Having lately spoken of these words; In all things give thanks, and quench not the Spirit: Touching the first, I showed you, that it is an easier thing to obtain of God, than to be thankful to him; for moe have gone away speeders,1 than have gone away thankers. Then how the wicked are beholding to God aswell as the just, and therefore it is said, that the sun doth shine upon the just and unjust. Then how Jacob came not so bare to Laban,2 (when he brought nothing with him but his staff in his hand) as man cometh into this world, ⟨p. 4⟩without strength or staff to sustain him, which made the Apostle to ask:3 What have you which you have not received? Therefore, to teach man to be thankful unto his Maker, he was not made in Paradise, the place of joy and happiness; but being made out of Paradise, he was brought into Paradise, 4to show how all his joy and happiness came from God, and not from Nature, that he might know where to bestow his thanks. Therefore David to persuade all men unto thankfulness, saith: It is a good thing and pleasant to be thankful. 5If he had said, no more but good, all which love goodness were bound to be thankful, but when he saith not only good, but pleasant too, all which love pleasure are bound to be thankful: and therefore, as Peters Mother in law,6 so soon as Christ had healed her of a fever, rose up immediately to minister unto him: So we so soon as Christ hath done any thing for us, should rise up immediately ⟨p. 5⟩to serve him.7 As Annah when she had received a son from God, did consecrate him to God again: so what soever we receive of God, we must give it to God again; that is, use it to his glory, and make it one of our means to serve him, for all things which we receive in this life, are given unto us, least we should want any means to serve God.
HAuing lately spoken of these wordes; In all thinges giue thankes, and quench not the Spirite: Touching the first, I shewed you, that it is an easier thing to obtaine of God, than to bee thankfull to him; for moe haue gone away speeders,1 than haue gone away thankers. Then howe the wicked are beholding to God aswell as the iust, and therefore it is saide, that the sunne dooth shine vppon the iust and vniust. Then howe Iaacob came not so bare to Laban,2 (when he brought nothing with him but his staffe in his hande) as man commeth into this worlde, ⟨p. 4⟩without strenght or staffe to sustain him, which made the Apostle to aske:3 What haue you which you haue not receiued? Therefore, to teach man to bee thankefull vnto his Maker, he was not made in Paradise, the place of ioye and happinesse; but being made out of Paradise, hee was brought into Paradise, 4to shew how all his ioy and happinesse came from God, and not from Nature, that hee might knowe where to bestowe hys thankes. Therfore Dauid to perswad all men vnto thankfulnesse, saith: It is a good thing and pleasant to be thankfull. 5If hee had saide, no more but good, all which loue goodnesse were bounde to be thankfull, but when he saith not onely good, but pleasant too, all which loue pleasure are bounde to bee thankefull: and therefore, as Peters Mother in lawe,6 so soone as Christ had healed her of a feuer, rose vp immediatly to minister vnto him: So we so soone as Christ hath doone any thing for vs, shoulde rise vp immediatly ⟨p. 5⟩to serue him.7 As Annah when she had receiued a sonne from God, did consecrate him to God againe: so what soeuer we receiue of God, we must giue it to God againe; that is, vse it to his glory, and make it one of our meanes to serue him, for all things which wee receiue in this life, are giuen vnto vs, least we should want any meanes to serue God.
- 1Luke 17, 17.
- 2Gen 19, 30.
- 31 Cor 4, 7.
- 4Gen 2, 8.
- 5Psal 147, 1.
- 6Math 8,
- 71 Sam 1.
