SERM.
XIII.

II. Let us now confider in what manner the past Providences of GoD are to be recollected and confidered by us.

And,

1. We should review them very intently and seriously; call to mind as many particu lars as we can, reflect upon them, dwell upon the Reflection, till the Heart be deeply impreffed with it.

"Such a Providence, fays the pious Soul, "I defire never to forget. O, how did that "threatening Affliction mollify and melt "me! How ferious were my Thoughts! "How fincere my Prayers! How penitent

my Heart! How fervent my Devotions! "What low thoughts had I then of this "World, and what awful views of Eternity! "How anxiously did I then caft about in my mind, for fome fure Evidence of

my Sincerity, and my intereft in the di"vine Favour, without which nothing then. "could give me peace! What Vows did

сс

my Soul then make, that if it should "please GOD to fpare me once more, my "Life should be wholly devoted to him! "He hath taken me at my Word, and "once more given me a Reprieve. Forbid

"it, O my GoD, that I should ever forget SERM. "what thou haft done for me, or I have XIII. "promised to thee."" At fuch a time,

may another fay, I loft the greatest Com"fort of my Life; a dear and valuable "Friend, whom I loved as my own Soul! "how fevere that Stroke was, GoD knows. "I then faid, Lord, how frail is Man! be "thou alone my Truft. And fhall I foon forget what I then fo readily acknowledged " and fo deeply felt! The Remembrance of " it indeed is like tearing open a Wound that "is juft healed, and makes the Heart to "bleed afresh. But if by fuch a Remem"brance the fame ferious Impreffions and

holy Purposes are again formed in my mind, as were at that time, this renewed Advantage will more than compensate the " renewal of that Pain; and make what is

cr

my Duty turn to my Benefit and Com"fort." -And this indeed is the chief Advantage that arises from fuch a Recollection of Providences long fince paft; it serves to revive good Thoughts and Purposes in the mind, and fo promote an habitual seriousness of Temper.

VOL. II.

Y

2. We

SERM. 2. We should review past Providences XIII. with thankfulness. We are commanded to give thanks always and for all things, Ephef. v. 20. What, are we to give thanks for Afflictions, Pains and Croffes? For those grievous and humbling Providences under which we weep and mourn? Yes, there is no Providence though ever fo adverse, in which a Christian may not see much of the divine Goodness, and for which, upon the whole, he will not fee abundant cause to be thankful. He hath reafon to be thankful that his Afflictions are not greater; that when fome of his Comforts are gone, he hath fo many others left; that fome Honey is thrown into his bitter Cup; that there is fuch a mixture of Mercy with Judgment; that his Supports are fo feasonable and effectual; that under these Strokes he can eye the Father's Hand, and look upon them as the Effect of his Love, for he chafteneth eve

ry
Son he loves (c). And if by fuch Af-
flictions fome great and good Ends have
been actually produced; if we are become
more watchful, ferious and devout, more
mortified to the World, more thoughtful

(c) Heb. xii. 6, 7.

of

of Futurity, more humble in our Hearts, SERM. more diligent in our Duty, and more fenfi- XIII. ble of our dependence on Gop; If, I fay,

our Afflictions have wrought out for us these peaceable Fruits of Righteousness, though they were grievous once they are joyous now; are to be numbered amongst our most valuable Mercies, and ever remembered with the

eft thankfulness.

great

But especially are kind favourable Providences to be gratefully recorded. And if we turn our Thoughts back, and remember all the way the Lord our GOD hath led us in this Wilderness, it is not to be fuppofed but that every one of us may call to mind many a merciful Providence which have contributed greatly to the Comfort of our Lives, and laid the Foundation of our prefent Happiness and future Hopes. Some of these are common to us all. Such as the Benefit of a religious Education, the light of the Gofpel, the opportunities of stated Worship, good Inftructions, good Examples, and the like. O, how many great and extenfive Evils have these common mercies prevented! and what woful and lasting Misery have many poor wretches run into for the want of them!

SERM.

And more especially should our Thoughts XIII. dwell upon great and extraordinary Mercies;

and if we reflect at the fame time, that
GOD, the fovereign Difpofer of things, hath
bestowed thofe Bleffings upon us which he
hath denied to others, we must be ftupid
Creatures indeed if we do not find our Hearts
ftrongly difpofed to Thankfulness.
"How kind a Providence was it, may one

fay, that delivered me from fuch and "fuch a Danger; which this time, or that

perfon or place now brings to my mind! "The Distemper prevailed above the force "of Medicine, defied the Phyficians skill, "and my cafe appeared hopeless. I had "the Sentence of Death within myself, and "that Sentence confirmed by the weeping

Eyes, and forrowful Looks of all my "Friends around me, but GoD was pleaf"ed to repeal it! He fent his word and "healed me! O, may I never forget that

Mercy as long as I live!"" I this

Day reflect with thankfulness, may ano"ther fay, upon fuch a merciful and kind "Providence that fmiled upon my worldly "Affairs, crowned my temporal views with "Success, and brought my Concerns to fo

"happy