A50162:335
Small offers towards the service of the tabernacle in the wilderness four discourses accommodated…
Small offers towards the service of the tabernacle in the wilderness four discourses accommodated unto the designs of practical godliness : preached partly at Boston, partly at Charleston / by Cotton Mather ; published by a gentleman lately restored from threatening sickness as a humble essay to serve the interest of religion, in gratitude unto God for his recovery.
Boston: printed by R. Pierce, 1689
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Praise of God is to be accounted the chief end of our Life on Earth. If our Souls do live in our Bodies, if we enjoy that Life which is an Union ⟨p. 108⟩between Soul and Body, this is to be the End of it; That we may praise the God of our lives. It was the pious Expectation of the Psalmist, in Psal. 118. 17. I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord. This is to be the Resolution of every man. Can we say, I do not die but live? We should add, I will then declare the Praises of the Lord. The first Question that the Thoughts of men should be employed upon is, What is the Chief End of Man? The true and Just answer To that Question is, The Chief End of man is to glorify God. Well, put the Question so, What is the Chief End of Life? The Answer to that Question too will be the same; It is to glorify God.
The Praise of God is to be accounted the cheef end of our Life on Earth. If our Souls do live in our Bodies, if we enjoy that Life which is an Union ⟨p. 108⟩between Soul and Body, this is to be the End of it; That we may praise the God of our lives. It was the pious Expectation of the Psalmist, in Psal. 118. 17. I shal not dy but live, and declare the works of the Lord. This is to be the Resolution of every man. Can we say, I do not dy but live? We should add, I will then declare the Praises of the Lord. The first Question that the Thoughts of men should be employed upon is, What is the Cheef End of Man? The true and Just answer To that Question is, The Cheef End of man is to glorifie God. Well, put the Question so, What is the Cheef End of Life? The Answer to that Question too will be the same; It is to glorifie God.
To praise God, What is that? To praise God, is to Render and Procure, a due Acknowledgement of His Excellencies. Indeed all the Duties of Religion are Contained in this Comprehensive thing. When we own, when we serve, when we Adore the Great God in any or all the ways of His Worship, Then we praise Him; and we further praise Him, when we provoke others to join with us in doing so. This, This Praise of the LORD is the End of our Life in the World.