A help to holy walking, or, A guide to glory containing directions how to worship God, and to walk with him in the whole course of our lives / by Edward Bury.

5. Direct. Having thus disposed and pre∣pared thy Heart for the Work, and set thy self as in the Presence of the ever-living God, that sees, and knows, and takes notice of thee; set thy self then upon the work, of Glorify∣ing God, and render thanks to him from thy Heart, for all the Benefits thou hast Receiv∣ed; Praise is comely for the Saints: And this Religious Thankfulness, of which we speak, is thy Duty. Now, 'tis either External, or Internal; the Internal is to carry a thankful Heart to God, and this is every days Duty: External is, when the Thankfulness of the Heart is expressed in Words, or Actions; the former without the latter, is not sufficient; the latter without the former, is little worth. Now, the External manifestation of thy thank∣fulness, is either Private, or Publick; Private by thy self, or Family; Publick in the great Congregation; and this also is either Ordina∣ry, or Extraordinary; Ordinary, and this should be done at every time when we come together to Worship of God: The Extraor∣dinary is upon Extraordinary Occasions; as some great Deliverances, or the obtaining some great Mercies, or the bringing down some great Enemies of the Church; this the Church ought to bless God for, and Offer this Sacrifice of Praise in the Name, and Media∣tion

of Christ, who prays over all our Pray∣ers for us, and Offers our Praises performed with the Incense of his own Righteousness. Now, 'tis requisite, as I said before, that a Catalogue of those Mercies, God hath gi∣ven in as a return of Prayers, be laid up, ei∣ther in a Book, or in the Memory; for if we neglect, or forget them, how shall we speak of them, to God's praise; 'tis not enough to re∣member them, but we must also mention them to his praise: Thus David, I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul: He acknowledg∣eth God the Author of his Mercies, and doth not Sacrifice to his own Nets, as many do, and burn Incense to his Drags, Hab. 1.16. But as the Church, not unto us, Lord, not to us, but to thy Name be the Praise; he acknowledges fre∣quently his own worthlessness, that he may exalt God. Lord, saith he, what is Man, that thou shouldst be mindful of him? Or the Son of Man, that thou regardest him? Psal. 8.4. I am less than the least of thy Mercies, saith Ja∣cob: I am less than the least of thy Saints, saith Paul. Yea, when it comes, let it be a Free-will Offering; do it chearfully, readily, wil∣lingly, as the Saints and Angels do it in Hea∣ven, heartily, not heavily; God Loves a chearful giver, and matters not grumbling Service: Be as willing to return Thanks, as ever thou wast to have the Mercy. Set thy Heart on Work in this Duty, stir up thy self, like the Psalmist, Psal. 103.1, Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me Praise his

Holy Name: Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his Benefits. 'Tis not enough to Praise him with the Lips, or bring our Bodies before him, but the Heart and Life should Praise him; the Heart should Indite thy Prai∣ses, and thy Tongue utter them, and thy Life and Conversation Seal to them; thou shouldst do thanks, and Live thanks, as well as speak thanks; this is every days Duty, especially when we receive signal Mercies, we should return answerable thanks; when National Mercies, National thanks should be returned, Psal. 50.15. Moses did so at the Deliverance at the Red Sea, Exod. 15.1. Deborah and Barak did so, Judg. 5.12. The Jews also, when delivered from Haman's Plots, Est. 8.11.17. And there is great reason it should be so; for Praise is due to none but God, and to him the Vow should be performed; all our Springs are in him, and all our Mercies are from him; yea, every good and perfect gift, and this is the very End, for which he gives them, and 'tis all he requires for them; this Pepper-corn of Homage is all his Rent, who is the great Land-Lord; and though it be due from all, yet he expects it from his own Peo∣ple especially; he will extort his own from others in another way, and none but his Peo∣ple can do it to please him: This is to his Saints a fore-tast of Glory, where it must be their constant Work. 'Tis a beneficial Duty also, for Thanksgiving for one Mercy, is a real, yea, a prevailing Request for another; Those

that Offer praise, Glorifie God: And yet we see how negligent most are in this Duty; few take notice of the Mercies they Receive, but like Swine, eat the Acorns, or Crabs, and regard not whence they come: Ten Lepers were cleansed, and but one returns thanks; many are sensible of their wants, and with the Horse-Leach, cry, give, give; yet are not sensible of their enjoyments, to return thanks; yea, suffer some petty Cross to hide a thou∣sand Blessings, and keep them out of their sight.