51 Thankfulnefs required in every condition. . built the Temple; did not they shout, and praife God that the Foundation was laid ? When the Ifraelites had overcome their enemies, in Samuels time; though theEne- mies were roundabout them, they let up a (tone, and called Sam.. itEben-ezer, Hitherto the Lord bath helped us. Beloved I in our Thankfgiying we are to be like unto fetus Chrift : He didnot only praile God when he had the mercy, but before he had it, in the entrance upon it. Whenhe raifes up La- 7oat.11. T zarus from the dead : Father (faies he) IThankthee that thou 41,42. heareji me alwsies : and then he commands Lazarus to come out. But first he gives Thanks to God. In the Scripture, Prev.3 .9 the holy-Gheft bath commanded us, 7ohonour the Lordwith our fithflance ; and with thefirfi fruits ofall our increafe. Ei- therye have the firft-fruits of Reformation ; or not. Ifnot: what meanall thole precious Ears, and fruits which ye have been gathering in there latter times ? And if ye have the firfi fruits , t hough ye have not reap't the haryell yet : then,honour the Lord with your fubftance, and with your firfi- fruits ; SoPallyour barnes be fili'dwithplenty, andyortrprefes with the new wine of the Goff el. God does give one mercy as a feal unto another : a Firft as a teal to the Second : the Se- cond as a feal to the Third : the Idler as a pledge of the greater. Goddoes give a leffer mercy to try us, whether wewill be Thankful, that he may givea greater. relayed! thefe are trying times, God tries us whether we will be Thankful for what we have. A Reformation is now on foot : what though things don't succeed according to your defire, thall we not be Thankful for what we have, becaufe we want fomething ofwhat we wouldhave ? when then fhall we be Thankful ? uP ii I but, 'tis not only want ofReformation, but many Er- rows that are rifen up among us in thefe times : and fbouldwe be Thankful now in this condition ? AnfiV4 Shall not be Thankful for fame grace, beeaufe it is mingled withmuch Corruption ? Shall I not be Thank ful for my field ofCorn, becaufe divers weeds are mingled therewith ? Shall I call away the kernel, becaufe it is com- pafg
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