A Divine Cordial

8. See what cause the Saints have to be frequent in the work of thanksgiving!¹ Christians are herein defective; though they are much in supplication, yet little in gratulation. The Apostle saith, [Greek or Hebrew], In every thing giving thanks, 1 Thess. 5.18. Why so? because God makes every thing work for our good. We will thank the Physician though he gives us a biter Pill which makes us sick, because it is to make us well; we will thank any man that doth us a good turn; and shall not we be thankful to God who makes every think work for good to us? God loves a thankful Christian. Job thanked God when he took all away, Job 1.21. The Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord: Many will thank God when he gives, Job thanks him when he takes away, because he knew God would work good out of it. We read of Saints with Harps in their hands, Rev. 14.2. an Emblem of praise. We shall meet many Christians who have tears in their eyes, and complaints in their mouths, but few with Harps in their hands, who in affliction praise God; to be thankful in affliction, is a work peculiar to a Saint. Every Bird can sing in Spring, but some Birds will sing in the dead of Winter. Every one almost can be thankful in prosperity, but a true Saint ⟨p. 80⟩can be thankful in adversity. A good Christian will bless God, not only at the Sun-rising, but at the Sun-setting. Well may we in the worst that befalls us, have a Psalm of thankfulness, because all things work for good^*. Oh be much in blessing of God: we will thank him that doth befriend us. —

8. See what cause the Saints have to be frequent in the work of thanksgiving!¹ Christians are herein defective; though they are much in supplication, yet little in gratulation. The Apostle saith, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, In every thing giving thanks,