great things; and can you be unthankful? You feel something of the obligation under which you lie, to give thanks" for all things, unto God even the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ."

But other things are included which regard the dispensations of Divine Providence, and these are not to be overlooked. In prosperity it is not difficult to give thanks; at least, we are then easily persuaded of the propriety of the duty. For earthly comforts, for spiritual blessings, for eternal hopes and prospects, who does not admit that he ought to be thankful; and profess that he really is so? But "in every thing give thanks"-in adversity as well as in prosperity; when the world frowns as well as when it smiles; when the dealings of God thwart our wishes no less than when our desires are accomplished; "giving thanks always for all things."

Are any of us reviled and persecuted? This is trying to the feelings of our nature: it may be hard to bear: but were not the Apostles treated in the same way, and did not they give God thanks? "They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus." The cause in which they suffered was good; the presence of their Divine Master was with them; and his glory, they were well assured, would be advanced by all that they endured.

"No

Are we afflicted from the hand of God? chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous." We cannot, therefore, be pleased with affliction for its own sake; but Job was afflicted, and was not he thankful? "The Lord gave; the Lord hath taken away;" and what then? "Blessed

be the name of the Lord!" Brethren, our duty is to give thanks "for all things;" for things painful as well as pleasing; for things dark as well as light; for things perplexed as well as plain: for they are equally under the government of God, the direction of a heavenly Father, the management and disposal of Infinite Wisdom and Love! And not only so; the darkest dispensations of Providence, the severest strokes of adversity, are often sent for the most salutary purposes: they are frequently found to answer the most valuable ends. What think you? If the afflictions of your body be blessed to the conversion of your soul, have you not cause to give thanks? If the trials you find in your family rouse you to reflection, and bring you into the family of Heaven, have you not reason to be thankful? If the privations you meet with in the world, your disappointments in trade, the long train of perplexing occurrences which you could enumerate with much feeling, and many tears; if all these be sanctified to you, to restore you to your right mind, to bring you to prayer, to humble you, to wean you from the world, and to attract your hearts to heavenly realities; what abundant cause have you to give thanks!

"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them who are the called according to his purpose." Not some things only, but "all things:" the Apostle could not have expressed himself more largely, or in more general and encouraging terms: and if all things are working together for good, then "for all things" let us give thanks. A good man has the cause of God near his heart: he longs for its prosperity: now some` things, at first sight, and in their immediate effects,

may seem to be against the cause of God, may appear to check and hinder its prosperity; but if these things are in themselves right, there is no ground to fear consequences. The Lord will sanction what his word approves he can, and he will, overrule what his providence permits, for the glory of his own name, and for the gathering of souls to himself. You see, then, the business which lies before you; not fretting and repining; not anxiously wishing that this were prevented, and the other promoted; but "giving thanks always, for all things, unto God even the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

From this subject we may infer,

1. The religion of Jesus Christ tends to make us happy.-It must be so, as sure as a thankful disposition of heart is a happy disposition. The Christian mourns over his depravity: he grieves on account of his darkness and deadness: he laments that he cannot love God more and serve him better; yet the religion which he knows something of does make him happy; and the more he knows of it the higher his consolation rises. Yes; this supports him, this comforts him, this revives and animates his soul, this makes him thankful-thankful " for all things;" and thankfulness assuredly involves real enjoyment.

We are advocates, you perceive, for a religion which interests the feelings of the heart. Not for mere ceremonies, lifeless forms, and cold speculative notions; these are the shell without the kernel, the shadow without the substance, the breathless body without the quickening spirit. There is an ignorant enthusiastic feeling of happiness which we have no wish to commend, but only that which is rational, scriptural, intelligible. And does not the religion

of the Gospel inspire it? Does not the man who has real experience of its influence, in some degree, enjoy it? Certainly. For what is it that he has experienced? He is the subject of pardon, of peace, of liberty, and of hope, such as nothing but the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can produce. On this subject, an eloquent preacher and writer expresses himself thus: "Would a prisoner exult at the proclamation of deliverance: and is the redeemed sinner to walk forth from his bondage unmoved, unaffected, without gratitude and joy? No! They shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.' Shall the condemned criminal feel I know not what emotions, when, instead of the execution of his sentence, he receives a pardon? And is the absolved transgressor to be senseless and silent? No! Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.""

It would be easy to say much in' praise of a thankful disposition, but to feel it is best; and the man who feels it most gives one of the best evidences of the power of religion on his heart. It does him good: it makes him tranquil and cheerful amidst the varying scenes of life; and, being so, he adorns the doctrine of God his Saviour in no inconsiderable degree.

2. How much are they to be pitied who have not the religion of Jesus Christ!-To have the profession of it is of little avail, while men are strangers to its inward power and spiritual enjoyment. These

are to be pitied why? because they are not happy : they are are indeed very far from happy! An ungrateful temper, the sure attendant of an unsanctified heart, is a man's torment. It is always accompanied with fretful uneasiness, and restless discontent. Do not you find it so? The Apostle, speaking of the heathen who had not the Gospel, yet had some means of knowing God by the works of nature and of Providence, says; "When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful!" Not being thankful, they could not be happy. They might have much of this world's good, but, unimpressed with Divine benefits, and ungrateful to the great Author of them, what real enjoyment could they have? Remember, you promote the happiness of your fellow-men so far as you assist their gratitude to God and in order to this, give them the Gospel; do what lies in your power to bring them to a saving acquaintance with its sovereign efficacy, and to a personal possession and experience of its invaluable blessings.

3. How desirable to grow in our acquaintance with genuine religion, that our thankfulness may proportionably increase.-Let us see to it, not only that we have the life of God in our souls, but this life in a lively and vigorous state. And let the means which are adapted to promote this life and vigour be carefully observed. What these means are need not now be stated; only let us follow the conviction of our minds in the diligent use of them. Let us check every rising of ungrateful murmur, or impatient repining; and let us cherish this mind in us, which was also in Christ Jesus. Many affectionate wishes we might form and express for each other, but none is more important than this; that we may all attain an