A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 53
CHAP. LIII. Examples of Gratitude: Tanksgiving.
WHat we are to give thanks to God for. For deliverances, 2 Sam. 22. 50. 1 Chron. 16. 35. Ps. 35. 17, 18. & 18. 49. & 30. 4, 11, 12. & 105. 1, 5. & 106. 1. & 107. 1. For willingnesse to do good. 1 Chron. 29. 13, 14. For wisdome. Dan. 2. 23. For Gods grace to others, Rom. 1. 8. & 16. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 4. Phil. 1. 3, 5. Eph. 1. 16. For deliverance from sinne. Rom. 7. 25. 1 Cor. 15. 57. For the free passage of the Gospel. 1 Thes. 2. 13. for being made able Ministers. 1 Tim. 1. 12. For Christ. Luk. 2. 38. For health. Luk. 17. 16. For food. Acts 27. 35. For Gods Ministers deliverances, 2 Cor. 1. 11. For blessing upon the Ministery. 2 Cor. 2. 14. For Gods grace on others. 2 Cor. 9. 15. For fitting us for Heaven. Col. 1. 12. For all things. Eph. 5. 20. 1 Thes. 5. 18. As all good comes from him. Jam. 1. 17. So all praise is due to him.
Thanks also is due to men for kindnesse received by remembring it, publishing it, and remunerating it.
Scriptural Examples of thankfulnesse to God. The Priests, Ezra 3. 11. Moses, Exod 15. Hannah, 1 Sam. 2. 1, &c. David, 2 Sam. 22. Psal. 69. 30. & 116. 17. Mary, Luke 1. 46. Zachary, Luke 1. 68. The Sheepherds, Luke 2. 20. Simeon, Luke 2. 28. The Leper, Luke 17. 16. Paul, Acts 27. 35. 1 Cor. 15. 57: 2 Cor. 2. 14.
Of thankfulnesse to man, Ahashuerus to Mordicai, Est. 6. 3. David to Abigail, by marrying her for her good advice, 1 Sam. 25. King of Sodom, by proffering Abraham all the goods taken, Gen. 14. Naaman to Elisha, by proffering a reward for his clensing; 2 Kin. 5. 15. One siphorus by Ministering unto Paul, 2 Tim. 1. 16, 17. Gaoler to Paul▪ and Barnabas, Acts 16. 33. and Lydia, Acts 16. 15. Pharaoh by advancing Joseph, Gen. 41. 39, &c. and Paul by praying for him, 2 Tim. 1. 16, 17.
Other Examples: Darius Hystaspis, whilst he was a Captaine under Cambyses seeing one Siloson to have a very curious vesture, desired to buy it of him: but Siloson told him that he was resolved not to sell, but yet he would freely give it him: afterwards Darius being King, Siloson came to salute him, and Danius remembring his former kindenesse, entertained him curteously, and told him that in consideration of that garment, he would give him so much gold, and silver, that he should never repent his kindenesse to Darius, &c. Herod.
Aristides dying very poor, the Athenians to testifie their gratitude to him that had deserved so well of them, gave dowries to his daughters, and disposed of them in marriage, they also allowed an annuel stipend to his sonne. Justin.
Darius Junior accounted nothing more pleasing to him, then to reward those that had deserved well of him, and to overcome his enemies by reason, and he used often to say, That he desired to live only so long, till he had rewarded his friends, and overcome his enemies with kindnesse. Xenoph.
Agesilaus King of Sparta, was alwayes very gratefull for any courtesies that he received, and used to say, That it was not only an unjust thing not to be gratefull, but if he did not return greater kindenesse then he received. Plut.
The Bernates in Switzerland, caused the day, and year wherein the Reformation of Religion began amongst them, to be engraven in golden letters upon a pillar of stone, for a perpetual remembrance of Gods mercy to them, in all future ages.
The only daughter of Peter Martyr, through the riot, and prodigality of her debauched husband, being brought to extream poverty, the Senate at Zurick, out of a grateful remembrance of her fathers worth, supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she lived. Thuanus.
Tully calls gratitude, Maximam, imo matrem omnium virtutum reliquarum: the greatest, yea the mother of all other vertues.
One the Town-house of Geneva, upon a Marbletable is written in letters of gold, thus
Post tenebras Lux.
Quum Anno 1535. profligata Romana Antichristi Tyrannide, abrogatisque ejus superstitionibus, Sacrosancta Christi Religio, Hic in suam puritatem, Ecclesia in meliorem ordinem singulari Dei beneficio reposita, & simul pulsis, fugatisque hostibus urbs ipsa in suam libertatem non sine insigni Miraculo restituta fuerit. Senatus populusque Genevensis Monumentum hoc perpetuae memoriae causa fieri, atque hoc loco erigi curavit: Quo suam erga Deum Gratitudinem ad Posteros testatam fecerit.
Before Master Calvin opened their eyes by his Ministery their Motto was Post tenebras spero Lucem: Since they altered it to Post tenebras Lux.
Chilon the wise Philosopher, used to say, That men ought to forget the good turnes they do to others, but alwayes to remember such as they receive from others. Laertius.
Clodovaeus King of France gave so much land to Remigius Bishop of Remes (who converted him to the Christian Faith) as he could compasse in a day whilest the King slept. Hincmarus.
Q. Fulvius to shew his gratefull minde to his Master Ennius, bestowed a whole City upon him. Volat.
Antoninus the Emperour did so dearly love his Master Fronto, that to shew his gratitude, he obtained of the Senate leave to erect his statue. Idem.
Gratian the Emperour to shew his gratitude to his Master Ausonius, made him Consull, and bestowed many other liberal gifts upon him.
Pyrrhus King of Epirus when he fought against C. Fabricius the Roman General, his Physician sent to Fabricius, telling him that if he pleased he would poison his Master, but Fabricius abhorring such villainy, sent Pyrrhus word of it, whereupon he apprehended, and crucified his Physician, and withall to testifie his gratitude to Fabricius, he dismissed all the Romane prisoners without any ransom: withal acknowledging that he could not make sufficient compensation for such a favour. Plut.
The Athenians remembring how much Aristides had done for their safety in the time of the Persian warre, to testifie their gratitude, gave dowries to his daughters out of the publick Treasury: and to his son Lysimachus they gave one hundred pounds of silver, and so many acres of land, allowing him besides fourty Drachmes a day for his expences. Fulgos.
P. Scipio rewarded Masinissa for his faithfull assistance against the Carthaginians, not only by restoring to him his fathers Kingdome, but gave him also a good part of the Kingdom of Siphax. Pontanus.
Ephestion, one of Alexanders great Captaines, to testisie his grateful minde to his dead Master, built him a Monument which cost him twelve thousand Talents, and commanded him to be worshipped as a god. Justin.
In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you, 1 Thes. 5. 18.