has a direct tendency to promote our increase in all the graces and virtues of the christian life. For while we pray unto God-"lead us not into "temptation," we will certainly endeavour to avoid temptation, or else we act a very inconsistent part; while we pray for strength to overcome such and such a corruption, we will naturally set ourselves to mortify and subdue it; while we pray for the conferring of such and such a grace, we will certainly make it our business to acquire it; while we pray for our brethren of mankind, we will thereby learn that universal charity and benevolence which are so ornamental to a christian. In the same manner we may vindicate the duty of praising God; not because our doing so makes any addition to his glory; by no means; but because he requires it from us, and because it is a real benefit to ourselves. One who is strongly under the influence of any passion, we see by daily experience, is much eased and relieved by giving vent to it, to instance, in the passion of grief: a heart oppressed with a load of this kind, finds immediate relief by venting itself in words or tears; in like manner, a soul overcharged with a sense of what God has done for it, naturally has recourse to humble praise and adoration to disburthen itself. Surely, then, we have the highest reason to call, with the psalmist, upon our

soul, and all that is within us, to bless the Lord; nay, we have infinitely greater reason, by how much our mercies and privileges exceed his. The psalmist, in the most beautiful language, in another psalm recommends this duty from the agreeableness of it; and at the same time, points out the seasons that are peculiarly proper for it: "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the "Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O "Most High: to shew forth thy loving kindness

in the morning, and thy faithfulness every "night." What so natural when we awake from sleep in the morning, and recover the use of our reason, which had lain for a while suspended, when we behold the returning light of another day, and the face of nature renewed by the cheering rays of the sun, what so natural, what so de lightful, as then to offer up the pure incense of a thankful heart, to him who "causeth the outgoings "of the evening and the morning to rejoice," and who will, at last, raise these our bodies from the sleep of death in the morning of the resurrection to immortal glory and honour, that so we may be ever with "God and with the Lamb, who "loved us, and washed us from our sins in his "own blood?" Again, when we are going to lay ourselves down to rest at night, when we recollect the various mercies of the past day, the pro

tection we have received, the rich provision that is made for our bodies, the continued bounties of that kind and gracious Providence, which from day to day furnisheth us with "food to eat, and "raiment to put on;" but especially when we recollect the far greater things God has done for our souls, the superlatively rich provision that is made for them, and that greatest and best gift which he has bestowed upon the human race, his own eternal son Jesus Christ; when we reflect on all this, must not the emphatical words of David force themselves upon us? Shall we not be constrained to cry out, "Bless the Lord, O our "souls, and all that is within us, bless his holy "name: bless the Lord, O our souls, and forget "not all his benefits."-" Who forgiveth all our

iniquities, who healeth all our diseases?" He begins with blessing God for personal favours, and as the first and greatest of these, for pardoning mercy. The pardon of sin is an introductory blessing to all others, for till the sinner is at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, he never can reap any benefit or comfort from the promises of the gospel. The scripture represents the soul of man as polluted and diseased by sin, in the same manner that the body is by any loathsome noxious distemper. As a person therefore labouring under bodily sickness

VOL. II.

soul, and all that is within us, to bless the Lord; nay, we have infinitely greater reason, by how much our mercies and privileges exceed his. The psalmist, in the most beautiful language, in another psalm recommends this duty from the agreeableness of it; and at the same time, points out the seasons that are peculiarly proper for it: "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O "Most High: to shew forth thy loving kindness "in the morning, and thy faithfulness every

night." What so natural when we awake from sleep in the morning, and recover the use of our reason, which had lain for a while suspended, when we behold the returning light of another day, and the face of nature renewed by the cheering rays of the sun, what so natural, what so de lightful, as then to offer up the pure incense of a thankful heart, to him who "causeth the outgoings "of the evening and the morning to rejoice," and who will, at last, raise these our bodies from the sleep of death in the morning of the resurrection to immortal glory and honour, that so we may be ever with "God and with the Lamb, who "loved us, and washed us from our sins in hi "own blood?" Again, when we are going to lay ourselves down to rest at night, when we recol lect the various mercies of the past day, the pro