Of acknozledging God in all our Ways. 3o5 the whole ítate and all the ways of men, dif- SE RM. pofing and over -ruling the event of them for XII. the greaten good in the whole, and for the greateft particular advantage of every man, in exa& proportion to the degree of his moral goodnefs 3 if thefe things be fo, then hence may be inferr'd various inftances or branches of acknowledgment we owe to God. As All, the tribute of praife and thankfgiving. Scarcely is there any thing that appears more congruous, more becoming and laudable to the human mind, and the contrary more bafe and difagreeable; than gratitude, or an of feEtionate fenfe of favours received, with a difpofition to make fuitable returns for theme Let any man afk himfelf, whether he can help approving it ? and Whether he doth not defpife, even abhor ingratitude ? nay, if he thinks he could poflibly enjoy himfelf with fatisfaEtion, being confcious of difefteem of, or.evenin difference to, a benefaEtor ? Now, the obligation of gratitude peculiarly lies upon us with refpet`.t to God, becaufe our all pro. ceeds from his beneficence. Whatever we are, or do, or enjoy, we owe to him, not only as the original donor, but the conftant preferver and fupporter by the immediate in- terpofition of his own power, in whole hand VOL.Ij. X is
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