Serious reflections on time and eternity with some other subjects, moral and divine : to which is prefix'd an introduction concerning the first day of the year, how observed by the Jews, and may best be employed by a serious Christian / by John Shower.

XXX. Thanksgiving to God for his Innumerable Benefits and Mercies, particularly in the Year Past: with some Direction and Ad∣vice concerning it.

HOW precious and delightful are the Thoughts of thy Benefits? O Lord, how great is the sum of them? Should I count them, they are more in number than the Stars. Shall I not observe and consider them? maintain a grateful sense of them, and publickly acknowledg them on all oc∣casions? that I may Bless the Lord at all

Times, and his Praise be continually in my mouth. More especially should I conclude and begin the Year, with solemn Praises to my Great Benefactor and Preserver. I ought to be∣gin and close every Day with it, thereby to make the outgoings of the Morning and the Even∣ing to rejoice in God. Every Year, every Day, every Hour, every Moment offers me an oc∣casion to praise Him: because he is every minute gracious: and hath been so ever since he gave me my Being.

Almost one half of my Time hath been spent in Sleep, when I remember not God, nor my self; yet doth He, who never slum∣bers or sleeps, remember me in Mercy, and watch over me for good. Yea, though in the other half, by Day, I have forgotten him in a worse sense, by casting off his Fear, and not remembring that his Holy Eye is upon me, yet hath he not forgotten to be Gracious. Therefore I will praise the name of God with a Song, and will magnify him with Thanksgiving, and never forget his benefits. With which Sacrifice he is better pleased than with an Ox or Bullock, that hath horns and hoofs.

He hath prolonged my Life this last Year, when so many others, of his more useful

Servants, have been remov'd by Death: and given me farther Time and Space to Repent, when multitudes have been sur∣priz'd in their Impenitence. Yea, it was He, who formed me in the Womb, and brought me safely into the World, by whose Providence I have hitherto been supplied: in Him I live, and move, and con∣tinually exist; To his undeserved Goodness I am beholding for all the Good of any kind, which I ever enjoy'd: To his Bounty I am indebted for all that I now have; and must depend upon it, for whatever I can hereafter expect.

Through Infancy and Childhood he was pleas'd to preserve me; favouring me with many advantages in my Birth and Educa∣tion; providing for me a Competent Live∣lihood; disposing the Circumstances of my Condition, Relations, Places of Abode, &c. more advantageously than he hath done for Thousands: affording me many Helps, for the Improvement of my mind, and the in∣crease of Knowledg: and preventing my Necessities, and even my Desires, with numberless Blessings, which I never so much as askt for. He hath caused several of my Relations to yield me Comfort, when they might have been sore Afflictions. He hath raised up Strangers to befriend me, and

show me kindness. How many favours have I receiv'd from God, by the Instru∣mentality of other Men? to whom God gave the Will, and the Power, the Oppor∣tunity, and the Inclination?

How often hath he deliver'd my Soul from Death, mine Eyes from Tears, and my Feet from falling, by seasonable Preservations? so that I do yet walk before him in the Land of the Living. He hath rescu'd me from the brink of many a Precipice, which, through Igno∣rance or Inadvertency, I did not apprehend or Fear. When I knew not which way to turn, he hath made my Path plain. Under sinking Disappointments he hath commanded Succor; and been a present Help in the time of Trouble. In Great Perplexities, his Eye hath been my Guide, and his own Arm hath brought Salvation: it may be by the Ministry of his Holy Angels, obeying his order, and giving unusual Intimations of very great, and otherwise unsuspected Dan∣gers: or sending Relief and Deliverance, by such small, unlikely, and unexpected Means, as carried the name of God visibly ingraven on them. Innumerable Calami∣ties he saves me from, which others groan under: and as many Blessings am I favour'd with, whereof they are destitute. He Spreads my Table, and fills my Cup, and

gives me All Things richly to enjoy, when many Excellent Persons, of whom the World is not worthy, are fed with the Bread of Affliction, and the Water of Affliction. O∣thers have only Necessaries, or but few Conveniencies, in Comparison with the Plentiful Provisions God hath made, for my Chearful Obedience to Him. And shall I not Praise Him for(a) the precious Things of Heaven, the blessings of the Earth, the dew, and the deep? and more especially for the Good∣will of Him who dwelt in the Bush, to sanctify and sweeten all: Whereby Common Mercies become the pledge and fore-runner of bet∣ter Things; as the fruit of his Special Kindness, the witness of his Truth, and the seed of Peace and Joy, and Righteous∣ness, and Praise; by reason of his Blessing on all that I possess, which otherwise would prove a Snare, and a Temptation, and be intermixt with a Curse.

And besides the ordinary and Continued Bounty of every Day, in the midst of how many Difficulties and Dangers have I felt the dear obligations of his Preserving Mer∣cy? abroad and at home; in Foreign Countries, as well as my own; in the

midst of Enemies, and among Friends; in all Places, and at all Times.

He hath prolonged my Health, or made my Bed in Sickness. He hath often granted the Desires of my Heart when ever it was for his Glory; and contradicted my Wishes, and disappointed my Endeavours, in other Instances, when it was more to my Advan∣tage. From how many Mischiefs hath he sav'd me, by such Things as I deprecated, and would have hinder'd? How many E∣vils hath he turn'd for Good? He hath heard my Cry in the day of Adversity, and set my feet in a large Place. He hath Chasten'd me for my Profit: His Rod and his Staff have comforted me: He hath spoken com∣fortably to me in the Wilderness. Affliction hath been useful and necessary Physick; made an Instrument of Vertue, and so a token of his Love. Therefore(a) I will sing of the Mercy of the Lord for ever, and with the voice of Thanksgiving will I make known his Faithfulness.

He hath all along conducted me by his Wisdom, guided me by his Providence, and the Angel of his Presence hath directed my Path, and ordered all my Goings. He hath been a Cloud to me by Day, and a

Pillar of Fire by Night: he hath helped me in my Straits, and supply'd my Wants, and comforted me in all my Sadnesses: His powerful and gracious Presence hath been my constant Guard: and his Sove∣raign never-failing Goodness hath compast me about with Mercy on every side. For which, O most Merciful Father, my Soul, and all that is within me, desires to speak thy Praise.

The advantagious Circumstances of many divine Favors do raise their value, and de∣serve to be particularly observ'd and ac∣knowledged. How suitably, how seasona∣bly, how wisely hath he conferr'd his Be∣nefits? with what Tenderness and Kind∣ness? with what Freedom and Readiness? Of his own bounty and good will, without any Necessity, or Obligation on his Part; without any Desert, and Sometimes with∣out so much as a Prayer on mine. And what is more, notwithstanding my Ingrati∣tude and Forgetfulness of Him, and great Provocations, heightned by the abuse of so much Mercy: demanding nothing after all, in requital of so much Kindness, but my Acceptance of his Love, and grateful sense of his Goodness, and the sweetest and most reasonable Expressions of it, by Thankful Obedience.

More especially, would I bless the Lord, for Inlightning my mind in the Great My∣steries of Religion: disposing in wonderful Wisdom the several means and methods, whereby he brought me to the Knowledg of the Truth, by Parents, Ministers, Friends, Acquaintance, Books, Afflictions, &c. Be∣ginning with me in Childhood, awakening and cultivating the inbred Notions of God, and natural Religion, of Good and Evil, Rewards and Punishments, by the careful Instructions of Parents, or others con∣cern'd in my Education: giving me the advantage of Good Examples, Counsels, and Encouragements, to know and do well; with more assistance, and less hin∣drances, and diversions, than to many O∣thers. Particularly, for the Excellent Pri∣vilege and inestimable Blessing of his Holy Word and Sacraments; the liberty of the Christian Religion, in the Purity of it, in most of those Places, where God has been pleas'd to cast my Lot. Causing me to lay down in green Pastures, and leading me beside the still Waters: Instructing me in the Re∣velation of his Will and Grace by Jesus Christ: acquainting me with the sublime Principles and Articles, Precepts and Rules, Promises and Hopes of the Gospel, in order to Eternal Life.

I bless Thee, O Lord, and shall for ever do so, that with any or all these Advanta∣ges and Helps thy Holy Spirit hath taught me to know the Truth as it is in Jesus, hear∣tily to believe and obey it. That by thy Grace I have been convinc'd of Sin, and brought to Repentance; shewing me the necessity of a Saviour, to make my peace with Thee, the all-sufficiency of his Grace, the fulness of his Merit, the freeness of his Love, and his readiness to receive me to Mercy, inviting and calling me to it, and enabling me to accept his gracious Invita∣tion, and obey his compassionate Call; ma∣king me willing, by a Powerful and Victori∣ous Grace, drawing me with Cords of Love, and so effectually persuading me to con∣sent to thy Covenant, and comply with thy Message, on the gracious terms of the Go∣spel. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, through his abundant Mercy, hath begotten me again to a lively Hope; having humbled my proud Heart, and con∣quer'd the perverseness of my stubborn Will, and brought my Soul to an entire subjection to himself: who took pity on me when he saw me in my Blood, spread his Skirt over me, cast a Mantle upon my Nakedness, wash'd me from my Sins, and put his own Comliness upon me, by San∣ctification:

who open'd my eyes, when I was leaping blindfold into the Pit of De∣struction: who healed my Soul, when I was sick unto Death: who rescu'd and re∣cover'd me from the Slavery of the Devil, when I was led Captive by him at his will. Shall not a ransom'd, redeemed Slave, be thankful to his Deliverer? Shall not a mi∣serable undone Sinner, who is received to Mercy, be thankful for a Pardon? Awake, O my Soul! and utter a Song of Praise to him, who forgiveth all thine Iniquities, and healeth all thy Diseases; who redeemeth thy Life (thy Soul) from Destruction, and crowneth thee with loving-kindness, and tender Mercies.

Hath he made thee Partaker of his own renewed Image and Likeness? given thee his Son, his Grace, his Spirit? and taken such a wretched Creature into so near a re∣lation to Himself; and promised to be thy God and Guide, thy Portion and thine Inheritance, thy Friend and thy Physician, thy Sun and thy Shield, and thine exceed∣ing great Reward? and shall not my Soul speak aloud his Praise? Hath he been merciful to my unrighteousness, and blotted out my sins? Hath he gathered me with his Arm, and carried me in his Bosom? Hath he

been my Saviour and Redeemer, adopted me into his Family, and promis'd to make me Blessed in his Glory, with the holy Angels? the Curse being removed, and the Hand-writing against me cancell'd, the Price paid, the Breach made up, the Mouth of Justice stopt, and the condemning Sen∣tence of the Law exchang'd for a gracious Pardon, through the Sacrifice of my Blessed Lord Jesus? and shall I not praise his ineom∣prehensible Love and Grace?

I likewise thank Thee, most holy Father, for saving me from Guilt and Ruine, when assaulted by powerful and dangerous Tem∣ptations; that by preventing Mercy, or re∣straining Grace, thou hast kept me from ma∣ny scandalous and presumptuous Crimes. I thank Thee, for making the Sins of Others a Warning and a Caution to Me, an Argument to Humility, and a Motive to Watchfulness; for preserving my Judg∣ment from many Errors and Delusions, by which others are seduced; for enabling me to improve any Opportunities of doing Good, and making me in any thing useful to Others: yea, I thank thee for all thy Mercies to other Christians; for all the Gifts and Graces and usefulness of any of thy Servants, wherein, as a Member of the same Body, I desire to rejoyce; for any

Support and Comfort to me, or any of them, under honourable Sufferings for thy Names sake.

I desire unfeignedly to bless Thee, for any Succour, Relief and Victory, with re∣spect to the Snares and Buffetings of Satan, and the vilest of his Temptations. When he hath tempted me to Apostacy, and Infide∣lity in Speculation and Practice; to questi∣on the Truth of the Holy Scriptures, and the Life to come; to doubt of the founda∣tions of the Christian Faith, or to despair of the Mercy of God, and give up the Reins to sensual Lusts; or to draw me from God, by the love of the World, and the praise of Men, by Evil Company, Intempe∣rance, secret Wickedness, &c.

I Bless Thee with my whole Soul, for calling me back from any of my Wander∣ings, and by infinite Goodness recovering me after great Falls, enabling me to return when I had gone astray, and seek thy for∣feited favour, that thou maist heal my Back∣slidings; giving me, in order to it, a deep sense of my own Sin, and of thy Sove∣reign Grace; leading me to a Saviour, whose Blood cleanseth from all sin, when my guilty defiled Soul so much needed its pardoning and cleansing Virtue; awaken∣ing me to make holy Vows, and calling up∣on

me by thy Word, and Spirit, and Pro∣vidence, to perform them.

I Bless Thee, who hast guided my feet into the way of peace, when by the terrors of an accusing Conscience, and the sense of unpardon'd Sin, and the apprehensions of thy deserved Wrath, I was ready to despair: that though thou didst most justly hide thy Face at any time, it was but for a little while; but didst seasonably, and in Mercy return, to wipe off my Tears, restore the Joy of thy Salvation, and chace away the clouds and darkness on my Spirit, by the reviving presence of thy own. Thou who art the Author, wilt be the Finisher of my Faith; and therefore, though thou hast visited mine Iniquities with a Fatherly Rod, yet thy loving-kindness thou hast not taken from me, or suffer'd thy faithfulness to fail, or thy Cove∣nant of Peace to be removed; but hast refresh∣ed me with hidden Manna, after great Per∣plexities, saying unto my Soul, I am God, even thy God; making me to hear thy Voice, which was sweet, and to taste thy Love, which is better than Wine; enabling me to say with thine Apostle Thomas, My Lord, and my God; and to have any Commu∣nion with thee since, in publick or private Duties.

For all these innumerable Mercies I desire to praise Thee, which yet are but in order to greater, to Everlasting Kindness in Heaven. These are but the taste and Earnest of what thou wilt bestow hereafter. O how great is his Goodness, that he hath laid up for those that fear him? And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is even in Thee. I thank thee, who hast thus put it into my Heart, to ren∣der thee solemn Praise, and once more to renew my Covenant with Thee.

I will magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit shall rejoyce in God my Saviour. Return unto thy rest, O my Soul, for the Lord hath dealt boun∣tifully with me. While(a) I live I will praise thee, and sing Praises unto my God, while I have a Being. O come, and behold the Works of the Lord, what be hath done for my Soul! The Lord liveth.(b) Blessed be my Rock, and let the God of my Salvation be exalted. Let my Heart be glad, and my Glory rejoyce, for the Lord is not asham'd to be called my God. Thanks be to God, who hath caused me to triumph in Christ Jesus. Sing unto the Lord, O ye his Saints, and give thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness!(c) I cried unto Thee, and thou hast healed, and sav'd me: I will give thanks to Thee for ever.(d) I will shew forth thy lo∣ving-kindness

in the morning, and thy faithful∣ness every night. For the Lord is Good, his Mercy is Everlasting, and his Truth endures throughout all Generations. O enter into his Gates with Thanksgiving, and his Courts with Praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his Name. Bless the Lord, all ye his Works, in all places of his Dominions: Bless the Lord, O my Soul.

Let me add for a Conclusion, That the particular Deliverances, Supports, and Con∣solations, which at any time God hath given in Cases of great Exigence, or in answer to importunate Prayer, ought ne∣ver to be forgotten. Many experienc'd Christians have been wont to write down such remarkable Appearances of God for them, with the particular Circumstances that did recommend and enhance the Mer∣cy, (whether Spiritual or Temporal) as an Encouragement to trust in God in fu∣ture Difficulties; and have afterwards found the Comfort and Advantage of being able to have recourse to such Papers. This Practice I recommend as what hath been useful and consolatory to divers Christians, for many years afterwards; and to some others, of their more intimate Friends, to whom they might without vanity be im∣parted. What Experiences might be record∣ed

of signal Returns to Prayer, and sea∣sonable Manifestations of the Truth, and Goodness, and Wisdom of God, if all the Instances thereof were duly recollected and preserv'd! And how sweet and pleasant would the Work of Prayer and Praise then be! With what rejoycing and delight should we set about it, and live in it, if the constraining Goodness and Love of God, and a thankful sense of his unspeak∣able Mercies, did bring us to him, and in∣dite and animate every word! What Sup∣port, and Comfort, and probable Hopes (at least) of the special Love of God, might we derive from the various passages of his Compassion and Kindness! And hereby we may be able more heartily to give him thanks for Pardon, Sanctification, and A∣doption, which we commonly mention with too much doubt and fear.

It may likewise be advisable to examine and record the Workings of your own Spi∣rit, under such Dispensations: what thoughts you then had of God? what Acts of Faith, Love, Thankfulness, you did then mani∣fest? what Evidences of God's Favour, and what discovery of your own Sincerity, you have had at such times? when, and how and by what means you were cur'd of your uncomfortable Unbelief, and rais'd

from your Despondency? what Promises you had recourse to for relief? what Con∣siderations were most helpful to you? what frame of Spirit you kept up in Prayer, be∣fore and after? what Resolutions and En∣gagements you made to God, to love, and and trust, and praise, and serve him, and give up all to his dispose for the fu∣ture? and what consequent Obligation may be inferr'd from thence, to acquiesce in the Will of God, and resign our selves entirely to Him, saying, This God is our God for ever and ever, and He will be our Guide unto Death.

Notes

• Psalm 69. v. 30.
• (a)

  Deut. 33. v. 13, 14.
• (a)

  Psalm 89. v. 1.
• Psal. 103. v. 3.
• Isa. 43. v. 14.
• (a)

  Psal. 104.33.
• (b)

  Psal. 18.46.
• (c)

  Psal. 30.
• (d)

  Psal. 119.62.