V E R. 3. Ephe/tans, Chap. i. 2I ftirre up himfelf, his foule, fpirit, all withinhim, but all the creatures, every thing that hadbreath, from the higheft Angel, to the loweftcrea- ture : Thisgrace being like fire, which once kindled, catcheth holdof all that is near it. For our better understanding this duty, I will open two things. r. What muff concurre in this pradife. a. How we may keepour hearts in a good difpofition to this duty. To the praifing God three things are required. r. That our fpirit doe acknowledgehisgood- neffe, inany kinde (hewed us : Hence it is that the Saints call on their hearts, foules, fpirits, in this bufineffe: God is afpirit, and hateth every fervice, fromwhich the fpirit is eftranged. As no mufick is graceful!, unleffethe inftrument be firft tuned ; no more is any voyce ofpralle ac- ceptable, unleffetheheart be firft ordered. 2. Theremuff be a declaring before menofthat kindneffe and love the Lord hath (hewed us : Come, I will tellyouwhat Ged bath dottefor my fettle. ?fol. 66.16. I will shyly tell ofthy righteoufnejfe. Wecount it ingratitude in men, whenthey will fmother benefits, and never beknown to other ofwhom theyhave re- ceived them. 3. There muff be an endeavouring of requiring Gods love, byanfwering hisbenefits with thankful!duty,bywalkingworthy ofthem ; what JbaIlI repay the Lord, for all hisbenefits upon me ? Thus wecount him unthankful!, who doth not bend himfelf to requite love with the like, fo far as ability reacheth. Now for means difpofing us this way, we mutt labour firft to knowand keep in remembrance Gods be- nefits ; that whichisforgotten, is not known forthe prefect ; nothing unknown, affeélethor moveth thewill : A danger unknown, makethus not afraid; abenefit unknown makethus not joyful! or thankful!: Hence it was that holymen often made Catalogues of Godsbenefits, and re- peated them to theirfoules ; See Pfal.503. My fettlepraife the Lord, for- get not all his benefits. Secondly, Men mufflabour their hearts toa fenfe and feelingof the worth ofthe benefits which they enjoy; for not having benefits, but efteeming and knowing the worth ofthem, maketh thankful!. Now in this we greatly faile, for our corrupt natures heed nothing theyenjoy; liketheeye in this regard, which feeth nothing that lyeth on it, but ta- ken away fome diflance, doth brightlydifcernit : So we, when good things are taken away know themwell,which we feenot to be filch be- nefits,while we enjoy them; Again, theplentiful! ufeofthe belt things, breedeth a fatiety,andmaketh them no dainties; And hence itcorn meth, that good things which arecommonly and conflantly withus, are not regarded : Let us therefore, the rather pia6life this fecond rule, for the negle 1 of it maketh us want our comfort while we poffeffe things, (for who canrakejoy in that heefteemeth not? ) and it maketh us have dou- ble griefe, when now theyare removed ; for then the confcience ofour carelefneffedothbiteandfling us. Athird rule is,ftill tolabour tobe poore in fpirit,and keep the confci- ence ofourownunworthineffe, that we may ftill know our felves tobe leffe then the least ofGodsmercies, as iscob faid. Hunger is fauce which maketh every thingwell tatted ; So this poverty of fpirit maketh the least r, 2. I. s:
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