§. Sect. 2 That we must giue thankes in all things.
And after this manner must we shew our thankfulnesse vnto God: The obiect of our thanksgiuing, or the cause and occasion of giuing thankes, * 1.1 is, all things, according to that of the Apostle, In euery thing giue thankes; And againe, giuing thankes alwayes, for all things, vnto God the Father, in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ. That is, we must giue thankes for all good things, which are so in their owne nature, or which through Gods wise∣dome, power, and goodnesse are made so vnto vs; for positiue good things, as all Gods blessings and benefits, both temporall, spirituall, and eternall; or priuatiue, when God in his loue and mercy freeth vs from those euils of punishment which our sinnes haue deserued, or at least, doth not inflict them in that measure and degree which hee might iustly impose vpon vs: in which respect, the Church in her greatest afflictions * 1.2 tooke occasion of praysing God, and acknowledging his mercies, in that they were not vtterly consumed: And doth also turne these light and * 1.3 momentany afflictions to our good, as the mortification of our sinnes, the inriching of vs with spirituall graces, the furthering of our saluation, and the increasing of our heauenly ioy and happinesse.