The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

Meditate upon the fullness and greatness of thy mercies: What distinguishing mercies are thy Body-mercies? they are more then God oweth thee, and more then he bestoweth upon others. Alas, many want health, liberty, food, raiment, sleep, limbs, senses, reason, and possibly thou enjoyest them all. But Oh! of what concernment are thy Soul-mercies, the image of God, the blood of Christ, eternal Life, the Gospel of thy Salvation, Sabbaths, Sacraments, and seasons of grace: God hath not dealt so with every people, as with this Nation; nor with every person, as with thee: Thou art, as the Psalmist phraseth it, laden with benefits, hast such a weight, such a burden of benefits upon thy back, that thou canst hardly stir or stand under them. Hast thou not blessings of the womb, blessings of the field, blessings of the Throne, blessings ⟨p. 155⟩of the foot-stool, blessings in thy going out, blessings in thy coming in, which way canst thou look and not see blessings? where canst thou tread and not stand on blessings? thy whole life is in this respect a bundle of blessings; these thoughts before prayer may stir thee up to bless the giver. If thou shouldst bless men when they curse thee, much more shouldst thou bless God, when he blesseth thee.

Meditate upon the fulness and greatness of thy mercies: What distinguishing mercies are thy Body-mercies? they are more then God oweth thee, and more then he bestoweth upon others. Alas, many want health, liberty, food, rayment, sleep, limbs, senses, reason, and possibly thou enjoyest them all. But Oh! of what concernment are thy Soul-mercies, the image of God, the blood of Christ, eternal Life, the Gospel of thy Salvation, Sabbaths, Sacraments, and seasons of grace: God hath not dealt so with every people, as with this Nation; nor with every person, as with thee: Thou art, as the Psalmist phraseth it, laden with benefits, hast such a weight, such a burthen of benefits upon thy back, that thou canst hardly stir or stand under them. Hast thou not blessings of the womb, blessings of the field, blessings of the Throne, blessings ⟨p. 155⟩of the foot-stool, blessings in thy going out, blessings in thy coming in, which way canst thou look and not see blessings? where canst thou tread and not stand on blessings? thy whole life is in this respect a bundle of blessings; these thoughts before prayer may stir thee up to bless the giver. If thou shouldst bless men when they curse thee, much more shouldst thou bless God, when he blesseth thee.