A55752:1255
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
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.
For so the words are brought in, Hezekiah prayed and the Lord answered him, and gave him the thing he desired: but Hezekiah rendered not to the Lord according to the Mercies bestowed upon him, implying that the Lord looked for something at his hands, he expected that he should be thankful: Hezekiah was ready to glorify himself, when the Ambassadors came from the King of Babylon, and he did not render according to the mercies received. This the Lord observed, and it is set down, noting that when the Lord bestows a mercy, he looks that we should be thankful, and that our thankfulness should be according to the mercies. This is a point that needeth no proof, that the Lord looketh for thankfulness. Only I will show you why this is a thing that the Lord makes so great account of.
For so the words are brought in, Hezekiah prayed and the Lord answered him, and gave him the thing he desired: but Hezekiah rendered not to the Lord according to the Mercies bestowed upon him, implying that the Lord looked for something at his hands, he expected that he should be thankful: Hezekiah was ready to glorifie himself, when the Amhassadors came from the King of Babylon, and he did not render according to the mercies received. This the Lord observed, and it is set down, noting that when the Lord bestowes a mercy, he looks that we should be thankful, and that our thankfulness should be according to the mercies. This is a point that needeth no proof, that the Lord looketh for thankfulness. Onely I will shew you why this is a thing that the Lord makes so great account of.
You must consider, that this duty of thankfulness of 1all other that we can offer to the Lord, it is the most free, it is the greatest testimony of sincerity and ingenuity in us, for when we pray to the Lord it may proceed out of self love: but when we are thankful, that comes out of love to the Lord: prayer may tend to our own profit, but thankfulness tends to Gods Glory: therefore we should be the more abundant in this duty: because the nature of this duty is such as is more commendable, it is more free, it is a testimony of more sincerity and ingenuity in us. Besides it is a duty that stirs us up more to think well of the Lord and to speak well of him; for when we come to give thanks for mercies, it pitcheth our thoughts upon his goodness,