Vol. II. we our felves can bear them much longer. Our Contentions and Divisions, our Frauds and Cheats, our Pride and Luxury, and above all, our Infidelity and Apoftacy, are fo notorious, and fo fcandalous, that I cannot tell how to think but that God will visit us for them, unless the final Judgment be fo near, that there needs no Temporal one in the mean time. The End of the Eleventh Sermon, SER 231 So A A A A A A A A A A A A SERMON XII. C The Duty of PRAYER and THANKSGIVING. A Thanksgiving SERMON, Preach'd November 7. 1710. COL. iv. 2. Continue in Prayer, and watch in the fame with Thanksgiving. T HIS Direction may con- Vol. II. cern us either as Chriftians or English Men, in a Reli- Temporal Profperity, Conqueft over Vol. II. James V. 16. Matt. vii. 7, 8. Now of the Firft more briefly, of the Second more fully. I. First therefore of Prayer and Thankfgiving, as the Means of Spiritual Profperity. And here, 1. As to Prayer. ift, Prayer has many great Promises made to it in the Scriptures. The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous Man availeth much. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that feeketh, findeth; and Heb. iv. to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in Time of Need. If any of you lack Wifdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all Men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 16. James i 5. 2dly, It renders us more fpiritual and heavenly. Prayer is a drawing nigh to God, a converfing with him, and a withdrawing from the World. And will not a Soul derive from him Light and Life? Exod. 34 Mofes's Face fhin'd when he had convers'd with God. And it is faid of our 29. 7 Luke ix. Saviour upon the Mountain, that as he prayed 29% Prayed, the Fafbion of his Countenance was Serm. alter'd. XII. 3dly, It is pleafing and acceptable to God; for Prayer is an Effect of Faith and Humility, an Acknowledgment of God's Power and Goodness, and our Indigence and Weakness. Now God refifteth the 1Pet. v. 5. Proud, but giveth Grace to the Humble, 2. As to Thanksgiving; this alfo ought to be regarded as a great Means of Spiritual Success. For, Ift, It engages God to us. The Benefit is loft that is conferr'd on the Ungrateful. Ingratitude makes us not only un worthy of Mercies, but unfit for them. God delights indeed to do Good, but it is where he meets with a Subject proper to receive it.g 2dly, This Exercise will make us better Men. It will nourifh and increase the Love of God in us; it will ftrengthen our Faith in him, and difpofe us to mark and ́obferve those good Providences we meet with continually every Day, nay, almost every Hour, and in every Place. And let not any one now think this Part of my Difcourfe impertinent to the Day. If it tends to make us better Men, it hath answer'd the chief Design of this Day's Solemnity; for what makes us good, will certainly make us great and pro Vol. II. profperous: Our Sins only can deprive us of God's Favour, and only Repentance and Reformation can entitle us to the Continuance of it. But to come to what I propos'd more especially to infist on, let us, II. Secondly, Confider Prayer and Thankf giving with refpect to our Secular Capacity and Temporal Profperity. I have chofe fuch a Text as joyns both together, because the Times demand both. There is a Mixture in our State: Our Success is great, but is our Reputation Abroad or Credit at Home proportionably greater? We have fat down before no Town but we have taken it; and when ever the Enemy has dar'd to look us in the Face, we have defeated him; fo that morally fpeaking, the War grows nearer to an End, but can we fay that we are nearer to the Enjoyment of what we fought for? Are we freed from Discontents and Fears? Are our Enemies more difcourag'd? Do they make us greater Proposals of Peace? Are our Confederates and we more closely united? Have they a greater Value for us, and a greater Confidence in us? And as a Confequence of all this, have we lefs reafon to be follicitous for our Religion, Property and Liberty? I am very desi rous |