plainest precepts, and encourages your progress by the most gracious promises. And though darkness may sometimes surround you, yet light soon arises in ob. scurity. Though the dispensations of God seem mysterious, yet all things are working for good to them who love him. They are heirs of his kingdom; they shall inherit all things.

What is there, then, for which the good man may not give thanks? All things are his. No real good will be withheld. Nothing will separate him from the love of God.

V. We are now to consider the medium of our ac cess to God in this duty, "The name of Jesus Christ."

God putteth no trust in his saints; the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much less man that is a worm-man that is a sinner? We are not worthy to speak to him in praise for the benefits which we receive-much less to ask of him farther benefits-least of all to receive the benefits which we ask. We are therefore directed not only to pray, but also to give thanks in the name of Christ, who has purchased by his blood the blessings which we need, who has opened for us by his intercession, a way of access to the throne of grace, and through whom alone, such guilty creatures can acceptably draw near to God. "Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by him." Whatever therefore we do, in word or deed, we must do all in his name, praying and giving thanks to God, even the Father, by him.

We have taken a view of the important duty of thanksgiving. And we see, that this is not a work merely for one day in a year, but for every day that we live. We must give thanks always.

Let us not imagine, that by recounting a few remarkable favors, we have discharged our obligations to God; we are to give thanks for all things.

Let us not think, that to appear publicly in God's house and to feed plentifully at our tables, is the essencé of thanksgiving; we must bring to God the offering of grateful hearts, feel a sense of his goodness and our unworthiness, exercise repentance for our sins, devote ourselves to him to walk in newness of life and do good, and communicate to one another, as there is occasion. With such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Nature itself points out our obligation to thanksgiving. Being endued with reason and speech, we are capable of observing the merciful works of God, and of expressing the grateful and admiring sentiments of our hearts. David calls his tongue his glory, because with this he could praise his Creator. "My heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise with my glory." The Apostle exhorts us to "offer unto God the fruit of the lips, giving thanks to his name."

Even sinners love those who love them; and do good to those, who do good to them. This is natural. Hence the unthankful are ranked among those who are without natural affection. If gratitude to one another is a dictate of nature, shall not reason and religion lead up our hearts to God?

The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib. Shall not we consider and acknowledge him who has nourished and brought us up as children?

The creation around us, gives us lectures on thankfulness, and exhibits the propriety of making returns for benefits. The rivers discharge into the sea the wa. ters which they derive from it. The skies remit in copious showers the collections which they exhale from the earth in vapors. The fields by a fruitful increase repay the husbandman's toil, and bring forth herbs meet for those by whom they are dressed. All nature subsists by an interchange of kindnesses. Harmony and or der are the beauty of the natural world. Piety and benevolence are the beauty of the moral world.

If we are dependent upon God and every good gift comes from him-if we are sinners under a forfeiture of all his favors-if we have done nothing to deserve, and can do nothing to remunerate his benefits, but all proceed from his selfmoving love; then we must be eternally bound to render praise to his name. « What shall we render to the Lord for all his benefits? We will offer him the sacrifice of thanksgiving.'

Praise is pleasant, as well as comely. Prayer reminds us of our wants, confession wounds us with a sense of guilt. But praise refreshes the soul with the memory of God's exceeding goodness, and brings to view the happy circumstances of our condition. "O, taste and see that that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man who trusteth in him."

What more delightful sentiments can fill our souls, than such as these? The great ruler of the universe graciously regards us and daily watches over us, makes us the subjects of a thousand blessings, and employs us as agents to scatter his bounties among our fellow creatures; admits us into his presence, and allows us to converse with him; imparts his influence to direct our way, and gives us his grace to prepare us for heav

en.

Thanksgiving is better than prayer and confession, for it will never fail. When all our sins are purged away by divine grace, and all our wants are swallowed up in the divine fulness-when we dwell in God's presence, where is joy supreme, and sit at his right hand where are pleasures never failing, there will be no more occasion for penitent confession of sin, strong cries for mercy, and groanings which cannot be uttered. The glories of divine wisdom, grace and love will be all our theme-gratitude and praise will be all our devotion.

Habitual thankfulness adds much to the happiness of life. This softens our cares, lightens our troubles, mitigates our griefs, dispels our gloom, brightens up the soul, and smoothes the temper into serenity and cheer

fulness. Ingratitude is sullen, morose and peevish; it gives a disrelish to every favor, and increases the smart of every affliction.

Praise has been the work of saints on earth, and is the employment of angels in heaven. Let us therefore give thanks always, for all things, to God through Jesus Christ, that we may now be prepared, and hereafter admitted to join with happy spirits above, in ascribing blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, and thanksgiving to him who sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.

1

SERMON XLIII.

Mutual Submission.

ÉPHESIANS ▼. 21.

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

THE Apostle, having exhorted the Ephesian Christians to the duties of social worship, next passes to inculcate several relative duties. This subject he begins with a general exhortation to all Christians to

submit themselves one to another." His subjoining this to his exhortation concerning social worship, intimates, that one great use of joint devotion is the promotion of peace, humility and condescension.

This submission to others can no farther bé a duty, than it is consistent with our obligations to God. Therefore the Apostle says, "Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God." "The wisdom which' is from above, is first pure, and then peaceable." The Christian, who is bought with a price, must not be a servant of men. The sense of our text is fully explained by other parallel instructions. "Ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder, and be ye all subject one to another, and be clothed with humility." "Let nothing be done through strife and vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than him