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tian should be oftener in thanks than in prayers, Psa. lix. 10, because God prevents our prayers with his good gifts a thousand ways.

Take heed therefore that you be not unthankful. It is a most base, hateful, and damnable sin. For he that is unthankful to God, is (1.) A most dishonest and disloyal man: he is injurious to God, in detaining from him his due, in not paying him his tribute. (2.) He is foolish and improvident for himself; for by not paying his tribute of thankfulness, and doing this homage, he forfeits all that he has into the Lord's hands, Deut. xxviii. 47, 48. Hosea ii. 8, 9; which forfeiture many times he takes: But if he does not presently take the forfeiture, it will prove worse to the unthankful in the end. For prosperity, without a thankful heart, always increases sin, Hosea iv. 7. Rom. i. 21, and prepares a man for greater destruction. The more such an one thrives, the more does pride, hard-heartedness, and many other evil lusts grow in him. This unthankfulness is the highway to be given over to a reprobate sense, Rom. i. 21 - 29. Such prosperity always proves a snare, and ends in utter ruin, Psa. lxix. 22. For the prosperity of fools shall destroy them, Prov. i. 32. And when the wicked prosper, it is but like sheep put into fat pastures, that they may be prepared for the slaughter, Jer. xii. 1 - 3. An unthankful man is, of all men, most unfit to go to heaven. Heaven can be no heaven to him: for there is praising of God continually. Now to whom thanksgiving and singing of the praises of God is tedious, to him heaven cannot be joyous.

(4.) It does concern you, therefore, that you be much and often in thanksgiving and praise unto God. To this end, attend to these directions; 1. Stir up your heart to holy resolution and longing desire so to do. 2. Beware of, and remove impediments to thankfulness. 3. Improve all the means of gaining such a frame of mind.

First, Consider that gratitude and thankfulness is the best service, being the end of all other worship; and is God's due; and is the end why God gives