ESSAY t. 419 1V. When any of the race of mankind are made sensible of their sins and misery, and by repentance and faith in the grace of God, so far as it is revealed to them, have arrived at any toler- able hopes of their interest in his favour, and their acceptance unto life and happiness in anoiher world, then they are called aloud to bless their divine Creator, as well as their Saviour, and to give thanks to the God of nature and grace together. And I think there is not one place in scripture whereman is required to give thanks to the Lord but on one or other of these accounts which I have here mentioned*. Upon the whole, the result of things is this, that if anyof us cannot upon rational grounds give thanks to God as ourCrea- tor for our existence, it is owing merely to our original apostacy fromGod inand by our first parents ; for otherwise God would never have made intelligent creatures, who could not reasonably thank him for making them. And then further I add, if wecan- not rationallythank God for our creation here, until we have some hope of his favour and grace hereafter, this should awaken us all with utmost diligence in the midst of our miseries to enquire after the way of salvation, and pursue every appointed duty that is necessary for this end : For then we shall be able to bless God for bringing us into being, and we shall no longer lie under such a sad and dismal reproach of nature, as not to give thanks for our existence to the hand, that formed us. Thus far I have endeavoured to to prove, that by the miseries of mankind we may have sufficient evidence that they are in a fallen and degene- rate state. SECT. IV. A full Proof of Man'sApostacy by Scripture and Reason, derived from their Sinfulness. But afterall, if it should be found upon the justest survey and balance of things, that the miseries of human nature considered alone, are not a sufficient and satisfactory evidence of the apos- tacy and fall of mankind from their Maker's favour, and of some remarkable displeasure of the hand that created them.; yetI am well assured that the early corrupt inclinations, the endless iniquities and crimes of menfrom their childhood, and that uni- versal propensity to sin which isfound among all the inhabitants bo our world, joined with the loads of misery they sustain, are oth together an effectual and convincing argument that we are a degenerate and fallen race of creatures. Now that we are such a sort of criminal, guilty, sinful, and degenerate beings, and a< There is no plain text that I can findwhere mankind is commanded or invited to thank God merely for their existence , and in those places where all nations, or all the earth are called upon to bless the Lord, and give thanks to him, it is still in view of their having the knowledge and glace or salvation et .God manifested in them. ad2
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