Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. As he is a Proprietor we owe him thank fullness. He is at his own choice, whither he will bestow upon us any blessings or no, the more value therefore his benefits deserve from us, and the Donor the more sincere returns. If we have any thing from the Creature to serve our turn, 'tis by the order of the chief proprietor. He is the spring of honour, and the fountain of supplies; all Creatures are but as the conduit pipes in a great City, which serve several houses with water, but from the great spring. All things are conveyed originally from his own hand, and are dispensed from his Exchequer. If this great sovereign did not order them, you would have no more supplies from a Creature, than you could have nourishment from a chip. 'Tis the Divine will in every thing that doth us good, every favour from Creatures is but a smile from God, an evidence of his Royalty to move us to pay a respect to him as the great Lord. Some Heathens had so much respect for God, as to conclude that his Will and not their own prudence, was the chief conductor of their affairs. His Goodness to us calls for our thankfulness but his sovereignty calls for a higher elevation of it; a smile from a Prince is more valued, and thought worthy of more gratitude, than a present from a Peasant. A small gift from a great person is more gratefully to be received, than a larger from an inferior person. The condescension of Royalty magnifies the gift. What is man, that thou so great a Majesty, art mindful of him, to bestow this or that favour upon him, is but a due reflection upon every blessing we receive? Upon every fresh blessing we should acknowledge the donor, and true proprietor, and give him the honour of his Dominion. His property ought to be thankfully owned, in every thing we are capable of consecrating to him. As David after the liberal collection he had made for the building of the Temple, own's in his dedication of it to that use the propriety of God. 1 Chron. 29.14. Who am I? and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. It was but a return of Gods own to him, as the waters of the River are no other than the return to the Sea, of what was taken from it.

2. As he is a Proprietor we owe him thank fulness. He is at his own choice, whither he will bestow upon us any blessings or no, the more value therefore his benefits deserve from us, and the Donor the more sincere returns. If we have any thing from the Creature to serve our turn, 'tis by the order of the chief proprietor. He is the spring of honour, and the fountain of supplies; all Creatures are but as the conduit pipes in a great City, which serve several houses with water, but from the great spring. All things are conveyed originally from his own hand, and are dispensed from his Exchequer. If this great soveraign did not order them, you would have no more supplies from a Creature, than you could have nourishment from a chip. 'Tis the Divine will in every thing that doth us good, every favour from Creatures is but a smile from God, an evidence of his Royalty to move us to pay a respect to him as the great Lord. Some Heathens had so much respect for God, as to conclude that his Will and not their own prudence, was the chief conductor of their affairs. His Goodness to us calls for our thankfulness but his soveraignty calls for a higher elevation of it; a smile from a Prince is more valued, and thought worthy of more gratitude, than a present from a Peasant. A small gift from a great person is more greatefully to be received, than a larger from an inferior person. The condescension of Royalty magnifies the gift. What is man, that thou so great a Majesty, art mindful of him, to bestow this or that favour upon him, is but a due reflection upon every blessing we receive? Upon every fresh blessing we should acknowledge the donor, and true proprietor, and give him the honour of his Dominion. His property ought to be thankfully own'd, in every thing we are capable of consecrating to him. As David after the liberal collection he had made for the building of the Temple, own's in his dedication of it to that use the propriety of God.