The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

1. This is the only way to give God his due acknowledgement for his kindness in affording us these Teachings. All other talks of our being obliged, signify nothing: we are never rightly thankful for a benefit, but when we use it carefully for the end of its being bestowed on us. Our teachableness under the means, is the evidence that we prize them: this is life thankfulness, and that only pleaseth God.

1. This is the only way to give God his due acknowledgment for his kindness in affording us these Teachings. All other talks of our being obliged, signify nothing: we are never righly thankful for a benefit, but when we use it carefully for the end of its being bestowed on us. Our teachableness under the means, is the evidence that we prize them: this is life thankfulness, and that only pleaseth God.

2. Thus alone will these means be profitable for us: A thing is no further beneficial than as the end of it is advanced; now it is eternal life we are all concerned for, and there is but one way to it, and these means are for our help in this way; and only when they so help us, do they profit us.

3. If therefore we neglect this, we shall one day repent that ever we were under them. How proud soever men may be of the mountain of the Lord, yet when reckoning day comes, and they shall then be charged, that they sat all their lives under Gospel teaching, but took never a step in this way, it will be a sad item, and none more terrible.