Now, Courteous Reader, what doth the Lord require for all this Kindness, but a truly thankful Heart and Life? And what less canst thou give to God than this? Thou canst present the Almighty with no such pleasing Offering, as a grateful Heart: For God hath sufficiently expressed his esteem of such Presents, by appointing the ⟨image 5⟩Altar of Incense, which was for Thank-Offerings, to be encompassed with a Crown of purest Gold: for though the most odoriferous Incense is nothing in his account, the thank-full heart that presents it as a Testimonial of unfeigned Gratitude, is highly esteemed by him. Neither is there any thing more consonant to the Dictates of Reason, than that we express all manner of kindness to those that oblige us by their large Munificence: for, Quisquis magna dedit, voluit sibi magna rependi. The Donors of great favours, expect answerable requitals. And however we may forget what we give, we must not forget what we receive: And therefore I may say as Bernard, Cùm amat Deus, nil aliud vult quam amari; when the Lord expresseth love, he designs to be loved. And verily, a grateful reflection of honour to God is [Greek or Hebrew], our highest and ⟨image 6⟩lowest Divinity, the highest pitch of attainments, is but Love; the lowest return can be nothing beneath it, if any thing at all. The only [Greek or Hebrew], or Requitals we can render to God for his richest Favours, are only Testimonials of Thankfulness, by extolling his holy Name with unfeigned Praises, and reflecting Honour on his blessed Majesty by cheerful Obedience to his sacred Commandments. Now therefore as the piercing Rays of the glorious Sun, though passing through the transfluent Air with an imperceptible motion, yet meeting with a Solid Body rebound with an increasing lustre; so should our Hearts and Lives reflect the honour of all our Mercies on our Heavenly Benefactor. And unless the Bounty of Heaven gains so far upon our obstinate Hearts, as to effect this work, we shall gain little by the greatest Mercies: the sense of which caused a holy man to ⟨image 6⟩pray, Domine, da Gratitudinem cum Misericordiâ; nolo Misericordiam sine Gratitudine. Oh Lord, give me a thankful heart with thy Mercies; Lord, I desire not Mercies without a grateful heart to improve them.
Now, Courteous Reader, what doth the Lord require for all this Kindness, but a truely thankful Heart and Life? And what less canst thou give to God than this? Thou canst present the Almighty with no such pleasing Offering, as a grateful Heart: For God hath sufficiently exprest his esteem of such Presents, by appointing the ⟨image 5⟩Altar of Incense, which was for Thank-Offerings, to be encompassed with a Crown of purest Gold: for though the most odoriferous Incense is nothing in his account, the thank-ful heart that presents it as a Testimonial of unfeigned Gratitude, is highly esteemed by him. Neither is there any thing more consonant to the Dictates of Reason, than that we express all manner of kindness to those that oblige us by their large Munificence: for, Quisquis magna dedit, voluit sibi magna rependi. The Donors of great favours, expect answerable requitals. And however we may forget what we give, we must not forget what we receive: And therefore I may say as Bernard, Cùm amat Deus, nil aliud vult quam amari; when the Lord expresseth love, he designes to be loved. And verily, a grateful reflexion of honour to God is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, our highest and ⟨image 6⟩lowest Divinity, the highest pitch of attainments, is but Love; the lowest return can be nothing beneath it, if any thing at all. The only 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, or Requitals we can render to God for his richest Favours, are only Testimonials of Thankfulness, by extolling his holy Name with unfeigned Praises, and reflecting Honour on his blessed Majesty by chearful Obedience to his sacred Commandments. Now therefore as the piercing Rays of the glorious Sun, though passing through the transfluent Air with an imperceptible motion, yet meeting with a Solid Body rebound with an increasing lustre; so should our Hearts and Lives reflect the honour of all our Mercies on our Heavenly Benefactor. And unless the Bounty of Heaven gains so far upon our obstinate Hearts, as to effect this work, we shall gain little by the greatest Mercies: the sense of which caused a holy man to ⟨image 6⟩pray, Domine, da Gratitudinem cum Misericordiâ; nolo Misericordiam sine Gratitudine. Oh Lord, give me a thankful heart with thy Mercies; Lord, I desire not Mercies without a grateful heart to improve them.
