The saints everlasting rest

6. vigour of our affections and actions should be answerable to the great cost bestowed upon us, and to the deep engaging mercies which we have received from GOD. Surely we owe more service to our master, from whom we have our maintenance, than we do to a stranger, to whom we were never beholden.

O the cost that GOD hath been at for our sakes? The riches of sea and land, of heaven and earth, hath he poured out unto us. All our lives have been filled up with mercies: we cannot look back upon one hour of it, or one passage in it, but we may behold mercy. We feed upon mercy, we wear mercy upon our backs, we tread upon mercy; mercy within us, mercy without us for this life, and for that to come. O the rate deliverances that we have partaken of, both national and personal! How oft, how seasonably, how fully have our prayers been heard, and our fears removed? What large catalogues of particular mercies can every christian rehearse? To offer to number them would be as endless a task, as to number the stars, or the sands of the shore.

If there be any difference betwixt hell, (where we should have been) and earth, (where we now are) yea, or heaven, (which is offered to us) then certainly we have received mercy: yea, if the blood of the Son of GOD be mercy, then are we engaged to GOD by mercy; for so much did it cost him to recover us to himself. And should a people of such deep engagements be lazy in their returns? Shall GOD think nothing too much nor too good for us; and shall we think all too much that we do for him? Thou that art an observing sensible man, who knowest how much thou art beholden to GOD, I appeal to thee, is not a loitering performance of a few heartless duties, an unworthy requital of such admirable kindness? For my own part, when I compare my slow and unprofitable life, with the frequent and wonderful mercies received, it shames me, it silenceth me, and leaves me inexcusable.