The Works of William Bridge Volume 1, Part 3
THANKFVLNES Required in every CONDITION.
1 THESSALONIANS 5.18.
In every thing give thanks:Preached at Margrets Newfiſh ſtreet March. 23. 1645 for this is the will of God in Chriſt Jeſus concerning you.
WHAT is written to the Theſſalonians, is written for our inſtruction. What they are commanded as Chriſtians, we are commanded as Chriſtians.
In the latter part of this Chapter, ſeveral Exhortations were given to them: among the reſt this is one: In which ye have, The Exhortation it ſelf; In every thing give thanks. And the Reaſon in forcing that Exhortation: for this is the wil of God in Chriſt Teſus conerning you.
In every thing give thanks] In Proſperity, and in Adverſity; whether things go well, or whether they go ill: In every thing give thanks. He had ſaid before, verſe 16, 17. Rejoyce evermore, Pray continually. Unto thoſe Exhortations he adds no ſuch Reaſon as here: Becauſe it may ſeem ſtrange, that a man ſhould give thanks in every thing; he adds alſo: for this is the will of God in Chriſt Jeſus concerning you. So that plainly here lies this Obſervation, or Truth upon the words.
It is the will of God, Doct. even our father; that we ſhould be thankfull to him in every thing.
When we are Full, it will be granted that then we are to give thanks to God. Deuteronomy the 8. and the 10. But ye are not only to give thanks when ye are Full; but when ye are Empty: not only when ye are ſtrong, but when ye are weak: not only when you are delivered from the hands of your Enemy; but when you are delivered into the hands of your Enemy.Job, 1.21 Therefore Job ſaies, The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, bleſſed be his Name. Job was plundered by the Enemy, and yet he does bleſſe the Lord: Job was emptied of a full Eſtate, and yet he does bleſſe the Lord: Job had loſt his dear Children, and yet he does bleſſe the Lord: Job in a great meaſure given up into the hands of Satan, and yet he bleſſes the Lord: for which he is commended.
So then, It is our duty, and the will of God our Father that we ſhould not only be thankful, but we ſhould be thankful in every thing.
For, Reaſ. 1 there is alwaies excellency enough in God, and Chriſt to entertain your Thankfulneſſe, to draw out your Thankfulneſſe, and Praiſes. Indeed, there is a formal, or notional difference, between Praiſing God, and giving thanks to God: Praiſes reſpect the excellencies of God himſelf: Thankfulneſs reſpect the benefits we receive from God. I praiſe God, when I honour him for the Excellency that is in him: I am thankful to God, when I bleſſe him for thoſe benefits I receive from him. But now in Scripture, theſe are put one for the other ordinarily: and whatſoever our condition be, whether high, or low; rich, or poor; full, or empty: there is enough Excellency in Chriſt for to draw out our Praiſes; and therefore in every thing we are to be Thankful.
There is no condition ſo ſad, Reaſ. 2 but ſomewhat is good that is mingled with it. No darkneſſe ſo dark, but-ſome light withal. No miſery ſo miſerable but ſome mercy withal. Heaven is all Mercy: and Hell is all Miſery: but this life is made up of both, 'tis a twi-light: Some good in every condition, and therefore, in Every thing we are to give Thanks unto God.
'Tis the duty of a Chriſtian to be like unto Jeſus Chriſt: Reaſ. 3 he was thankful in Every thing. When he had not whereon to lay his head, Father, I thank thee. Matth. 11.25.When he was to go to his agony, and ſweat drops of blood; they ſung an Hymne, (ſaies the text) a Pſalm of Praiſe. So, when a Chriſtian is to go to his agony: what ever agony he meets withal, there is riſe enough yet for his Thankfulneſſe: In Every thing be thankful. As the Apoſtle hath it in the 5. to the Epheſians, and the 20. Giving thanks alwaies, for all things unto God, even the father, in the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
You will ſay, Suppoſe that a Chriſtian meet with ſome long, Queſt. heavy, and ſharp Affliction: is he to be Thankful then? to be Thankful in that condition?
Yes, Look I pray into the 24. of Eſay, Anſw. and the 15. verſe. Wherefore (ſaies he) glorifie ye the Lord in the fires, even the Name of the Lord God of Iſrael in the Iſles of the Sea. Glorifie ye the Lord in the fires; ſo ye reade it. Some rather tranſlate it thus: Glorifie ye the Lord in Doctrines, Ʋrim, the ſame word that we tranſlate, Ʋrim, for the Urim and Thummim: But I would rather tranſlate it Valleyes; ſo Calvin: for Doctrines does not ſute with that which follows: Glorifie ye the Lord in the Valleyes, even the Name of the Lord God of Iſrael in the Iſles of the Sea. A Valley is a low place, and dark: now (ſaies he) though ye be in a dark condition, removed from light; Glorifie the Lord in the Valleyes, glorifie the Lord there. And good reaſon why the Saints ſhould do ſo: as ye will ſee, if you look into the 1. of Zachary, and the 8. verſe. I ſaw by night, and behold, a man riding upon a red horſe, and he ſtood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom, and behind him were there red horſes, ſpeckled and white. This man upon a red horſe plainly muſt be meant Chriſt: who is here attended with red horſes, ſpeckled and white, to ſend forth, and diſpatch into the ſeveral parts of the world upon his deſign. Theſe other red horſes, they are behind him, waiting upon him: Now where is Chriſt? He is among the myrtle-trees: And where are the Myrtle-trees? They are in the bottom. The Saints, and people of God for their fruitfulneſſe they are called Myrtle-trees, and ſometimes their condition is as a Valley; they are in the bottom; but yet they are Myrtle-trees in the bottom, and Jeſus Chriſt is among theſe Myrtle-trees though they be in a bottom, though they be in a Valley: and therefore no wonder that we ſhould praiſe, and glorifie God in this condition. Beloved! what we may rejoyce in, that we may praiſe God for:Jam. 1.9, 10. Rom. 5.3 Now, ſaies the Apoſtle, Let the brother of low-degree rejoyce in that he is exalted: and let the brother of high degree rejoyce in that he is made low: Rejoyce in Tribulation. A man is to rejoyce more for the opportunity of exerciſing grace, than in all proſperity: there are ſome graces that cannot be exerciſed but in Tribulation, cannot be exerciſed in Heaven; Patience, and the like. Now then, when Tribulation comes, a Chriſtian ſhould thus look upon it. I have hereby an opportunity of exerciſing that grace, that I had not before, and then he will bleſſe God, and then he will be thankful in that condition: when God takes away one mercy, he gives another: if he take away Moſes, he will give a Joſhua: if he take away Ely, he will give a Samuel: if he will take away Chriſts perſonal preſence, he wil ſend the holy Ghoſt. And the truth is, he does not ſo much take away, as borrow a mercy; and he payes it again with uſery, and advantage: Oneſimus goes away like a thief from Philemon, but he returns again with profit to him and others. As for theſe outward things, they will prove but debts at the great day of Judgment: riches now, and gifts now but debts then: and the leſſe ye have of theſe outward things, the leſſe ye have to reckon for them. In a bad day, men they ſay, Oh! that I had leſs, my reckoning would be leſſe: the leſſe ye have, the leſſe your reckoning will be. The comfort of a mans life, conſiſts not in Muchneſs, but fitneſs to his heart. If a man have a great Farm, and a ſmall ſtock, it is the only way to break him: it's better to have a Farm fit for ones ſtock, than a great Farm. The Lord he ſees what our ſtock of grace is, and accordingly he provides a Farm for every one of his Children; and ſometimes it is leſſened, but the reaſon is, becauſe the ſtock of grace is no bigger, they have no more grace to ſtock it withal. Our Gifts, and our Parts, and our Proſperity they are ſo ſtrong ſometimes, that God is fain to mingle water therewithal, that we may not be drunk. I appeal to you: are not the Saints gainers by all their loſſes? are not they ſtrengthened by all their weakneſſe? are not they bettered by all their croſſes? Surely then, in all things they are to be thankful: though their affliction be exceeding long, ſharp, and grievous; yet they are to be thankful in that condition.
But ſuppoſe now, Queſt. that it be Perſecution that a man is to be exerciſed with? and that is bitter: is a Chriſtian to be Thankful then, even in that condition?
Yes, ye know what the Apoſtle ſaies; To you it is given, Anſw. Phil. 1.29. Phil. 1.22. John, 18.37.not only to beleeve, but to ſuffer. Gods gift is worth our thanks. And ſaies the Apoſtle, All ſhall turn to the furtherance of the Goſpel. Is it not a great matter, and worth our praiſe, thankfulneſſe; that we ſhould be truſted by God to bear witneſſe to his Truth? For this came I into the world (ſaies Chriſt) that I might bear witneſs to the Truth: It was his deſign; thereby ye are like to him, and ſo honour him. When were the Churches, and people of God more pure than under Perſecution? and is it not a great mercy to be kept pure? The more you ſuffer for any Truth, the more that Truth ſhall be ſpread by you: you die, but the Truth lives: your Eſtate dies, and your Name dies, and your Liberty dies; but your dying Eſtate, gives a living teſtimony unto the Truth. When I am lift up ſaies Chriſt, Joh. 12.23(meaning upon the Croſſe) I will draw all men after me: And ſo ſhall you do, when you are lift up upon the Croſſe for any Truth, ye ſhall draw all men after that Truth that ye are lift up for. When have ye more communion with Jeſus Chriſt, than when ye ſuffer moſt for his Truth? Is it not a great mercy for a man to be glorified on this ſide heaven? pray look upon that expreſſion which ye have in the 13. of John, the 30. and the 31. verſes, 'Tis ſaid concerning Chriſt himſelf, that when Judas went out, having received the ſop Jeſus ſaith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. Verſe the 30. Judas, having received the ſop, went immediately out, and it was night: therefore when he was gone out, Jeſus ſaith, Now is the ſon of man glorified. Judas went out to betray him, to bring him to the Croſſe, a falſe brother was gone out: Now is the ſon of man glorified (ſaies he) Not only, becauſe the croſs was the way to glory; but the truth is, he was glorified upon the Croſſe, there was a glory there. You may obſerve it, He did many miracles: and when he had done thoſe miracles, he did not ſay then, Now is the ſon of man glorified. He was Transfigured: and he did not ſay upon his Transfiguration, Now is the ſon of man glorified: But now he comes to ſuffer, now he comes to the Croſſe; now (ſaies he) is the ſon of man glorified. And indeed, now is his love to poor ſinners glorified.Col. 2.15 The Apoſtle ſaies, He triumphed over all principalities and powers upon the Croſſe; and his love triumphs over all our fins, and our guilt, and our unworthineſſe: Oh! then was free-grace, and love when Chriſt was upon the Croſſe: Now is the ſon of man glorified. And ſo it ſhall be with you: When a falſe brother goes out to perſecute you, to betray you, to bring you to the Croſſe: you may ſay ſo, Now is the ſervant of the Lord glorified, now is my love to Chriſt glorified; never more glorified than now. This makes the Apoſtle Peter ſpeak in the 1. Peter, 4.16. If any man ſuffer as a Chriſtian, let him not be aſhamed, but let him glorifie God on this behalf. 'Tis matter of Praiſe, and Thankſgiving here: ſaies he (at the 13. verſe) Rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Chriſts ſufferings. Verſe the 14. If ye be reproach't for the name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory, and of God reſteth on you. That is (ſaies one upon that place) As Noahs Dove hovered over the water, and found no place for to reſt her foot upon, untill ſhe returned to the Ark: So does the Spirit of God, as it were, hover over the ſouls of men, it wanteth reſt: and when it ſees a ſoul that ſuffers for the Truth, there it lights, there it reſts, there the Spirit of God, and of glory reſts. I appeal to you: which will be moſt comfortable, think ye, at the day of Judgment; that ye have been perſecuted for the Truth: or that ye have been a perſecutor of the Truth? I know your Anſwer: When a Chriſtian is under perſecution, he may lift up his voice, and ſay; I might have been ingag'd againſt the Truth: Ah! I might have been a perſecutor of the Truth: but bleſſed be God it is not ſo. The Apoſtles went away rejoycing, that they were accounted worthy to ſuffer for the Name of Chriſt. Surely therefore, there is matter of praiſe and thankſgiving, even in this condition alſo, in this condition a Chriſtian ſhould be thankful: 'tis the will of God our Father we ſhould be thankfull here.
But ſuppoſe that a mans inward, and ſpiritual condition be overclouded, Queſt. and God withdraw, and hide his face from a Chriſtian: ſhall he? can he be thankful in this condition? is it his duty to be thankful now?
Yes, For though God do withdraw, Anſw. though he do hide his face, and not ſhine upon a Chriſtian: yet it may be light with him. Day may be day though the Sun do not ſhine forth in bright-beams. And it may be day light, it may be day upon a Chriſtian ſoul, though there be never a beam ſhines. We are ſaved by faith, and not by feeling.
Again, Though Chriſt doth hide his face, though he doth withdraw his Comforting preſence, he never withdraws his Supporting preſence from a Chriſtian; ſometimes more of that, when leaſt of the other. Chriſt deals by a Chriſtian; as God dealt by Chriſt in his agony, and on the Croſſe: though God withdrew his Comforting preſence, ſo as he cry'd out and ſaid, My God, my God why haſt thou forſaken me? Matth. 27.46.Yet he had never more of Gods Supporting preſence: And ſo 'tis with a Chriſtian. Though Chriſt may withdraw his Comforting preſence, yet he never withdraws his Supporting preſence from them.
Beſides, Jeſus Chriſt does ſo withdraw from a Chriſtian as he does draw withall by his Spirit. He ſeemed to withdraw from the Canaanitiſh woman, but he did draw her to him by his Spirit. When he withdraws in the 5. of the Canticles from his Spouſe, he leaues Myrrhe upon the ringles of the door. And ſo, when he withdraws from a Chriſtian, he leaues his Myrrhe upon the ringles of the heart: the heart cannot be quiet, cannot reſt, takes no contentment without him, he does draw the ſoul to him, while he ſeems to witndraw from the ſoul.
Laſtly, What a man would not loſe for all the world, that, you will ſay, is worthy of Praiſe, and Thankfulneſs. Now take a gracious ſoul, a godly man when he is moſt deſerted, forſaken, left, as it were; and he ſaies, now Mercy is gone, now Chriſt is gone: Ask him but this Queſtion: If Chriſt be gone, as you ſay, why don't you renounce Chriſt, and renounce all his waies? He will tell you, Oh! no, I dare not renounce him for all the world. But if he be quite gone, Why don't you turn Drunkard? why don't you turn Swearer? and why don't you caſt off all duties? Oh! no, that I dare not: I have yet ſomething left, that I would not loſe for all the world. Is there not then matter of Praiſe, and Thanksgiving in this condition? Surely there is, even in this condition alſo.
But you will ſay: Queſt. Suppoſe that a man be oppreſſed with ſad Temptations, black and dark Temptations; God does not only withdraw, but Satan draws neer, heavy, and dreadful Temptations preſſe in upon him: is it the will of God the Father, that he ſhould be Thankful in this condition alſo?
Yes, Anſw. For is it not matter of Praiſe (think ye) and Thankfulneſſe, that your Enemy is overcome before you ſtrike a ſtroke? you ſhall be more than Conquerers: write your Enemy overcome before you fight.Job. 16.33. Be of good comfort (ſaies Chriſt) I have overcome the world; and ſo the god of the world: Satan: your Enemy is overcome before you do ſtrike a ſtroke.
Beſides, Is it not matter of Praiſe, and Thankſgiving, That Satan can tempt you no more, than your own Father gives him leave to do? Simon, Simon, Luke, 23.31.(ſaies Chriſt) Satan hath deſired thee, that he may winnow thee as wheat: Mark the words. He hath deſired: he was fain to aske leave firſt, he could not winnow Peter till he had leave. And he could not winnow Job till he had leave: he hath not power to tempt you further than your own Father gives him leave.
Again, Is it not matter of Praiſe, and Thankſgiving, That nothing hath befallen you, but what hath befallen the beſt of Gods Children, the greateſt Saints? Men ſay ſomtimes, Oh! never any ones condition like to mine: never any affliction like to mine. The moſt godly men have been moſt ſorely tempted. In the old Teſtament: David, a man after Gods own heart: 'tis ſaid of him;1 Chron. 21.1. The Devil ſtood up, and moved him to number the people. What a report did God give of Job: and you know his winnowing, and his continuance. In the new Teſtament: Two famous Apoſtles Paul and Peter. Peter, Satan hath deſired to winnow thee: Paul, a meſſenger Satan, ſent to buffet him. And our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, In all things tempted, Heb. 2.18that he might ſuccour thoſe that are tempted. Oh! beloved, how gracious will Jeſus Chriſt be to tempted ones, that came from heaven on purpoſe to be gracious to them!
Further, Is it not matter of Praiſe, and Thankſgiving, That you have alwaies one for to run unto, to ſuccour you, to relieve you in your temptations? a braſen ſerpent up againſt you be ſtung? Paul, therefore, in that 7. of the Romans: Having ſaid, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? in the next words ſaies: I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt. When Satan is tempting, Chriſt is praying, interceding:Luke, 22.31. Satan hath deſired to winnow thee, (ſaies he) but I have prayed. You cannot pray: Truely, ſometimes we pray moſt, when we pray leaſt, for Chriſt prayes for us.
Again, Is it not matter of Praiſe, and Thankſgiving, That ye have ſuch an Eſtate that theſe theeves can never rob you of? A Chriſtian is a Traveller: the Thief meets him, and takes his money that he hath about him: But he hath an Inheritance of Land at home, the Theif cannot take away from him. And Satan by his Temptations poſſibly may rob you of theſe Comforts that are about you: But you have an Inheritance, and Eſtate (Chriſtian) in heaven, that ſhall never be taken away, that you ſhall never be robbed of.
I'le conclude this, Is it not matter of Praiſe, and Thankſgiving, That by this mud you ſhal be more cleanſed? Beloved! this is Chriſts way: he ſuffers men to be tempted, that they may be freed from more temptations, and he ſuffers this dirt to be caſt upon them, that they may be the more cleanſed. Simon, Simon (ſaies our Saviour) Satan hath deſired to winnow thee as wheat: How ſo? Satan goes up and down like a roaring Lyon, ſeeking whom he may devour. True, that is his intent in his Temptations; Satans intent in the temptation, is not to winnow, that is Chriſts intent: Satans intent in the temptation is to devour, but Jeſus Chriſts intent in al thoſe temptations are to winnow. And who more konwing? who more gracious? who more humble? who more thankful than thoſe that have been moſt aſſaulted with a temptation? Pray obſerve what is ſaid in the 2 of the Corinths, 12. Chapter 7. verſe. Saies Paul. Leſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure through the abundance of revelations, there was given me a thorne in the fleſh, the meſſenger Satan, (ſo it may be read without, of.) The meſſenger Satan to buffet me, leſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure, again. See how that goes before and follows: it begins the verſe, and ends the verſe: Leſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure, at the beginning of the verſe: Leſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure, at the latter end of the verſe. As if now, that theſe temptations were ſpecial preſervations againſt ſpiritual pride: 'tis ſet down twice, Leaſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure; again, and again. Spiritual pride indeed is very dangerous. It was Mr Fox his ſpeech: As I get good by my ſins, ſo I get hurt by my graces: in regard of that ſpiritual pride he was guilty of upon the receipt of them. By Temptation God uſes to keep men humble. The Hebrew word for Lees, the Lees of wine; comes from the root, that ſignifies to Keep, becauſe the wines are kept by the Lees. And ſo God is pleaſed to keep men humble by theſe Temptations, in theſe Lees, and in theſe dregs God keeps mens graces. Temptations do you no hurt til ye yeeld to them. The greater the Temptation, and the more your fleſh does tremble at it; the greater the Affliction, but the leſſer the Sin. Temptation is the ſouls Rape: it may deflowre your ſoul, offer violence to your ſoul; it cannot take away your innocency. Now, it it not a great mercy to be kept innocent, and chaſt unto Jeſus Chriſt? Auſtin hath a notable ſpeech. If ye praiſe God under good things, ye are paid your debt: if ye praiſe God under evil, ye have made God your debter. The truth is, we can never pay our debt to God, neither are we able to make God our debtor; but God is pleaſed to call himſelf ſo: when men praiſe him under Temptations, and under Perſecutions, and under Deſertions; God is pleaſed to call himſelf our Debtor. Surely therefore, it is good for a Chriſtian to bleſſe God, and to praiſe God in every thing, in all things to be thankful: in Affliction, in Perſecution, in Deſertion, under Temptation: This is the will of God our Father, that we ſhould be thankful to him in every thing, in every condition.
And if ſo,Applic. then what great cauſe have we to be very Thankful to God in theſe times. Had the Lord let in the Enemy upon you, ye ſhould have been Thankful: Had ye been plundered of all your Eſtates, ye muſt have been Thankful: Had ye lien at the mercy of the mercileſſe Enemy crying for quarter; yet you muſt have been Thankful: how much more now. Had ye been emptied of all, ye muſt have been Thankful. Oh! ſhall we not be Thankful then unto God now, that hath given us ſuch Deliverance, and ſuch Victories as theſe?
You will ſay unto me; Queſt. What ſpecial thing is there that we ſhould be Thankful unto God for in theſe times?
Hath the Lord done ſuch great things for England, and art thou only a ſtranger in Iſrael? Anſw. Did ever England hear of ſuch a year as this laſt year hath been? Can any Records tell us of ſuch a year? May I not ſay, Stand out, O all ye Ancient Records from your duſt, and tell us from the firſt day of Englands birth, Did ever England ſee ſuch a year as this hath been? wherein the Power, and Mercy, and Free-grace of God hath rode in Triumph throughout the Kingdome?
Yet that I may not be wanting to you, to your Queſtion: look I pray into the 107. Pſalm, the 1, and the 2. verſes: ye ſhall find it written: O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy indures for ever: Let the redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo; whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. See who are to ſay ſo: Let the Redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo, whom he hath Redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Beloved! ye know that not long ſince we were in Captivity, I mean, a Spriitual Captivity: we ſate down by the waters ſide, and ſaid, How ſhall we do to ſing a Chriſtian ſong? The Lord hath Redeemed us, he hath Redeemed us out of the hand of our Enemies. And if the Lord hath not Redeem'd you out of the hand of your Enemy: don't ſay ſo: but if he have, Let the Redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo.
Peſides, Is it not worth our Thankfulneſs, that we have had ſo many daies of Thankſgiving together? A day of Faſting and Prayer, is a ſweet day: a Thankſgiving-day ſweeter, if I may make compate: For in a day of Faſting and Prayer, we deal with the anger, and wrath, and diſpleaſure of God: In a day of Thankſgiving with the love of God, and the mercy of God. In a day of Faſting and Prayer, we exerciſe Grief: But in a day of Thankſgiving, we exerciſe Joy, and love. In a day of Faſting and Prayer, your eye is upon your ſins: In a day of Thankſgiving, upon your graces, to be Thankful for them. As the fiſh ſwims upon the top of the water when the Sun ſhines, which in a ſtorm lay at the bottom: and wood, and ſticks tumbled up and down, and thoſe were ſeen. So in a day of Thankſgiving, there ye ſee and take notice of your own graces, to be thankful for them. In a day of Faſting and Prayer, ſometimes, ye are ſo humbled for ſin committed, as the ſence of your Juſtification is quite ſhattered: But in the day of Thankſgiving, your aſſurance for heaven is ſealed: they are ſweet daies. And beloved! you have had many of them of late; and ſurely this is worth our Praiſe.
But give me leave a little to Enumerate; for Enumeration is one kind of Argument: Hath not the Lord from heaven, owned his own Cauſe in the hands of his ſervants, our brethren in the field? Hath not the Lord heard your Prayers? Hath not the Lord opened many Mines of precious Truths that ye never knew before? Hath not the Lord delivered you from the hand of a ſavadge Enemy? Thoſe that lay among the pots, brought forth with doves-wings: Victory after Victory; one treading upon the heel of another, overtaking another? Does he not daily load you with his benefits? I cannot ſay, as David in the 9. Pſalm, and the 1. verſe: I will praiſe thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will ſhew forth all thy marveilous works. The former part, I will praiſe thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, you will ſay: But the latter part, I will ſhew forth all thy marveilous works; Who can ſay? they are beyond us.
And now Beloved, if it be our duty to Praiſe God, to be Thankful to him in every condition, when we are low: ſhall we not be thankful to him now, that the Lord hath raiſed us, and fill'd us thus?
You will ſay, Object. There's one thing that hinders us in the work of Praiſe and Thanksgiving in theſe times: A Reformation is now begun, and things do not ſucceed according to our deſires in the matter of Reformation: ſhould we? can we be Thankful now?
Yes, If the Lord give me a Child: Anſw. ſhould not I be Thankfull for it, becauſe it is not borne a man? When the Jews built the Temple; did not they ſhout, and praiſe God that the Foundation was laid? When the Iſraelites had overcome their enemies, in Samuels time; though the Enemies were round about them, they ſet up a ſtone, and called it Eben-ezer, 1 Sam. 7.12Hitherto the Lord hath helped us. Beloved! in our Thankſgiving we are to be like unto Jeſus Chriſt: He did not only praiſe God when he had the mercy, but before he had it, in the entrance upon it. When he raiſes up Lazarus from the dead:John. 11.41, 42. Father (ſaies he) I Thank thee that thou heareſt me alwaies: and then he commands Lazarus to come out. But firſt he gives Thanks to God. In the Scripture, the holy-Ghoſt hath commmanded us,Prov. 3.9 To honour the Lord with our ſubſtance; and with the firſt fruits of all our increaſe. Either ye have the firſt-fruits of Reformation; or not. If not: what mean all thoſe precious Ears, and fruits which ye have been gathering in theſe latter times? And if ye have the firſt fruits, though ye have not reap't the harveſt yet: then, honour the Lord with your ſubſtance, and with your firſt-fruits; So ſhall your barnes be fill'd with plenty, and your preſſes with the new wine of the Goſpel. God does give one mercy as a ſeal unto another: a Firſt as a ſeal to the Second: the Second as a ſeal to the Third: the leſſer as a pledge of the greater. God does give a leſſer mercy to try us, whether we will be Thankful, that he may give a greater. Beloved! theſe are trying times, God tries us whether we will be Thankful for what we have. A Reformation is now on foot: what though things don't ſucceed according to your deſire, ſhall we not be Thankful for what we have, becauſe we want ſomething of what we would have? when then ſhall we be Thankful?
I but, Queſt. 'tis not only want of Reformation, but many Errours that are riſen up among us in theſe times: and ſhould we be Thankful now in this condition?
Yes, Anſw. Shall I not be Thankful for ſome grace, becauſe it is mingled with much Corruption? Shall I not be Thankful for my field of Corn, becauſe divers weeds are mingled therewith? Shall I caſt away the kernel, becauſe it is compaſt about with a ſhell? Luther, in the beginning of the Reformation, met with many Errours; and he comforted himſelf with this, When the Corn is grown, the weeds will die alone. Meaning this: When Reformation is come to greater ſtrength, Errours would die alone. 'Tis ſaid of our Lord and Saviour Chriſt,Iſa. 53.12. He was numbered among tranſgreſſors: Should not I love Chriſt, or own Chriſt, or be Thankful for Chriſt; becauſe he was numbered among tranſgreſſors? The Errours of the time, you ſay, are the tranſgreſſors of the time: Shall I not love the Truth, and own the Truth, and be thankful for the Truth, becauſe it is numbered among the tranſgreſſors, the tranſgreſſors of the time? Bleſſed is that man that can ſee a beauty in Truth, when it hath a ſcratch't face. And indeed every Truth hath a beauty; & the Lord hath given you out many Truths in theſe times, that ye were ignorant of before. Beloved! I do not ſay, that ye ſhould be thankful for any Errour: we ought to be grieved for any Errour. But ſhall we be ſo mindful againſt Errour, crying out againſt Errour, Errour; as not to be thankful for any Truth we have? If the whole world were ſpread with Errour; that one Truth living: Jeſus Chriſt died for ſinners; there were matter of Praiſe. The more Errour does prevail, the more mercy it is, that you are kept. And truely, the only way, or a ſpecial way to be kept from Errour, is to be thankful for Truth. As a way to be kept from ſin is to be thankful for grace: So a ſpecial way to be kept from Errour, is to be thankful for Truth. So then, Notwithſtanding all this; yet you are to be thankful: Thankful even in this condition, though many Errours yet ye are to be thankful, to be in all things thankful, in every thing thankful. Thankful when ye are ſtraitened, as well as when ye are moſt enlarged. Thankful when ye are Deſerted, as well as when God ſhines upon you. Thankful when ye are Afflicted, as well as when ye are Delivered. Thankful when ye have no Victories, as well as when ye have Victories. Some, it may be, now will Praiſe the Lord and be Thankful; hearing of ſo many Victories; and becauſe there may be ſome hopes of Peace: But beloved, 'tis our duty to be in every thing Thankful: 'Tis the will of God our Father, that we ſhould be Thankful in every thing, Thankful in every condition.
Give me leave to propound ſome few Incouragments hereunto: for it ſeems a hard thing to be Thankful in every thing, in every condition.
If you can be thankful in every thing; even when ye are low: you will engage God for to raiſe you up: If when you are weak; you engage God for to make you ſtrong: If when you are Deſerted; you engage God to enlarge you, to ſhine upon you. It pleaſes God much, you cannot pleaſe him more, than to be Thankful in every thing, even when ye are low. For Example. Suppoſe a man be convinc'd of ſin, troubled in Conſcience, hath no aſſurance of Gods love in Chriſt: If he ſhould die, he does not know whether he ſhould go to heaven, or hell. Yet notwithſtanding (ſaies he) what ever become of me, I bleſs the Lord that I am come hither: I was going on in the moſt ſad condition: the Lord hath opened my eyes, I ſee indeed nothing but the wrath of God, due for my ſins: but yet bleſſed be the Lord, that hath opened my eyes to ſee this: I, (ſaies the Lord) doeſt thou bleſſe me becauſe I have opened thy eyes for to ſee thy ſins? I'le open thine eyes for to ſee thy Saviour. Doeſt thou bleſſe me, becauſe I have opened thy eyes to ſee thy own heart, and the naughtineſs thereof? I'le open thy eyes to ſee all my grace, and I'le cauſe all my grace to paſſe before thee. This engages God, when ye can be thankful for every thing, and when ye are low: it engages God much unto you.
Again, Hereby your Afflictions ſhall be made bleſſings unto you. You ſay, How ſhal I know whether an Affliction be a bleſſing or no? Take this note: when thou canſt bleſſe God under an Affliction, then thy Affliction is made a bleſſing: thy very bleſſing of God under an Affliction, makes thy Affliction a bleſſing to thee. Job, greatly afflicted and he bleſt God, and his Affliction was a bleſſing to him: ſo ſhall it be with you. Touch but thy Affliction with a Thankful heart, it will turn it into gold.
Moreover, The more you can be Thankful for any thing, when ye are low; the more peace ſhall your heart, and your ſoul be fild with. Some of you, (it may be) want peace of Conſcience; and ye ſay: Oh! that I had peace within, whatever become of me Outwardly: whatſoever the world do with me, Oh! that I had peace within.
To this purpoſe conſider the 4. to the Philippians: ſaies the Apoſtle: Be ye in nothing careful (at the 6. verſe) but in every thing, by prayer, and ſupplication, with thanksgiving; let your requeſts be made known unto God. And the peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding ſhall keep your hearts and minds through Chriſt Jeſus. This is the way to get a great, and a full peace: Be in nothing careful: be in all things Thankful, then the peace of God ſhall guard you.
Beſides, Hereby ye ſhall ſhame the Devil: your great adverſary ſhall retreate from tempting of you, as one aſhamed and confounded. Some there are that ſhame the Saints: and are a ſhame to the waies of God, the Goſpel: Some there are that ſhame the Devil: The Devil ſaid unto God concerning Job, Do but touch him, Job, 1.11 12 & 21and he will curſe thee to thy face. ſaies the Lord, He is in thy hand, only ſave his life: and Satan touch't him: what then? The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away; bleſſed be his Name. The Devil ſaid, he would Curſe God, and he bleſſes God: See how the Devil is ſham'd, and confounded here. Some there are that make the Devils words good: Touch him, and he will curſe thee to thy face: and ſo do ſome do, and thereby they are a ſhame indeed unto the people of God, and the waies of God. But when people can bleſſe God under Affliction: if ye in every this be Thankful; the Devil is confounded, God is much honoured. Wherefore (beloved) as ye deſire that God may be much honoured by you: the Devil confounded: your own peace ſetled: all your afflictions turned into bleſſings: and the Lord engag'd to you, to raiſe you up when ye are low: learn out this leſſon, not only to be Thankful when ye are full, but to be Thankful when ye are empty, to be in every thing Thankful, this is the will of God your Father.
How ſhall we do this? Queſt (you will ſay:) how muſt that be done?
Some few things in anſwer to that, and ſo I will wind up all.
Firſt, Anſw. 1 Obſerve your own temper, and accommodate your ſelves: put thy ſelf upon that duty, and that grace, which thine own diſpoſition lies next unto. God hath given us this indulgence.Jam. 5.13. Is any afflicted? let him pray: is any merry? let him ſing Pſalms. According to your diſpoſition (ſaies he) that is the meaning: So let your work be, ſo let your grace be. It may be thou canſt not Pray: by that time thou haſt been at another duty that thy diſpoſition lies more unto, next unto, thou wilt be fit to pray. It may be thou canſt not Sing: by that time thou haſt been at Prayer, which thy diſpoſition lies next unto, thou wilt be fit to Sing, Let us not be more cruel to our ſouls than God is: he hath give us this indulgence: obſerve your ſelves, accommodate your ſelves; and by this means you ſhall be able upon all occaſions to bleſſe and praiſe the Lord.
Again. Be ſure of this, that you maintain your Aſſurance freſh, and green. It's a hard thing for a man to be thankful in every thing, that wants Aſſurance, Come to him for to praiſe God for a great work: but it may be (ſaies he) it came in Judgment to me, I have no Aſſurance. Strengthen your Aſſurance in theſe Three things, and it will cauſe continual Thankfulneſſe, Thankfulneſſe in every thing: Aſſurance of your Intereſt in Chriſt, and Union with him: Aſſurance that all comes from love: Aſſurance that all things work together for your good: and then if the Tempter come, and ſaies, Wilt thou praiſe the Lord? doſt thou not ſee how all thy acquaintance hath left thee? and all thy friends left thee? you will anſwer again, I but, all this is for my good, and all this comes out of love, and ſo what ever fals out, you will be thankful in every thing.
Deſire not Much: he that deſires much, will expect much; and he that expects much, he won't be content with little, much leſſe Thankful for every thing. Jacob was a plain-hearted man: he deſired little, he was content with leſs, he was Thankful for every thing. So muſt you be.
And if you do deſire much, let your eye be as much upon what ye have: as upon what ye want. The Covetous rich man, having a deſire to have more is not Thankful for what he hath: if you come to borrow money of him: (ſaies he) I have need to borrow of you, I am a very beggar, I have nothing. His eye is ſo much upon what he would have, he forgets what he hath. So many times it fals out ſpiritually: let your eye therefore be as well upon what you have, as upon what you want.
Laſtly, Be ſure of this, that you maintain the ſenſe of your own unworthineſs. No man more Thankful than David; no man more ſenſible of his unworthineſs than David: Continually thankful; Continually ſenſible of his unworthines. There is a Two-fold unworthines: Creature-unworthineſs: and Sinful-unworthineſs. Accordingly a Two-fold ſence of unworthineſs: One that ariſes from the apprehenſion of creature-unworthines, of the emptines that is in us as Creatures: And another that ariſes from ſenſe of guilt of ſin. See them both in the 8. Pſalm: The Pſalmiſt there praiſes the Lord: O Lord our God, (verſe the 1.) how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth! when I conſider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, what is man that thou art mindful of him? and the Son of man that thou viſiteſt him. He praiſes the Lord, this Thankfulneſs was raiſed from the ſenſe of unworthineſs, it was Creature-unworthineſs: Lord, what is man? O Lord our God, how excellent is thy Name in all the earth! Lord, what is man? Look into the 116. Pſalm: and there ye find the Pſalmiſt praiſing God upon the ſence of unworthineſs too: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. (verſe the 12.) What ſhall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? here's his Thankfulneſs; it was raiſed upon ſence of unworthineſs: But what unworthineſs? Sinful unworthineſs: (verſe the 11.) I ſaid in my haſt; all men are lyars: what ſhall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? He was ſenſible of his own unworthineſs, and it was a ſinful unworthineſs: I ſaid in my haſt; all men are lyars: yet God is gracious to me, What ſhall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? So now it will be with you: if ye can but keep the ſenſe of your own unworthineſs, you wil ſay; I was a wretched, and a great ſinner, and though I have but little in the world, yet any thing is too much for one that was ſuch a great ſinner as I was: you will be Thankful for every thing, in every thing Thankful, maintain but this. Beloved! ye ſee how in all theſe troubles of theſe times, God hath given us our lives for a prey. As the Lord ſaid concerning Job. Only ſpare his life: Job, 2.6.So hath the Lord ſaid concerning us, ſpare their lives. God did not deal ſo by our Saviour Chriſt: when our Saviour Chriſt came into the world, he met with hard dealing from wicked men, and his life went for it; he did not ſay, Only ſpare his life; his life went for it. You have more in this reſpect than our dear Saviour had: you have your lives given you for a prey in theſe evil times, our Saviour had not. Shall we not then be Thankfull in every thing? having more than our Saviour had in this reſpect: ſhall we not be Thankful for any thing? for any thing that God gives us, ſhall we not now be Thankful? How many are there, that walke directly contrary unto this Truth that I have ſpread before you? In every thing Thankful, and they in nothing Thankful, in nothing contented: Husband godly; Children hopeful; Eſtate comfortable; and yet never contented: Servants cannot pleaſe, Children cannot pleaſe, friends cannot pleaſe; never contented: Oh! is this a duty, to be in every thing Thankful? how do they lie in a ſin, and the breach of this commandement, that are in nothing contented, never pleaſed? Beloved! I don't now come to call for contentment, and patience, and quietneſs under Affliction; but for Thankfulneſs: and not for thankfulneſs only when all goes well with you; but for Thankfulneſs in every thing. Oh! therefore, let us return unto our own ſouls, conſider how it hath been with us. If there be ever a diſcontented man or woman reade this Sermon: conſider this Scripture: The Lord ſaies, be in every thing Thankful, and thou haſt been in nothing Thankful, in nothing contented in thy condition. Oh! how will you anſwer it at the great day? Let me leave this Exhortation with you, in your boſoms: the Lord knows into what condition we may come; whether into Affliction, or Perſecution, or Deſertion, or of Temptation: Remember, here lies your duty before you; lay it up in your hearts: 'Tis the will of God, even our Father, that we ſhould be Thankful to him in every thing: not in ſome things, not when things go well only; when we have Victory: but in all things Thankful: In every thing give Thanks unto God, for this is the will of God our Father concerning you.
FINIS.