think it consistent with the goodness and mercy of God, that the greatest part of mankind should be damned: they cannot imagine, that heaven should be such an empty and desolate place, and have so very few to inhabit it. But what folly and madness is this; for sinful men to set rules unto the Divine goodness, and to draw conclusions from it, so expressly contrary to what He has himself revealed! Is it not enough, that he has taught us the way to be happy, and given his own Son to the death, to make it possible; that he has waited so long, and invited us so earnestly, and so frequently told us our hazard? If all this cannot prevail; if we be obstinately resolved to continue wicked and miserable; if we despise his goodness, and turn all his grace unto wantonness; if we slight his threatenings, and will have none of his reproof; if we court damnation, and throw ourselves headlong into hell, how can we expect, that he should interpose his omnipotency to pull us from thence, and place us in heaven against our will? Those blessed regions are not like our new plantations, which are sometimes peopled with the worst sort of persons, lest they should be altogether desolate. There are thousands of angels, and ten thousand times ten thousand, that stand about the throne. We know little the extent of the universe; or what proportion the wicked or miserable part of rational beings, bears to those that are happy and good: but this we know, that God was infinitely happy, before he had made any creature ; that he needs not the society of the holy angels, and will never admit that of wicked and irreligious men. The doctrine on which we have been insisting, is sad and lamentable; but the consideration of it may be very useful. It must needs touch any serious person, with very much of grief and trouble, to behold a multitude of people convened together, and to think, that, before thirty or forty years, a little more, or a great deal less, they shall all go down unto the dark and silent grave, and the greater, the far greater part of their souls, shall perish everlastingly. But this consideration may urge us to the greater diligence and care, that we may do what we can, towards the prevention of these sad consequences. Were the sense of this truth deeply engraven on all our minds, with what care and diligence, with what seriousness and zeal, would ministers deal with the people committed to their charge, that, by any means, they might save some! How would parents, and husbands, and wives, employ all their diligence and industry, and make use of the most likely methods, for reclaiming their near relations, and pulling them from the brink of hell? Lastly, what holy violence would each of us use, for saving ourselves from this common ruin, and making our calling and election sure? This is the use of what we have been endeavouring to enforce and may Almighty God so accompany : with his blessing and power, that it may be happily effectual, to so excellent a purpose. And unto this God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honour, praise, and thanksgiving, now, and for ever. Amen. it 187 SERMON V. THE DUTY AND PLEASURE OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING. PSALM CVII. 15. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! THERE is scarcely any duty of religion more commonly neglected, or more slightly performed, than this of praise and thanksgiving. The sense of our wants urges us to beg favours from God; and the consciousness of our sins constrains us to deprecate his wrath. Thus interest and self-love send us to our prayers. But, alas! how small a part has an ingenuous gratitude, in our devotion? How seldom are we serious and hearty, in our acknowledgment of the divine bounty? The slender returns of this nature which we make, are often a formal ceremony, a preface to usher in our petitions for what we want, rather than any sincere expression of our thankfulness for what we have received. Far different was the temper of the holy Psalmist; whose affectionate acknowledgments of the goodness and bounty of God, in the cheerful celebration of his praise, make up a considerable' part of his divine songs. How often do we find him ex : citing and disposing himself to join voice, hand, and heart, together, in this holy and delightful employment? "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. * My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory, awake psaltery and harp I myself will awake right early.”† And, conscious of his own insufficiency for the work, he invites the co-operation of others; calling in the whole creation to assist him: "O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord all the earth. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. ‡ Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord, from the heavens: praise him, in the heights. Praise him, ye sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light; mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl. § Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion." || Many such figurative expressions occur, and allowance must be made for the poetical strain: but, in the text, we have a proper and passionate wish, "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness; and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Man is the great priest of this lower world; by whom all the homage and service of the other creatures, is to be paid to their common lord and maker. "God hath made him to have dominion over the works of his hand; he hath put all things *Psalm ciii. 1. + Psalm lvii. 7, 8. Psalm cxlviii. 1. 3. 9, 10. under his feet: all sheep and oxen; yea, and the beasts of the field: the fowl of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.' "" * The divine bounty, in maintaining these poor creatures, redounds to man; and therefore it is highly reasonable that he should pay the tribute of praise for them, who are not capable of knowing their dependence on God, or their obligations unto him. "The young lions roar, and seek their meat from God." + "The young ravens do cry unto him." But these are only the complaints of languishing nature, heard and relieved by the God of nature; though not directly and particularly addressed to him. Man alone is capable to entertain communion with God; to know his goodness, and to celebrate his praise. - "Oh that men would praise the Lord!" Praise is the acknowledgment of the goodness and excellency of a person: and, though the desire of it in us, who have nothing of our own but folly and sin, and whose best performances have a miserable alloy of adherent infirmity, be a blameable vanity and presumption, yet, certainly, it is highly reasonable for God, who is the author and fountain of all good, to require and expect praise from his creatures. He has made this great world, as a temple for his honour: and it should continually resound with his praise. It is true, all the praises of men and angels can add nothing to his happiness. and glory; yet, there is a fitness and congruity in the thing; and it is our happiness, as well as our Job, xxxviii. 41. *Psalm viii. 6, 7, 8. † Psalm civ. 21. |