has afforded us, we have it in our own Power to work out our own Salvation and None need to be Miterable, unless they will choose to be so. Therefore

we are especially to be Thankful for his Spiritual Mercies, his Word and Sacraments, and the Bleffed Opportunities we have thereby of attaining Everlasting Salvation. He hath given us all things that 2 Pet.i.4. pertain unto Life and Godliness, through the Knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue. Let us therefore give Thanks unto him and fay, (with the fame Apostle,) 1 Ep. 1 Ch. 3. ver. Blef fed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which according to his abundant Mer6y, hath begotten us again unto a Lively Hope, by the Refurrection of Jefus Chrift from the Dead. To an Inheritance incorruptible and Undefiled, referved in Heaven for Us.

But Neither has he given us barely a Reversion of Future Happiness, and made a Life of Trouble, Sorrow and Affliction in this World, the Neceffary Condition, and only way to it; and left us Nothing to buoy up our Spirits under all our Sufferings here, but the Profpect of a far diftant Reward: No, he has alfo fufficiently Provided us with all Neceffary Helps and Affiftances for the Attainment of it, and made our F 3 Paf

Paffage to it Sure and Comfortable. For though it must be acknowledged that there is much Difficulty and Reluctancy and many Uneafy Paffages, efpecially in the First Stages of a Chriftian Courfe, yet it may be truly Af firm'd, and if the Time would permit might be easily Prov'd, that the Service of Sin is much more Toilfome; and that it cofts a Man more Difquiet, more Pains and Drudgery to Damn himself, than, if it had been rightly directed, would have been required to have made himself for ever Happy.

3. God has not only provided for us a Future State of Blifs, and all proper Spiritual Means for the Attainment of it, but has also provided for our Happiness even in this World too. We are therefore thankfully to Remember, (fo far as the Concernments of this Life may engage our Thankful Affections,) how much we ftand indebted to him alfo for all the Bleffings of This Life. For he has not only implanted in our Natures thofe Perceptive Faculties that are the very Subject and Foundation of all Enjoyment, but has therewith alfo, as Tim. vi. the Apostle fpeaks, given us All Things Pf. 68.19. richly to Enjoy Therefore Praifed be the

17.

Lord

Lord dayly; even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his Benefits upon us.

For befides his Common Gifts and Benefits, whereby he conftantly fupplies the Neceffities of Nature in all its Wants and Decays, (which too are the Free Gifts of his Undeferved Bounty,) he has even indulg'd our Natural Inclinations and Defires, by the Allowance of many Lawful Delights and Pleafures; and out of the Overflowings of his Goodness, has made Provision for them too, even in thofe very Things that are moft agreeable to the Appetites of our Nature, in This our Present State Men would therefore Praise the Lord for his Goodness, and declare the Wonders that he Doth for the Children of Men: That they would offer unto him the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and tell out his Works with Gladness Lord, What is Man that thou Pf. viii. 4. art thus Mindful of him!

Oh! that P, cvii.

Nor let the Poor think themselves at all Exempt from this Duty of Grati tude to God, as if They were little beholding to his Providence; and therefore might leave the Duty of Gratitude and Praise to the Rich and the Great, the Happy Men of the World, that had fo Much to be Thankful for.

21, 22.

For certainly it is a very Miftaken Notion of worldly Happiness and Enjoyment, to think that it confifts in the Measure and Plenty of the Things that we have to Enjoy, fince Enjoyment lies not at all in the Object Enjoy'd, but in the Faculties and Difpofition of the Mind, which is the Seat and Subject of Enjoyment. Therefore fome can make themselves Happy with only the Neceffaries of Life, Food and Raiment, being therewith Content; whilft others cannot make themselves fo with all their Abundance, and all the Ingredients of Happinefs about them, for want of That Contented Good Temper of Mind.

Again; If the Poor Man has more Enjoyment of his Coarfe Fare, and comes with a better Appetite to it, than He that fareth Sumptuously every Day can ever bring to his Plentiful Table; And if the Labouring Man enjoys better Health, and is ftrong to Labour, and can in his Hard Lodgings, after the toil of the Day, comfortably lay himself down to Reft, and Sleep more foundly and fecurely than thofe that lay themselves down on their Soft Beds; Such a one certainly has his Part of this World's Happiness; and the Beft Part of it too, Health of Body, and Peace of Mind. Solomon tells us Ecclef. v. 12. The Sleep of a

La

Labouring Man is Sweet, whether he Eat Little or Much; But the Abundance of the Rich will not fuffer Him to Sleep. And a Greater than Solomon has told us, Lu xiii. 15. that a Man's Life, that is, the Happiness and Comfort of his Life, does not confift in the Abundance of the Things that he poffeffeth. If fo, then the Meaner Sort, though they have not their Share in the Poffeffions of this World, yet may have their Share in the Comforts and Enjoyments of it, and therefore ought to be Thankful to the Donor.

But though the Diftributions of Worldly Happiness are not fo Unequal as at First Sight they feem to be, yet after all, it must be acknowledged, that they that have received Ten Talents of This World, are chargeable with greater Obligations, and are to make Proportionable Thanks - offerings: For unto whomfoever Much is given, of Him fhall be much Requir'd.

And if Men have not shaken off the Common Compaffion of Humanity, there can be no greater Pleasure than to have it in One's Power to Do Good; To fuccour and fupport the Miferable; to defend the Poor and Fatherless, and them that have None to help; to Cloath the Naked, to Comfort the Hungry Bowels, and to relieve thofe that are in

any