A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 2 · Section 8 – Section 9
Rule. 8.
See to the manner of your Thanksgiving, God loves Adverbs better then Adjectives; he regards not so much quàm bonum, sed quàm bene. A good dish may be marred in the Cooking, and a good Duty spoyled for want of a right performance. He then that would give Thanks unto God rightly,
Must do it,
1. Cordially,
2. Zealously,
3. Chearfully.
4. Speedily,
5. Beleevingly,
6. Humbly,
7. Holily.
8. Considerately.
1. We must praise God cordially, not cursorily, or customarily, in a verball formall way, but as God blesseth us Really, so our praise must be Reall, and sincere. God is a Spirit, and will be worshipped in spirit. Hence David calls on his Soul to praise God. Psal. 103.1. and the Virgin Mary not only with her soul, but with her Spirit: (i. e.) with her understanding; which (when renewed) is the most noble, sublime, and choycest part of man; not only her Tongue, or Hand, but her soul, yea, her spirit shall praise him.Anima naturam animae notat, Spiritus verò mentem gratiâ imbutam. Anima naturalis est & naturalia considerat, Spiritus vero supernaturalia & coelestia. à Lapide. Luke 1.46, 47. The Spirit is more then the Soul. Hence some by soul, would have the Inferiour part of the soul to be meant, as the sensitive powers, common to us with bruits, which respects naturall things. And by Spirit, the Superiour faculty of the Soul, the Rationall part (especially, when enlightened and renewed by the Spirit of God) which respects divine and spirituall things. So the Apostle distinguisheth between soul and spirit.See more, Wilsons Diction. in V. Spirit. & Ravanell. 1 Thes, 5.23.
2. Zealously and Transcendently, with the highest intention of affection. As God is the most High, so our Praise must be answerable. We must extoll and exalt his Name. Isay 25.1. as the Angels in heaven do, though not in Equality, yet in Conformity, and Similitude. Hence the Saints call up all the Powers of their soules to this work, and make new songs of praise. Exod. 15. Psal. 69.30. See how Deborah rowseth up and quickens her self that she might the better quicken others. Iudg. 5.12. The reiteration of the words do shew her earnest affection to the work.
3. Speedily; without delay; so soon as ever we recive a merciemercy, we should presently give Thanks. So did Deborah Iudg. 5.1. the same day that she received a victory, the very same day she sings praise. We may begin too late, we cannot begin too soon. As God loads us daily with mercies, so we should daily praise him, Psal. 68.19, 20.
4. Voluntarily, freely, chearfully: all Gods people are Voluntiers. Psal. 110.3. it's no service that is not Voluntary; compulsive Praise is no Praise. 'Tis for beasts to be driven against their wills, aguntur non agunt. As in alms, God loves a chearfull giver: so in this Spiritual alms, God would have our praises flow as water from a spring freely, not as fire from a flint, with much hammering, and striking.
5. Beleevingly, and in faith. As our Prayers, so our Praises must be put up in the Name of Christ;Ne gratiae quidem nostrae gratae erunt Deo, nisi per & propter Christum. he must sweeten our odours with his incense. Revel. 8.3. he is that golden Altar, which sanctifieth all our services. Colos. 3.17. Ephes. 5.20. givnig Thanks unto God alwayes.
1. Habitually and dispositively: our hearts should be kept in such an holy frame, that on all occasions we should be ready to praise God.
2. For all things, that God shall send on us or ours, for prosperity, and adversity, for sicknesse and health, for poverty and plenty; what ever God doth with us, we must Thank him.
3. In the Name of Christ, these calves of our lips must be offered on this Altar. Hos. 14.2.
6. Humbly, none can give Thanks Rightly, but he that gives Thanks Reverently. Heb. 12.28. our very rejoycing must be mixt with trembling. Psal. 2.10. make a man first Humble, and he'l soon be Thankfull, as we see in Iacob. Gen. 32.10. and the Prodigall. Luke 15.19. he counts it an honour to be Gods hired servant.E primo ordine excidi, dignare me vel secundo, tantùm me penitùs ne abjicias. Euthym. Such a one looks upon all as mercy, no merit. Hence when the Lord would make men truly Thankfull, he sets before them their misery. Ezek. 16. and commands the people of Israel to keep the feast of Booths in remembrance of their misery in Egypt, Nehem. 8.17, and to remember that their Father Iacob was a poor perishing Syrian, Deut. 26.5. they must acknowledge the meanness of their Originall, that they might the better magnify Gods goodness and free Grace in raising them.
7. Holily, from a pure heart. Praise is unse…mly in the mouth of sinners. Their sacrifices are an abomination to God. 'Tis in Sion, and not in Babylon, that praise waits for him. Psal. 65.1. 'Tis only Saints that are called to this work. Psal. 33.1. and 145.10. they have speciall mercies, as Justification, Sanctification, Salvation, &c. and therefore it much concerns them to be Thankfull.
8. Considerately.Sapiens omnia examinabit secum, quantum acceperit, à quo, quando, ubi, quomodo. Seneca. We must weigh and ponder all circumstances, as spices pounded, smell more sweetly. Hence David descends to particulars. Psal. 136. per totum.
1. Consider the freeness of Gods mercy, when thou wast dead in Trespasses and sins, and hadst no eye to pity thee, nor loveliness in thee, yet then God spread his skirt of love over thee, and said, Live.
2. Consider the fulness of Gods mercies. They are for number numberless. Psal. 139.17, 18. Mercies to soul, to body, in estate, in the Church, and in the Common-wealth, &c. Meditation on these things, will be like oyle to the Lamp, it will inflame and inlarge our hearts, it will sweeten mercies to us. Psal. 104.33, 34. and strengthen us in Gods way. Neh. 8.10. Since this duty is so highly pleasing unto God, be much in it. The repetition of the Act, will intend the Habit, and therefore be practising it on all occasions. Hast children? give Thanks for them. Gen. 29.35. Hast victory over thy enemies? give Thanks for that. 2 Sam. 22.1. Hast good success? give Thanks for that. Gen. 34.48.
[He that would see more for Thanksgiving, may peruse Mr. Sam. Wards Serm. on 1 Thes. 5.18. and Mr. Bridge on the same Text. Mr. Ieanes Thanksgiving Serm. for Taunton. D. Holseworth on Hos. 14.2. Mr. Gataker on Gen. 32 10. Church his Treasury. p. 318. D. Spurstow on the Promises. chap. 20.]
8. Vnholy.
Fitly hath the Apostle yoaked these two together, Unthankfull, Unholy; seeing every act of Unholinesse hath much Unthankfulnesse in it, every sinne we commit against God, is a Transgression not onelyonly of the Law of Holinesse,Ingratitudo materialis est in quolibet peccato. Aquinas. foreign, profanus, Beza. Impius, Erasmus. Scetestus, V…g. ex foreign priv. & foreign sanctus (i. e.) non sanctos vel sanctitatis expertes, in quibus est nihil sanctitatis, sed atrocia perpetrant crimina. Soto. but also of the Law of love and kindnesse; there is much ingratitude in sin. An unholy man is a profane man, one that slights God and his wayes, one that savours not spirituall things, but is wholly addicted to the world, and its pleasures, preferring these Earthly and Temporall things before Eternall. Now this Unholiness and Profaneness, is twofold.
1. In Doctrinalls,
2. In Practicalls.
1. In Doctrinalls;foreign, tum de moribus, tum dogmatibus profanis intelligi potest. Aretius. In the last dayes men shall publish unholy Doctrines, and profane Principles. Profane men will invent profane Tenets, and profane fables, which the Apostle commands us to shun. 1 Tim. 4.7. & 6.20. [what profane doctrines are publisht in our days, who lists may see in Mr. Edwards his Gangreen. 1. Part. p. 15. &c. Edit. 3. and London Ministers Testimony▪ and Mr. Bartlets Balsom in fine,]
2. In the last dayes, men will be profane in Practicalls. No true piety will appear in their lives;Quibus nullum jus est nee fas, foreign sunt. Beza. Irreligiosi (i. e.) qui maternae Ecclesiae viscera discipant. Aug. but they will be full of Pride, Self-conceit, Covetousness, Hypocrisy, Malice, and all Unrighteousness. They will violently rush into sin without any Fear of God, or Reverence to man. Hence the Apostle rangeth profane persons amongst the vilest sinners. 1 Tim. 1.9, 10.
3. Such as rend the bowels of their Mother that bare them, these are impious and profane in S. Austins judgement.
4. A prophane man most properly is one that lightly esteems the holy things of God: one that slights God, his Sabbaths, Sacraments, Servants, Ministers,Note. and all Gods holy things. In a word, he is one that preferres Earth before Heaven, the World before the Word, Gold before Godliness, the body before the soule, and the shadow before the substance. These have their portion in this life, and had rather part with their part in Paradise, then their part in Paris; like the profane Israelites, that preferred the Garlick and Onyons of Egypt, before celestiall Mannah, and with the ungratefull Jewes, preferre Barrabas before Christ upon this account. Esau is stiled a Profane man, [Heb. 12.16.] because he sold his Birthright (an heavenly priviledge) for a meales meat,foreign, profanos, quasi procul à fano eliminandus, quia sacra negligit, violat, conculcat, unde Virgil. Procul hinc, procul este profani. for a trifle. The Hogs and Dogges of the world, make light esteem of the Holy things of God. Mat. 7.6. we have too many such Esanits in our dayes. But let such know, that as they have prophaned Gods name by slighting him, so he will set lightly by them, and make them profane, by exposing them to publick contempt and shame. Matth. 2.8, 9. and as they had no regard of his honour, so he will have none of theirs.Profanum ducere sanguinem Christi, est illum habere tanquam rem nihili, nulliusque dignitatis, meriti, efficaciae. Ravenell. foreign (i e.) profana dicuntur, quae ab omnibus ad conculcandum proposita sunt. Ducta est vox foreign (i. e.) à pavimento, quod à quovis calcatur. Elias Cretensis. See more against this sin in my Beauty of Holinesse. chapt. 2. Psal. 89.39. Isay 43.28. and 47.6. as they trampled Christ and the tenders of his grace under their feet. Heb. 10.29. So they, as vile and contemptible persons, shall be trampled upon by others. Such as despise God shall be despised. 1 Sam. 2.30. So much the Notation of the word implyes. Now for the coertion, restraint, and condemnation of such persons, the Law was made. 1 Tim. 1.9, 10. they are lyable to the curse of God, as profane Esau was. Heb. 12.17, Oh then labour for Holinesse, which is opposite to this prophanenesse. They were set directly one against another. Ezek. 44.23. as profanenesse debaseth a man, so piety exalts a man, and makes him shine like an Angell amongst men. No life so Honourable, Comfortable, and Commendable. [as you may see in my Beauty of Holinesse. chap. 8.]