2. As they are Blessings, so they are Blessings which do not come by Chance, or by Man's Providence. 1 Tim. 6. 17. The living God, who giveth us richly all Things to enjoy. The People of God are plentifully provided for. Your Tables are well furnished, Backs well clothed, it is God which gives you richly to enjoy them, and he must be acknowledged; as David doth, 1 Chron. 29. 14. For all Things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. Then, ver. 16. O Lord, our God, all this Store that we have prepared, to build thee an House for thine holy Name, cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. Tho you your selves have been Purchasers of your own Estate, and Carvers of your own Fortune, (as Man is most apt to forget God there) yea, but tho you have prepared and brought together a great deal of ⟨p. 327⟩Store, yet, Lord, all comes from thee. It sweeteneth the Mercy. When you are at the Table, to be carved to by a great Person, their Remembrance is counted a greater Favour than the Meal it self: So it is not barely the Comfort we have by the Creature, which sweeteneth it; but when we think of the Donor, that the great God should think of us, that it is God which spreads our Table for us, that doth put this Meat and Drink before us. It was he that gave Seed to the Sower, and Bread for Food. 2 Cor. 9. 10. When we take it immediately out of God's Hands, it is much sweeter. And not only so, but also it is the more sanctified. When we look to second Causes, we shall surely abuse the Mercy: Hos. 2. 8. For she did not know that I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oil, and multiplied her Silver and Gold; what then? Therefore she prepared it for Baal. When God's Kindness is not taken notice of, when we do not see God in our Mercies, we shall not use them for God. That Man will surely improve his Comforts ill, that doth not see God in them. Now that which comes from God, leads the Heart to God again; then the Creature is sanctified. Therefore acknowledge God in these outward Things. We should say of every Morsel of Bread, this is God's Gift to me; of every Nights Sleep, this is the Lord's Goodness. When God is acknowledged in these outward Things, he takes it the more kindly, and we are the better for it; the Mercy is the sweeter, and the more sanctified.
2. As they are Blessings, so they are Blessings which do not come by Chance, or by Man's Providence. 1 Tim. 6. 17. The living God, who giveth us richly all Things to enjoy. The People of God are plentifully provided for. Your Tables are well furnished, Backs well cloathed, it is God which gives you richly to enjoy them, and he must be acknowledged; as David doth, 1 Chron. 29. 14. For all Things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. Then, ver. 16. O Lord, our God, all this Store that we have prepared, to build thee an House for thine holy Name, cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. Tho you your selves have been Purchasers of your own Estate, and Carvers of your own Fortune, (as Man is most apt to forget God there) yea, but tho you have prepared and brought together a great deal of ⟨p. 327⟩Store, yet, Lord, all comes from thee. It sweetneth the Mercy. When you are at the Table, to be carved to by a great Person, their Remembrance is counted a greater Favour than the Meal it self: So it is not barely the Comfort we have by the Creature, which sweetneth it; but when we think of the Donor, that the great God should think of us, that it is God which spreads our Table for us, that doth put this Meat and Drink before us. It was he that gave Seed to the Sower, and Bread for Food. 2 Cor. 9. 10. When we take it immediately out of God's Hands, it is much sweeter. And not only so, but also it is the more sanctified. When we look to second Causes, we shall surely abuse the Mercy: Hos. 2. 8. For she did not know that I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oil, and multiplied her Silver and Gold; what then? Therefore she prepared it for Baal. When God's Kindness is not taken notice of, when we do not see God in our Mercies, we shall not use them for God. That Man will surely improve his Comforts ill, that doth not see God in them. Now that which comes from God, leads the Heart to God again; then the Creature is sanctified. Therefore acknowledg God in these outward Things. We should say of every Morsel of Bread, this is God's Gift to me; of every Nights Sleep, this is the Lord's Goodness. When God is acknowledged in these outward Things, he takes it the more kindly, and we are the better for it; the Mercy is the sweeter, and the more sanctified.
