ral and eternal. The 11th Chapter of this Book of ECCLESIASTES, Verse the 9th, Rejoice, O Young Man, in thy Youth, and let thy Heart chear thee in the Days of thy Youth, and walk in the Ways of thine Heart, and in the Sight of thine Eyes: In which Words he feems to give Young Perfons an unbounded Licence to gratify their fenfual Paffions, and carnal Affections: But obferve what fol

lows; But know thou that for all thefe Things God will bring thee into Judgment. Know and confider this awful Doctrine of a future Day of Account; and then live fuch a thoughtless Life of fenfual Pleasure if thou canft. Thus when SOLOMON had recommended to young Perfons the Remembrance of their Creator, he does not forget, in the Clofe of the Chapter, to put them also in Remembrance that God would certainly call them to Account; for God fhall bring every Work into Judgment, with every fecret Thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

26

Of Thanksgiving, or Gratitude to God for his Mercy and Goodnefs.

TWO SERMON S.

PSALM C. 4, 5·

Enter into his Gates with Thanksgiving, and into his Courts with Praife: Be thankful to him, and blefs his Name; for the Lord is good, his Mercy is everlasting, and his Truth endureth to all Generations.

THIS Book of the Pfalms has been highly valued by all those who have had a true Spirit of Devotion. We fee the Nature of Religion, when it gains Poffeffion of the Heart, expreffing itfelf in loving, fearing, praifing, and adoring the Bleffed God. Thofe excellent Perfons who compofed this Book of fublime Devotion are fre

quently

quently employed in these delightful Duties, and exciting others to do the fame. We may fee of how great Moment this Duty of praifing God, and offering Thanksgiving, is; for DAVID, whofe Soul was filled with Love to God, exercises himself herein, as may eafily be observed by any who will, with the leaft Care and Attention, read this Book of the Pfalms. When God favoured him, or his People the Ifraelites, with any Deliverances or Bleffings, he immediately composes a Hymn of Praise to the Great and Glorious Author of them. We may fee how quickly his grateful Soul was touched and affected with the Goodness of God, for the Publick Favours granted to his Church and People, and how defirous he was to raise and preferve in their Minds the like Sentiments of Gratitude to God for them. In this Pfalm he exhorts all who are capable of knowing their Obligations to God their Maker, and who have experienced his Mercy, Goodness, and Faithfulness, to ferve him with Gladness, to come before his Prefence with Singing; and, not to content themfelves with filent Acts of Praise, but to enter his Gates with Thanksgiving, and into his Courts with Praife; be thankful to him, and bless his Name; for the Lord is good, &c. In treating on the Words, I fhall obferve the following Method. I. Shere

E 2

1. Shew that the Goodnefs and Mercy of God is the Foundation and Reafon of Thankfulness and Gratitude.

II. With what Temper, and Difpofition of Mind, we should offer our Tribute of Praise and Thanksgiving to God.

III. Give fome Directions in order to raise and promote, in all our Souls, that Thankfulnefs and Gratitude to God for all hisMercies, which is effential to Religion.

IV. Prove this to be a Duty incumbent on all, to "Enter God's Gates with Thanksgi

ving, and his Courts with Praise; to "be thankful to him, and bless his Name."

I. I obferve, that the Goodness and Mercy of God is the Foundation and Reason of Thankfulness, and Gratitude to him. This is the Reason which the Pfalmift here offers, when he would move all to acknowledge publickly their Obligations to God, by Entering his Gates with Thanksgiving; for the Lord is good, his Mercy is from everlasting, &c.

God is a Being of all poffible Perfections and Excellencies, fuch as irrefiftible Might and Power, inflexible Juftice, unblemished Truth and Faithfulness, immaculate Purity

and

and unfpotted Holiness, confummate Wif dom, and his Understanding is infinite. He is adored by all the Inhabitants Above as poffeffed of these Perfections; and all Rational Creatures on Earth, as well as the Angels and perfected Spirits in Heaven, ought to have and preserve the most adoring Sentiments of his Majefty and Glory. But however Excellent and Glorious he is in Himfelf, these Perfections of Power, Juftice, Holinefs, &c. tend only to raise in our Minds awful Thoughts of him, and fill them with a reverential Dread: But 'tis the Confideration of his eternal and immutable Goodness, and boundless Love, that infpires with Sentiments of Thankfulness and Gratitude.

The Grounds of true Religion are a full Belief and Persuasion of the Existence of God, and of his Bounty and Goodness to all who fincerely feek and worship him, according to that of the infpired Author to the Hebrews, Chap. xi. 6. But without Faith it is impoffible to please him; for he that cometh to God muft believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently feek him. When we contemplate the immenfe Goodness of God, and his tender Mercies which are over all his Works, that he is not only abfolutely and infinitely good in his Nature, but doth good, and with a liberal & bountiful Hand fupplies the Wants

of