It is at once the folly and misfortune of many men, that they confider themselves as little, if at all, indebted to God for whatever they are, or whatever they poffefs; but rather regard themselves as their own principal benefactors. Their enjoyments, comforts, or conveniences, they trace to no higher fource, and ascribe to no other cause, than their own management, fkill, or dexterity; and it is only to nature that they think themselves indebted for all their bodily advantages and endowments. Thus nature and themselves are confidered as the chief, or perhaps, the fole agents in fecuring them fo many extenfive benefits, fo many wonderful bleffings. But what is nature, or what is man, but the operation of Omnipotence, and the workmanship of GOD? For in him alone we live, and move, and have our being; alone we derive both our ments, and our future hopes. fore we owe, in return for these unmerited gifts, every act of obedience, every inftance of love.

and from him prefent enjoyTo him there

His claims upon us are as infinite as his goodness, and as boundless as his mercies. To these the most vigorous exertion of our gratitude

gratitude can bear no proportion. But though it is not in our power to make any returns in the least degree adequate to the benefits we have received; it is yet evident they should extend to the utmost limits of our abilities. To do him indeed any real fervice, far, very far, exceeds our capacity, or even that of the first order of created beings. But we may at least faithfully endeavour to obey his will; and this is the only teftimony of our gratitude, which he requires of us. This therefore should uniformly be the measure of our conduct. By this we should guide our actions, and by this direct our ways. For in whatever inftances we act contrary to the will of God, in whatever inftances we violate this fupreme law, in these we are ungrateful to him. All fin therefore is a fpecies of ingratitude. And whoever oppofes the divine will, whether by doing what it prohibits, or by omitting what it prescribes, is an ungrateful man. For he returns evil for good; and, as far as in him lies, refifts his greatest benefactor. Were men duly imprest with a just conviction of their obligations to Gon, they would always endeavour to please him; they would always endeavour to be as virtuous, holy, and good, as he has commanded

them. In his ways they would then delight, and not their own. For they would then be lovers of God more than lovers of themselves; and would therefore cultivate thofe tempers which are most agreeable to his nature, and purfue that conduct which is most conducive to his glory. In a word, they would endeavour, in all things, to be like him, and, as far as they are able, to be perfect, even as he is perfect:

Now it is extremely obvious, that, if mankind were properly actuated by this principle, what a happy revolution it would produce in their morals, and what a happy change in their condition. That there is at prefent but little virtue in the world, is fufficiently notorious. Nothing is more commonly, or more juftly lamented. There is scarcely any man of the leaft obfervation or experience, but would readily tell you, how few are to be trufted, how very few are influenced by any other motive than felf-intereft or felfgratification; and how bafe, vicious, and corrupt, the human race is in general. Nor is this mere declamation, but unhappily a fact too well founded, too ftubborn to be. difproved, And they who are not inclined

to believe it, may eafily be convinced at their own expence. For perfidy, fraud, and violence abound every where; and they who are not vigilant, will foon discover, that they have far lefs to hope for, from the integrity of mankind, than from their own caution. They will quickly perceive, that to do unto all men, as they would wish to be done unto themselves, is not the common maxim of the world. But if men would be grateful to God, it is a rule, from which they would never deviate. For it is a plain command of revelation, as well as a clear dictate of reafon. And it is only in proportion as the actions of men are governed by this rule, that they are really juft or virtuous. And fo effential it is to their reciprocal comfort, that where it is not obferved, human fociety has far more of terror, than fatisfaction in it. But the refult of a well established principle of gratitude, would not be the production of one folitary virtue, or only of a few; mere juftice or charity would not be the fole effect of it, but an uniform goodness and perfect piety. Were mankind therefore to regulate their lives on this comprehenfive plan, their obedience to GOD would not be limited to particular inftances; but whatever chrifti

anity requires, whatever humanity demands, they would endeavour faithfully to perform. The man, who is duly fenfible of his obligations to providence, is at the fame time no lefs fenfible, how very inadequate a return, even by his beft fervices, he is able to make for them. And when he has done all he can, he ftill wishes to do more, and, with DAVID, cries out in the fullness of his heart,-What reward fhall I give unto the Lord, for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?

IN difcourfing upon thefe words, I fhall, firft, point out fome of those benefits, which ought more particularly to excite our gratitude to Almighty GoD; and, fecondly, I shall fhew by what frame of conduct, and mode of expreffion, we are required to demonftrate the fincerity of this holy disposition.

THE firft benefit. I fhall mention, as it is the first which we have all received from GOD, is our creation. But here, perhaps, it will be objected, that fince man is born to trouble as the Sparks fly upwards, it is impoffible that his existence can be a benefit to him. For if our entrance into the world,