, but like Swine, eat the Acorns, or Crabs, and regard not whence they come: Ten Lepers were cleanſed, and but one returns thanks; many are ſenſible of their wants, and with the Horſe-Leach, cry, give, give; yet are not ſenſible of their enjoyments, to return thanks; yea, ſuffer ſome petty Croſs to hide a thouſand Bleſſings, and keep them out of their ſight.
6. Direct. When thou art thus prepared, thus fitted, go on in re-counting the Mercies thou haſt Received, and bleſs God for them; this is the main Work of the Day. Now, foraſmuch as Mercies are various, all Men receive not alike, yet all receive ſome, for which they ſhould be thankful; give me leave to lead you by the Hand a little, and ſhew you ſome, the reſt you may Obſerve your ſelves. Bleſs God for what he is in himſelf, and what he is to his Creatures; in himſelf, admire his Eſſence, for fathom it thou canſt not; the like we may ſay of his Attributes, his Eternity, Immutability, his Power, Wiſdom, Holineſs, Juſtice, and Truth, &c. Thou maiſt ſpend thy days alſo in Admiring him in the Works of his Hand; lift up thy Eyes to Heaven, and ſee the Sun, the Moon, and Stars, thoſe Glorious Lamps, thoſe Beauty ſpots of Heaven; obſerve their Diſtance, Courſes, Influence, and Virtues; and well thou maiſt cry out, Lord, what is Man, &c. Pſal. 8.3,4. Look upon the Earth hanging like a Ball in the open Air, ſtayed upon nothing; ſee how 'tis garniſhed with Trees, and Plants, and Herbs, and Flowers; Inhabited with a Hundred ſorts of ſeveral Creatures, all Cared for by the great Houſe-holder: Behold the Subſerviency of one Creature to another, and every one ſeems rather made for another than himſelf; the Sun, and Moon, and Stars pour out their Influence on the Earth; the Earth again yields Graſs, and Herbs, and Fruits, for Man, and Beaſt; the Beaſts are for Food, or Service to Man; there is no Corner of Nature's Garden, but yields Matter of Admiration, and Praiſe alſo to God. The Works of his Providence alſo are full of Myſtery, and Wonder, and may fill the Heart with Admiration, and the Mouth with Praiſes, to ſee how the World is Governed, and the Creatures all provided for: But eſpecially Obſerve his Providence to his Church, in all Ages, which is a Buſh on fire, and not conſumed; Lambs in the midſt of Wolves, and yet ſafe: See his Providence to Noah, when the whole World was drowned; to Lot, when Sodom was burnt; to Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob; to the Church in Egypt, and in the Wilderneſs: To Joſeph, and to David; to the Jews, in Haman's time; to the Apoſtles Athanaſius, Luther, and generally down from the beginning of the World to this day; deſcend to our own Nation, how wonderful hath his Mercies been to us? How ſtrange was his bringing us out of Popiſh darkneſs? How wonderful his preſerving us from being reduced back again? How great his Deliverance from the Spantſh Invaſion, and after from the Powder Treaſon, and many other Helliſh Plots, hatc'd in Hell, againſt God's People upon Earth: How hath he continued our Peace, our Plenty, our Health, our Liberty; yea, the Goſpel among us, notwithſtanding the Rage and Malice of the Devil, and his Inſtruments. If we conſider our own particular Mercies, and that as we are Men, or as we are Chriſtians: As a Man, thou art his Creature, and ſhouldſt bleſs him for thy Creation; he made thee of nothing, when he had no need of thee; he made thee a rational Creature, capable of Communion with himſelf, when he might have made thee a Dog, or Toad, or the moſt deſpicable Creature that ever fell out of his hands: And doth not this deſerve praiſe? He covered thee in thy Mothers womb, and through him thou waſt born: David bleſſeth him for that, Pſal. 139.13. Thou waſt born in an Age of Light, under the Goſpel, thou mighteſt have been born in Turky, or India, or the moſt barbarous place in America; he provided for thee, when thou couldeſt not provide for thy ſelf: he gives thee Food and Raiment, and bleſſeth them to thy Uſe, without which they could not Feed thee, or keep thee warm: he hath given thee thy Limbs, and Senſes, when thou mighteſt have been blind, or lame; or deaf, or dumb: Thou haſt thy health, and ſtrength, thy wit and reaſon, when thou mighteſt have been upon thy Bed of Languiſhing, or running raging in the Streets; thou haſt fire and water, two great Favours, were they wanted; thou haſt the ground to tread upon, the Air to breath in, which thou haſt not deſerved; and many thouſand other Mercies, and canſt not yet ſee Cauſe to be thankful? Peace and Plenty, Health and Liberty, is given in to thee: But if thou art a Chriſtian, thy Obligations are much more; thou ſhouldeſt then praiſe God for his Electing Love, when he paſt by thouſands, and ſet his Love on thee; for ſending his Son into the world, and for Chriſts Suffering for thy Sins; for his Redeeming of thee with his precious blood, for his Adopting thee to be his Child; his Calling, Sanctifying, and Juſtifying thee for the Grace he hath given thee, the promiſes he hath made to thee for the Goſpel of his Son given to thee, for his Spirit to direct thee, his Miniſters to teach thee, thy own Conſcience to check thee, the Company of his Servants to encourage thee, and generally for all the helps thou haſt in Heavens way, ſtrength againſt Temptations, Corruptions, and Alurements. Now, Chriſtian, canſt ſee any Cauſe of thankfulneſs? Doubtleſs thou maiſt, eſpecially if thou conſider all this is given thee freely, without any deſert on thy part.
7. Direct. Having ſounded forth the praiſes of God for his Mercy, which thou haſt Received from him, and bleſſed him for Church Mercies, for State Mercies, for Family, Relation, and Perſonal Mercies; thy next work is to go to God, to Petition him, for the continuance of thoſe Mercies, that are enjoyed, and granting thoſe that are yet wanting; for preventing the judgments feared, and begging the removal of thoſe that are felt; when thou haſt paid one Debt, and Cancelled one Obligation, thou maiſt go the bolder to borrow again. In private thou maiſt tell him what Sins thou wouldeſt have mortified, and what Graces ſtrengthened, and Increaſed; what Temptations vanquiſhed, what doubts reſolved, and what other wants thou wouldſt have ſupplyed, for thy ſelf, thy Family, thy Relations, and Friends, who lye under Sins, or Sufferings, or Temptations; as alſo for the place, where thou Sinneſt, the Nation of which thou art a Member: For the removal of the judgments felt, or feared; the continuance of the Mercies enjoyed, and the beſtowing of thoſe that are wanting: The Reformation of what is amiſs, in Church or State; the infatuating of the Counſels of blood-thirſty Enemies, the Continuance of the Goſpel in the power and purity of it; for a ſupply of Faithful Labourers in God's Harveſt, and a bleſſing upon their Endeavours; for a bleſſing upon the Government, upon the Kings Majeſty, and his Royal Relations, upon his Counſels, Magiſtrates, Miniſters, and all in Authority; for the preſervation of the Land in Peace and Plenty, Health and Liberty, and for the Church in general: That God would protect them by his power, direct them by his Spirit, ſpread abroad the Goſſpel to the Ends of the Earth; make all the Kingdoms of the world the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chriſt; that he would root out every Plant which he himſelf hath not Planted, and purge his Ordinance from every thing that offends, and bring down the Potent Enemies of Chriſt, and ſet Chriſt upon his Throne, and pull down the Throne of Anti-Chriſt, and bring in Jews and Gentiles to be one Fold, under one Shepherd Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous, and finiſh thoſe ſinful days wherein we Live, And in the Concluſion, we ſhould ingage our ſelves by Covenant, that if God ſhall give in a return to thoſe our Requeſts, then will we praiſe and magnifie him, and devote our ſelves more to his Service; and in the Cloſe of the Duty remember the Poor: This is alſo a neceſſary work of the Day, and that which God expects at our hands, as a teſtification of our Thankful hearts; and with what Conſcience canſt deny God this one Requeſt, who hath beſtowed ſo much upon thee? This was the Practice of the Saints in former times, upon ſuch Occaſions, Eſther 9.18,19,20. They made it a day of Feaſting, and Gladneſs, when they were delivered from their Enemies; a good day, of Sending Portions one to another, and Gifts to the Poor: … The like we find, Nehem. 8.10. Go your way, tat the Fat, and drink the ſweet, and ſend Portions to them for whom nothing is provided, for rhis day is Holy to the Lord, neither be ye ſory: And we find in the following Verſes, it was done: To be Liberal handed to the Poor, is a Duty at all times, Deut. 15.7. Thou ſhalt not ſhut thy Hand againſt the Poor: but eſpecially ſuch a time as this, that they alſo may rejoyce: A bleſſing is pronounced to thoſe that relieve them, and a promiſe added, Pſal. 41.1. Bleſſed is he that Conſidereth the Poor, the Lord will deliver him in the time of Trouble; but he tbat ſtops his Ears at the Cry of the Poor, ſhall Cry himſelf and not be heard, Prov. 21.13. God hath promiſed, He that Relieveth the Poor ſhall not lack, Prov. 28.27. He that hath pity on the Poor, lendeth to the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again, Prov. 19.17. And he that hath this Worlds good, and ſeeth his Brother hath need, and ſhutteth up his Bowels of Compaſſion from him, how dwelleth the Love of God in him? 1 John 3.17. Neither ſhall ſuch ever Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 25.41.46. Take heed therefore thou neglect not this ſo neceſſary a Duty, leſt thou loſe all thy pains, which thou haſt taken. And when thou haſt cloſed up the Day in ſuch neceſſary Duties, as theſe are, and Commended thy ſelf, and Family unto the protection of God, yet know that thy work is not done, but thou muſt Live thanks, as well as ſpeak thanks; yea, the whole Courſe of thy Life ſhould teſtifie thy thankful Heart. By this time, I ſuppoſe, you ſee theſe Holy Feſtivals are not ſo eaſie to be kept, as many have Imagined; and many great Zealots for Holy days, were they thus Obſerved, would have their Zeal to them much abated.