The Soul's Conflict with Itself

We should therefore have wisdom and judgement, not only to know upon what grounds to be thankful, but in ⟨p. 446⟩what order, by discerning what be the best and first favours whence the rest proceed, and which add a worthiness to all the rest; it is good to see blessings, as they issue from grace and mercy. It much commends any blessing, to see ¹the love and favour of God in it, which is more to be valued then the blessing it self; as it much commends any thing that comes from us, when we put a respect of thankfulness, and love to God upon it; and if we observe we shall find the unkindness of others to us, is but a correction of our unkindness to God.

We should therefore have wisdome and judgement, not onely to know upon what grounds to be thankfull, but in ⟨p. 446⟩what order, by discerning what be the best and first favours whence the rest proceed, and which adde a worthiness to all the rest; it is good to see blessings, as they issue from grace and mercy. It much commends any blessing, to see ¹the love and favour of God in it, which is more to be valued then the blessing it selfe; as it much commends any thing that comes from us, when we put a respect of thankfulnesse, and love to God upon it; and if we observe we shall find the unkindnesse of others to us, is but a correction of our unkindnesse to God.

1. 1Gods love in every mercy chiefly to be looked at.

In praising God, it is not good to delay, but take advantage of the freshness ¹of the blessing; what we add to delay, we take from thankfulness, and withal, lose the prime and first fruits of our affections; It is a wise redeeming of time, to observe the best seasons of thankfulness; a cheerful heart will best close with a cheerful duty; and therefore it is not good to waste so fit a temper in frivolous things, but after some contentment given to nature, let God have the fruit of his own planting;