An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

2 COR. 1. 3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c.

From the method that Paul useth here, and in the beginning of most of his other Epistles, we have observed the Duty that lieth upon all the people of God, to ben careful and conscientious in this duty of blessing and praising of God, which is as the legal ointment for the High-priest, compounded of choice and sweet ingredients. It's an Angelical work to bless God. There remain further particulars that are constituent of this comfortable and profitable duty. As

FRom the method that Paul useth here, and in the beginning of most of his other Epistles, we have observed the Duty that lieth upon all the people of God, to bē carefull and conscientious in this duty of blessing and praising of God, which is as the legal ointment for the High-priest, compounded of choice and sweet ingredients. It's an Angelical work to blesse God. There remain further particulars that are constituent of this comfortable and profitable duty. As

First, The heart that is duly fitted to praise God, though it be thankful for every mercy, even the least mercy, yet it keeps an order in its thanksgiving according to the dignity of its objects; so that it praiseth God chiefly and principally for spiritual mercies; and then secondarily, for temporal mercies. And this argueth the difficulty of this duty, and that also only the regenerate and spiritual man can in a Scripture-way bless God, for he only doth prefer heavenly things above earthly. When the Psalmist had spoken of outward mercies to a people, Psal. 144. 12, 13, 15. great mercies in sons and daughters, rich abundance and plenty, he corrects all at last, Happy is that people that is in such a case, yea happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. So that you see all the outward desirable mercies that are, are but in a subordination to Gods favour. When thou art breaking forth after this manner, I bless God for my children, for my health, for my outward contents. Oh but above all, Lord, that I have any spiritual mercy, that thou hast loved my soul, converted me to thy self, saved me from the evil ways of the world, in this my soul is overwhelmed! So then, as we see it is in matter of Petition, Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus it is also in Thanksgiving, whatsoever heavenly mercy God hath bestowed on thee, bless God for that in the first place. Thus the Apostle doth praise God in a most divine manner,