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SECT. 2. OF THE REAL PROOFS OF GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS TO GOD.

It is not enough to profess and utter praise and thanks to God; but you must give real proof thereof.

First, By devoting and giving yourself to God, Rom. xii. 1; to be at the will of him, who is your sovereign Lord, who gives you all that you have, who is always giving unto you, and always doing you good; paying your vows to him that performs his promises to you, Psa. cxvi. 14. Let it appear that you acknowledge him to be such an one as you say in your praises, and that you stand obliged and beholden to him indeed, as you say in your thanks, in that both in the frame of your heart, and the conduct of your life, you behave towards him as one who only is excellent, who only is God, who is your God, the God of your life and salvation; and that, in all holy service. For thanks-living is the best way of thanksgiving, and it is a divine saying. The good life of the thankful, is the life of thankfulness. Wherefore let every new mercy quicken your resolution to persevere and increase in well-doing, serving God so much the more with gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, Deut. xxviii. 47.

Secondly, Do good with those blessings, which God gives you. For every good gift is given to a man to profit withal, 1 Cor. xii. 7; not only himself, but every member of that body, whereof he is part. Whatsoever good gift God has given you, whether temporal or spiritual, it must be employed to God's glory, and to your neighbour's good, as well as to your own, as you have opportunity. If riches, (and the same rule will serve for health, strength, wisdom, skill, &c.) be given to you, you must honour God therewith, Prov. iii. 9; and as God prosper you in any thing, you must communicate to them that need, 1 Cor. xvi. 2, as to the poor, sick, weak, simple, and ignorant. If God give knowledge, faith, spiritual wisdom, ability to