Serious Reflections on Time and Eternity, Tract · Chapter 30
XXX. Thankſgiving to God for his Innumerable Benefits and Mercies, particularly in the Year Paſt: with ſome Direction and Advice concerning it.
HOW precious and delightful are the Thoughts of thy Benefits? O Lord, how great is the ſum of them? Should I count them, they are more in number than the Stars. Shall I not obſerve and conſider them? maintain a grateful ſenſe of them, and publickly acknowledg them on all occaſions? that I may Bleſs the Lord at all Times, and his Praiſe be continually in my mouth. More eſpecially ſhould I conclude and begin the Year, with ſolemn Praiſes to my Great Benefactor and Preſerver. I ought to begin and cloſe every Day with it, thereby to make the outgoings of the Morning and the Evening to rejoice in God. Every Year, every Day, every Hour, every Moment offers me an occaſion to praiſe Him: becauſe he is every minute gracious: and hath been ſo ever ſince he gave me my Being.
Almoſt one half of my Time hath been ſpent in Sleep, when I remember not God, nor my ſelf; yet doth He, who never ſlumbers or ſleeps, remember me in Mercy, and watch over me for good. Yea, though in the other half, by Day, I have forgotten him in a worſe ſenſe, by caſting off his Fear, and not remembring that his Holy Eye is upon me, yet hath he not forgotten to be Gracious. Therefore I will praiſe the name of God with a Song, and will magnify him with Thanksgiving, and never forget his benefits. With which Sacrifice he is better pleaſed than with an Ox or Bullock, that hath horns and hoofs.
He hath prolonged my Life this laſt Year, when ſo many others, of his more uſeful Pſalm 69. v. 30.Servants, have been remov'd by Death: and given me farther Time and Space to Repent, when multitudes have been ſurpriz'd in their Impenitence. Yea, it was He, who formed me in the Womb, and brought me ſafely into the World, by whoſe Providence I have hitherto been ſupplied: in Him I live, and move, and continually exiſt; To his undeſerved Goodneſs I am beholding for all the Good of any kind, which I ever enjoy'd: To his Bounty I am indebted for all that I now have; and muſt depend upon it, for whatever I can hereafter expect.
Through Infancy and Childhood he was pleas'd to preſerve me; favouring me with many advantages in my Birth and Education; providing for me a Competent Livelihood; diſpoſing the Circumſtances of my Condition, Relations, Places of Abode, &c. more advantageouſly than he hath done for Thouſands: affording me many Helps, for the Improvement of my mind, and the increaſe of Knowledg: and preventing my Neceſſities, and even my Deſires, with numberleſs Bleſſings, which I never ſo much as askt for. He hath cauſed ſeveral of my Relations to yield me Comfort, when they might have been ſore Afflictions. He hath raiſed up Strangers to befriend me, and ſhow me kindneſs. How many favours have I receiv'd from God, by the Inſtrumentality of other Men? to whom God gave the Will, and the Power, the Opportunity, and the Inclination?
How often hath he deliver'd my Soul from Death, mine Eyes from Tears, and my Feet from falling, by ſeaſonable Preſervations? ſo that I do yet walk before him in the Land of the Living. He hath reſcu'd me from the brink of many a Precipice, which, through Ignorance or Inadvertency, I did not apprehend or Fear. When I knew not which way to turn, he hath made my Path plain. Under ſinking Diſappointments he hath commanded Succor; and been a preſent Help in the time of Trouble. In Great Perplexities, his Eye hath been my Guide, and his own Arm hath brought Salvation: it may be by the Miniſtry of his Holy Angels, obeying his order, and giving unuſual Intimations of very great, and otherwiſe unſuſpected Dangers: or ſending Relief and Deliverance, by ſuch ſmall, unlikely, and unexpected Means, as carried the name of God viſibly ingraven on them. Innumerable Calamities he ſaves me from, which others groan under: and as many Bleſſings am I favour'd with, whereof they are deſtitute. He Spreads my Table, and fills my Cup, and gives me All Things richly to enjoy, when many Excellent Perſons, of whom the World is not worthy, are fed with the Bread of Affliction, and the Water of Affliction. Others have only Neceſſaries, or but few Conveniencies, in Compariſon with the Plentiful Proviſions God hath made, for my Chearful Obedience to Him. And ſhall I not Praiſe Him for(a)Deut. 33. v. 13, 14. the precious Things of Heaven, the bleſſings of the Earth, the dew, and the deep? and more eſpecially for the Goodwill of Him who dwelt in the Buſh, to ſanctify and ſweeten all: Whereby Common Mercies become the pledge and fore-runner of better Things; as the fruit of his Special Kindneſs, the witneſs of his Truth, and the ſeed of Peace and Joy, and Righteouſneſs, and Praiſe; by reaſon of his Bleſſing on all that I poſſeſs, which otherwiſe would prove a Snare, and a Temptation, and be intermixt with a Curſe.
And beſides the ordinary and Continued Bounty of every Day, in the midſt of how many Difficulties and Dangers have I felt the dear obligations of his Preſerving Mercy? abroad and at home; in Foreign Countries, as well as my own; in the midſt of Enemies, and among Friends; in all Places, and at all Times.
He hath prolonged my Health, or made my Bed in Sickneſs. He hath often granted the Deſires of my Heart when ever it was for his Glory; and contradicted my Wiſhes, and diſappointed my Endeavours, in other Inſtances, when it was more to my Advantage. From how many Miſchiefs hath he ſav'd me, by ſuch Things as I deprecated, and would have hinder'd? How many Evils hath he turn'd for Good? He hath heard my Cry in the day of Adverſity, and ſet my feet in a large Place. He hath Chaſten'd me for my Profit: His Rod and his Staff have comforted me: He hath ſpoken comfortably to me in the Wilderneſs. Affliction hath been uſeful and neceſſary Phyſick; made an Inſtrument of Vertue, and ſo a token of his Love. Therefore(a)Pſalm 89. v. 1. I will ſing of the Mercy of the Lord for ever, and with the voice of Thanksgiving will I make known his Faithfulneſs.
He hath all along conducted me by his Wiſdom, guided me by his Providence, and the Angel of his Preſence hath directed my Path, and ordered all my Goings. He hath been a Cloud to me by Day, and a Pillar of Fire by Night: he hath helped me in my Straits, and ſupply'd my Wants, and comforted me in all my Sadneſſes: His powerful and gracious Preſence hath been my conſtant Guard: and his Soveraign never-failing Goodneſs hath compaſt me about with Mercy on every ſide. For which, O moſt Merciful Father, my Soul, and all that is within me, deſires to ſpeak thy Praiſe.
The advantagious Circumſtances of many divine Favors do raiſe their value, and deſerve to be particularly obſerv'd and acknowledged. How ſuitably, how ſeaſonably, how wiſely hath he conferr'd his Benefits? with what Tenderneſs and Kindneſs? with what Freedom and Readineſs? Of his own bounty and good will, without any Neceſſity, or Obligation on his Part; without any Deſert, and Sometimes without ſo much as a Prayer on mine. And what is more, notwithſtanding my Ingratitude and Forgetfulneſs of Him, and great Provocations, heightned by the abuſe of ſo much Mercy: demanding nothing after all, in requital of ſo much Kindneſs, but my Acceptance of his Love, and grateful ſenſe of his Goodneſs, and the ſweeteſt and moſt reaſonable Expreſſions of it, by Thankful Obedience.
More eſpecially, would I bleſs the Lord, for Inlightning my mind in the Great Myſteries of Religion: diſpoſing in wonderful Wiſdom the ſeveral means and methods, whereby he brought me to the Knowledg of the Truth, by Parents, Miniſters, Friends, Acquaintance, Books, Afflictions, &c. Beginning with me in Childhood, awakening and cultivating the inbred Notions of God, and natural Religion, of Good and Evil, Rewards and Puniſhments, by the careful Inſtructions of Parents, or others concern'd in my Education: giving me the advantage of Good Examples, Counſels, and Encouragements, to know and do well; with more aſſiſtance, and leſs hindrances, and diverſions, than to many Others. Particularly, for the Excellent Privilege and ineſtimable Bleſſing of his Holy Word and Sacraments; the liberty of the Chriſtian Religion, in the Purity of it, in moſt of thoſe Places, where God has been pleas'd to caſt my Lot. Cauſing me to lay down in green Paſtures, and leading me beſide the ſtill Waters: Inſtructing me in the Revelation of his Will and Grace by Jeſus Chriſt: acquainting me with the ſublime Principles and Articles, Precepts and Rules, Promiſes and Hopes of the Goſpel, in order to Eternal Life.
I bleſs Thee, O Lord, and ſhall for ever do ſo, that with any or all theſe Advantages and Helps thy Holy Spirit hath taught me to know the Truth as it is in Jeſus, heartily to believe and obey it. That by thy Grace I have been convinc'd of Sin, and brought to Repentance; ſhewing me the neceſſity of a Saviour, to make my peace with Thee, the all-ſufficiency of his Grace, the fulneſs of his Merit, the freeneſs of his Love, and his readineſs to receive me to Mercy, inviting and calling me to it, and enabling me to accept his gracious Invitation, and obey his compaſſionate Call; making me willing, by a Powerful and Victorious Grace, drawing me with Cords of Love, and ſo effectually perſuading me to conſent to thy Covenant, and comply with thy Meſſage, on the gracious terms of the Goſpel. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who, through his abundant Mercy, hath begotten me again to a lively Hope; having humbled my proud Heart, and conquer'd the perverſeneſs of my ſtubborn Will, and brought my Soul to an entire ſubjection to himſelf: who took pity on me when he ſaw me in my Blood, ſpread his Skirt over me, caſt a Mantle upon my Nakedneſs, waſh'd me from my Sins, and put his own Comlineſs upon me, by Sanctification: who open'd my eyes, when I was leaping blindfold into the Pit of Deſtruction: who healed my Soul, when I was ſick unto Death: who reſcu'd and recover'd me from the Slavery of the Devil, when I was led Captive by him at his will. Shall not a ranſom'd, redeemed Slave, be thankful to his Deliverer? Shall not a miſerable undone Sinner, who is received to Mercy, be thankful for a Pardon? Awake, O my Soul! and utter a Song of Praiſe to him,*Pſal. 103. v. 3. who forgiveth all thine Iniquities, and healeth all thy Diſeaſes; who redeemeth thy Life (thy Soul) from Deſtruction, and crowneth thee with loving-kindneſs, and tender Mercies.
Hath he made thee Partaker of his own renewed Image and Likeneſs? given thee his Son, his Grace, his Spirit? and taken ſuch a wretched Creature into ſo near a relation to Himſelf; and promiſed to be thy God and Guide, thy Portion and thine Inheritance, thy Friend and thy Phyſician, thy Sun and thy Shield, and thine exceeding great Reward? and ſhall not my Soul ſpeak aloud his Praiſe? Hath he been*Iſa. 43. v. 14. merciful to my unrighteouſneſs, and blotted out my ſins? Hath he gathered me with his Arm, and carried me in his Boſom? Hath he been my Saviour and Redeemer, adopted me into his Family, and promis'd to make me Bleſſed in his Glory, with the holy Angels? the Curſe being removed, and the Hand-writing againſt me cancell'd, the Price paid, the Breach made up, the Mouth of Juſtice ſtopt, and the condemning Sentence of the Law exchang'd for a gracious Pardon, through the Sacrifice of my Bleſſed Lord Jeſus? and ſhall I not praiſe his ineomprehenſible Love and Grace?
I likewiſe thank Thee, moſt holy Father, for ſaving me from Guilt and Ruine, when aſſaulted by powerful and dangerous Temptations; that by preventing Mercy, or reſtraining Grace, thou haſt kept me from many ſcandalous and preſumptuous Crimes. I thank Thee, for making the Sins of Others a Warning and a Caution to Me, an Argument to Humility, and a Motive to Watchfulneſs; for preſerving my Judgment from many Errors and Deluſions, by which others are ſeduced; for enabling me to improve any Opportunities of doing Good, and making me in any thing uſeful to Others: yea, I thank thee for all thy Mercies to other Chriſtians; for all the Gifts and Graces and uſefulneſs of any of thy Servants, wherein, as a Member of the ſame Body, I deſire to rejoyce; for any Support and Comfort to me, or any of them, under honourable Sufferings for thy Names ſake.
I deſire unfeignedly to bleſs Thee, for any Succour, Relief and Victory, with reſpect to the Snares and Buffetings of Satan, and the vileſt of his Temptations. When he hath tempted me to Apoſtacy, and Infidelity in Speculation and Practice; to queſtion the Truth of the Holy Scriptures, and the Life to come; to doubt of the foundations of the Chriſtian Faith, or to deſpair of the Mercy of God, and give up the Reins to ſenſual Luſts; or to draw me from God, by the love of the World, and the praiſe of Men, by Evil Company, Intemperance, ſecret Wickedneſs, &c.
I Bleſs Thee with my whole Soul, for calling me back from any of my Wanderings, and by infinite Goodneſs recovering me after great Falls, enabling me to return when I had gone aſtray, and ſeek thy forfeited favour, that thou maiſt heal my Backſlidings; giving me, in order to it, a deep ſenſe of my own Sin, and of thy Sovereign Grace; leading me to a Saviour, whoſe Blood cleanſeth from all ſin, when my guilty defiled Soul ſo much needed its pardoning and cleanſing Virtue; awakening me to make holy Vows, and calling upon me by thy Word, and Spirit, and Providence, to perform them.
I Bleſs Thee, who haſt guided my feet into the way of peace, when by the terrors of an accuſing Conſcience, and the ſenſe of unpardon'd Sin, and the apprehenſions of thy deſerved Wrath, I was ready to deſpair: that though thou didſt moſt juſtly hide thy Face at any time, it was but for a little while; but didſt ſeaſonably, and in Mercy return, to wipe off my Tears, reſtore the Joy of thy Salvation, and chace away the clouds and darkneſs on my Spirit, by the reviving preſence of thy own. Thou who art the Author, wilt be the Finiſher of my Faith; and therefore, though thou haſt viſited mine Iniquities with a Fatherly Rod, yet thy loving-kindneſs thou haſt not taken from me, or ſuffer'd thy faithfulneſs to fail, or thy Covenant of Peace to be removed; but haſt refreſhed me with hidden Manna, after great Perplexities, ſaying unto my Soul, I am God, even thy God; making me to hear thy Voice, which was ſweet, and to taſte thy Love, which is better than Wine; enabling me to ſay with thine Apoſtle Thomas, My Lord, and my God; and to have any Communion with thee ſince, in publick or private Duties.
For all theſe innumerable Mercies I deſire to praiſe Thee, which yet are but in order to greater, to Everlaſting Kindneſs in Heaven. Theſe are but the taſte and Earneſt of what thou wilt beſtow hereafter. O how great is his Goodneſs, that he hath laid up for thoſe that fear him? And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is even in Thee. I thank thee, who haſt thus put it into my Heart, to render thee ſolemn Praiſe, and once more to renew my Covenant with Thee.
I will magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit ſhall rejoyce in God my Saviour. Return unto thy reſt, O my Soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with me. While (a)Pſal. 104.33.I live I will praiſe thee, and ſing Praiſes unto my God, while I have a Being. O come, and behold the Works of the Lord, what be hath done for my Soul! The Lord liveth. (b)Pſal. 18.46.Bleſſed be my Rock, and let the God of my Salvation be exalted. Let my Heart be glad, and my Glory rejoyce, for the Lord is not aſham'd to be called my God. Thanks be to God, who hath cauſed me to triumph in Chriſt Jeſus. Sing unto the Lord, O ye his Saints, and give thanks at the remembrance of his Holineſs! (c)Pſal. 30.I cried unto Thee, and thou haſt healed, and ſav'd me: I will give thanks to Thee for ever. (d)Pſal. 119.62.I will ſhew forth thy loving-kindneſs in the morning, and thy faithfulneſs every night. For the Lord is Good, his Mercy is Everlaſting, and his Truth endures throughout all Generations. O enter into his Gates with Thanksgiving, and his Courts with Praiſe: be thankful unto him, and bleſs his Name. Bleſs the Lord, all ye his Works, in all places of his Dominions: Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul.
Let me add for a Concluſion, That the particular Deliverances, Supports, and Conſolations, which at any time God hath given in Caſes of great Exigence, or in anſwer to importunate Prayer, ought never to be forgotten. Many experienc'd Chriſtians have been wont to write down ſuch remarkable Appearances of God for them, with the particular Circumſtances that did recommend and enhance the Mercy, (whether Spiritual or Temporal) as an Encouragement to truſt in God in future Difficulties; and have afterwards found the Comfort and Advantage of being able to have recourſe to ſuch Papers. This Practice I recommend as what hath been uſeful and conſolatory to divers Chriſtians, for many years afterwards; and to ſome others, of their more intimate Friends, to whom they might without vanity be imparted. What Experiences might be recorded of ſignal Returns to Prayer, and ſeaſonable Manifeſtations of the Truth, and Goodneſs, and Wiſdom of God, if all the Inſtances thereof were duly recollected and preſerv'd! And how ſweet and pleaſant would the Work of Prayer and Praiſe then be! With what rejoycing and delight ſhould we ſet about it, and live in it, if the conſtraining Goodneſs and Love of God, and a thankful ſenſe of his unſpeakable Mercies, did bring us to him, and indite and animate every word! What Support, and Comfort, and probable Hopes (at leaſt) of the ſpecial Love of God, might we derive from the various paſſages of his Compaſſion and Kindneſs! And hereby we may be able more heartily to give him thanks for Pardon, Sanctification, and Adoption, which we commonly mention with too much doubt and fear.
It may likewiſe be adviſable to examine and record the Workings of your own Spirit, under ſuch Diſpenſations: what thoughts you then had of God? what Acts of Faith, Love, Thankfulneſs, you did then manifeſt? what Evidences of God's Favour, and what diſcovery of your own Sincerity, you have had at ſuch times? when, and how and by what means you were cur'd of your uncomfortable Unbelief, and rais'd from your Deſpondency? what Promiſes you had recourſe to for relief? what Conſiderations were moſt helpful to you? what frame of Spirit you kept up in Prayer, before and after? what Reſolutions and Engagements you made to God, to love, and and truſt, and praiſe, and ſerve him, and give up all to his diſpoſe for the future? and what conſequent Obligation may be inferr'd from thence, to acquieſce in the Will of God, and reſign our ſelves entirely to Him, ſaying, This God is our God for ever and ever, and He will be our Guide unto Death.
THE END.