Besides which testimonies and examples of holy Scriptures, there are many reasons which may move us to the daily and continual practice of this holy duty. As first the excellency of it, seeing it is the continual exercise of the holy Angels and Saints in heaven, in which a great part of their happiness consisteth, and we see in the Revelation, where great multitudes of the Saints cry aloud, and say, Blessing, and glory, and 1wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power and might, be unto our God for ever and ever, Amen. And this exercise they continue day and 2night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Secondly, it is most comely and decent, in respect of God, who being the chief goodness all glory and praise of due belongeth to him, as being the end of all things, and the Author and fountain of all our 3our good. And therefore David often repeateth it, and maketh it the foot of his song, that we must give thanks to the Lord and praise him, because he 4is good, and his mercy endureth for ever. In respect of us also, who daily receive benefits at his hands: for seeing he reneweth his mercies upon us every 5morning, as the Church confesseth, and followeth us with his favours, throughout the whole day, what better beseemeth us, then to be thankful to such a gracious Benefactor, and to have our hearts filled with thankfulness, and our mouths with his praises? Again, we are spiritual Priests unto God, to offer unto him daily sacrifices: and what better beseemeth ⟨p. 215⟩6our office, then to offer unto him praises and thanksgiving, which 7are the sacrifices wherein his soul doth chiefly delight? For it is a principal part of his service, which most redoundeth to his glory, according to that of the Psalmist, Whosoever offereth praise, glorifieth me; and is daily 8therefore to be performed by us, as our Saviour teacheth us in his perfect form of prayer, the first petition whereof, is, that Gods name may be hallowed and glorified; and the conclusion, an acknowledgement that the Kingdom, power, and glory, do belong unto him alone. Thirdly, it is the main end for which God bestoweth all his blessings upon us, that 9we should yield unto him the praise and glory of his own gifts;
Besides which testimonies and examples of holy Scriptures, there are many reasons which may moue vs to the dayly and continuall practice of this holy duty. As first the excellencie of it, seeing it is the continuall exercise of the holy Angels and Saints in heauen, in which a great part of their happinesse consisteth, and wee see in the Reuelation, where great multitudes of the Saints cry alowd, and say, Blessing, and glory, and 1wisedome, and thankesgiuing, and honour, and power and might, bee vnto our God for euer and euer, Amen. And this exercize they continue day and 2night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Secondly, it is most comely and decent, in respect of God, who being the chiefe goodnesse all glory and praise of due belongeth to him, as being the end of all things, and the Author and fountaine of all our 3our good. And therefore Dauid often repeateth it, and maketh it the foote of his song, that we must giue thankes to the Lord and praise him, because he 4is good, and his mercy endureth for euer. In respect of vs also, who daily receiue benefits at his hands: for seeing he reneweth his mercies vpon vs euery 5morning, as the Church confesseth, and followeth vs with his fauours, throughout the whole day, what better beseemeth vs, then to be thankfull to such a gracious Benefactour, and to haue our hearts filled with thankfulnesse, and our mouthes with his praises? Againe, we are spirituall Priests vnto God, to offer vnto him daily sacrifices: and what better beseemeth ⟨p. 215⟩6our office, then to offer vnto him praises and thanksgiuing, which 7are the sacrifices wherein his soule doth chiefly delight? For it is a principall part of his seruice, which most redoundeth to his glory, according to that of the Psalmist, Whosoeuer offereth praise, glorifieth mee; and is daily 8therefore to be performed by vs, as our Sauiour teacheth vs in his perfect forme of prayer, the first petition whereof, is, that Gods name may bee hallowed and glorified; and the conclusion, an acknowledgement that the Kingdome, power, and glory, doe belong vnto him alone. Thirdly, it is the mayne end for which God bestoweth all his blessings vpon vs, that
- 1Apoc. 5. 13. & 7. 12.
- 2Apoc. 4. 8.
- 3Psal. 92. 2.
- 4Psal. 1•6. 1. & 147. 1.
- 5Psal. 33. 1. Lam. 3. 23.
- 6Apoc. 1. 5.
- 7Psal. 50. 14.
- 8Vers. 23Ʋers. 23
- 9Deut. 8. 18.
