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ing to its due value, yet if, through ignorance, you mistake the giver, you will bestow your thanks upon men, and second causes, but not on God, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift, James i. 17.

Secondly, If you be proud and highly conceited of your own worth and good deservings, you will expect matters otherwise than God will think fit to give, as Naaman did, before he was cleansed, 2 Kings v. 11, 12; and when you miss of your expectation, you will be so far from thanks, that you will murmur and complain.

Thirdly, Though you know the worth of the gift, and do acknowledge the giver; and also think yourself unworthy of the gift; yet, if you have not these in actual remembrance; if you have forgotten them, and they be out of mind, how can you be duly thankful? Therefore, when David calls upon himself to be thankful, he saith, Forget not all his benefits, Psa. ciii. 2.

Fourthly, Suppose that you know well the worth of the gift, and do judge yourself unworthy of it, and remember well that you received it of God; yet if through misbelief and doubting of God's love, you think that God does not give it to you in love and mercy, but in wrath, as he gave Israel a king, Hosea xiii. 11; your heart will sink, and be so clogged with this fear, that you cannot raise it up to praise and thankfulness, for any gift which you conceive to be so given.

Fifthly, Suppose that you are free from all the former impediments; yet if you be too eagerly affected with the gift, you will in a kind of over joyousness be so taken up with it, that, as little children, when their parents give them sweet-meats, or such things as they most delight in, fall to eating of the sweet-meat, and run away for joy, before ever they have shown any sign of thankfulness, so you will easily be overtaken in this kind, and neglect God that gave it.

(6.) Helps to thankfulness.

The helps to thankfulness, are most of them directly contrary to the former hindrances; of which, take these;