Thankfulness for Mercies received, a necessary Duty.
A Farewel Sermon, preached on board the _Whitaker_, at Anchor
near _Savannah_, in _Georgia_, _Sunday, May 17, 1738_.
PSALM, cvii. 30, 31.
_Then are they glad, because they are at rest, and so he bringeth
them unto the haven where they would be._
_O that men would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness,
and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!_
NUMBERLESS marks does man bear in his soul, that he is fallen and
estranged from GOD; but nothing gives a greater proof thereof, than
that backwardness, which every one finds within himself, to the duty
of praise and thanksgiving.
When GOD placed the first man in paradise, his soul no doubt was so
filled with a sense of the riches of the divine love, that he was
continually employing that _breath of life_, which the Almighty had
not long before breathed into him, in blessing and magnifying that
all-bountiful, all-gracious GOD, in whom he lived, moved, and had his
being.
And the brightest idea we can form of the angelical hierarchy above,
and the spirits of just men made perfect, is, that they are continually
standing round the throne of GOD, and cease not day and night, saying,
“Worthy art thou, O Lamb that wast slain, to receive power and riches,
and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”
_Revelation_ v. 12.
That then, which was man’s perfection when time first began, and will
be his employment when death is swallowed up in victory, and time shall
be no more, without controversy, is part of our perfection, and ought
to be our frequent exercise on earth: and I doubt not but those blessed
spirits, who are sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of
salvation, often stand astonished when they encamp around us, to find
our hearts so rarely enlarged, and our mouths so seldom opened, to shew
forth the loving-kindness of the LORD, or to speak of all his praise.
Matter for praise and adoration, can never be wanting to creatures
redeemed by the blood of the Son of GOD; and who have such continual
scenes of his infinite goodness presented to their view, that were
their souls duly affected with a sense of his universal love, they
could not but be continually calling on heaven and earth, men and
angels, to join with them in praising and blessing that “high and lofty
one, who inhabiteth eternity, who maketh his sun to shine on the evil
and on the good,” and daily pours down his blessings on the whole race
of mankind.
But few are arrived to such a degree of charity or love, as to rejoice
with those that do rejoice, and to be as thankful for others mercies,
as their own. This part of christian perfection, though begun on earth,
will be consummated only in heaven; where our hearts will glow with
such fervent love towards GOD and one another, that every fresh degree
of glory communicated to our neighbour, will also communicate to us a
fresh topic of thankfulness and joy.
That which has the greatest tendency to excite the generality of fallen
men to praise and thanksgiving, is a sense of GOD’s private mercies,
and particular benefits bestowed upon ourselves. For as these come
nearer our own hearts, so they must be more affecting; and as they are
peculiar proofs, whereby we may know, that GOD does in a more especial
manner favour us above others, so they cannot but sensibly touch us;
and if our hearts are not quite frozen, like coals of a refiner’s
fire, they must melt us down into thankfulness and love. It was a
consideration of the distinguishing favours GOD had shewn to his chosen
people _Israel_, and the frequent and remarkable deliverances wrought
by him in behalf of “those who go down to the sea in ships, and occupy
their business in great waters,” that made the holy Psalmist break out
so frequently as he does in this psalm, into this moving, pathetical
exclamation, “O that men would therefore praise the LORD for his
goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of
men!”
His expressing himself in so fervent a manner, implies both the
importance and neglect of the duty. As when _Moses_ on another occasion
cried out, “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they
would _practically_ consider their latter end!” _December_ xxxii. 29.
I say, importance and neglect of the duty; for out of those many
thousands that receive blessings from the LORD, how few give thanks
in remembrance of his holiness? The account given us of the ungrateful
lepers, is but too lively a representation of the ingratitude of
mankind in general; who like them, when under any humbling providence,
can cry, “JESUS, Master, have mercy on us!” _Luke_ xvii. 13. but when
healed of their sickness, or delivered from their distress, scarce one
in ten can be found “returning to give thanks to GOD.”
And yet as common as this sin of ingratitude is, there is nothing
we ought more earnestly to pray against. For what is more absolutely
condemned in holy scripture than ingratitude? Or what more peremptorily
required than the contrary temper? Thus says the Apostle, “Rejoice
evermore; in every thing give thanks,” 1 _Thessalonians_ v. 16, 18.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto GOD,”
_Philippians_ iv. 6.
On the contrary, the Apostle mentions it as one of the highest crimes
of the _Gentiles_, that they were not thankful. “Neither were they
thankful,” _Romans_ i. 21. as also in another place, he numbers the
“unthankful,” 2 _Timothy_ iii. 2. amongst those unholy, prophane
persons, who are to have their portion in the lake of fire and
brimstone.
As for our sins, GOD puts them behind his back; but his mercies he will
have acknowledged, “There is virtue gone out of me,” says JESUS CHRIST,
_Luke_ viii. 46. and the woman who was cured of her bloody issue,
must confess it. And we generally find, when GOD sent any remarkable
punishment upon a particular person, he reminded him of the favours
he had received, as so many aggravations of his ingratitude. Thus when
GOD was about to visit _Eli_’s house, he thus expostulates with him by
his prophet: “Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy fathers, when
they were in _Egypt_, in _Pharaoh_’s house? And did I chuse him out of
all the tribes of _Israel_, to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar,
to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before me? Wherefore kick ye
at my sacrifice, and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my
habitation, and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat
with the chiefest of all the offerings of _Israel_ my people? Wherefore
the LORD GOD of _Israel_ saith, I said indeed, that thy house, and the
house of thy father, should walk before me for ever; but now the LORD
saith, Be it far from me, for them that honour me will I honour, and
they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 _Samuel_ ii. 27, 28,
29, 30.
It was this and such like instances of GOD’s severity against the
unthankful, that inclined me to chuse the words of the text, as the
most proper subject I could discourse on at this time.
Four months, my good friends, we have now been upon the sea in this
ship, and “have occupied our business in the great waters.” At GOD
Almighty’s word, we have seen “the stormy wind arise, which hath lifted
up the waves thereof. We have been carried up to the heaven, and down
again to the deep, and some of our souls melted away because of the
trouble; but I trust we cryed earnestly unto the LORD, and he delivered
us out of our distress. For he made the storm to cease; so that the
waves thereof were still. And now we are glad, because we are at rest,
for GOD hath brought us to the haven where we would be. O that you
would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness, and declare the
wonders that he hath done for us, the unworthiest of the sons of men.”
Thus _Moses_, thus _Joshua_ behaved. For when they were about to take
their leaves of the children of _Israel_, they recounted to them what
great things GOD had done for them, as the best arguments and motives
they could urge to engage them to obedience. And how can I copy after
better examples? What fitter, what more noble motives, to holiness and
purity of living, can I lay before you, than they did?
Indeed, I cannot say, that we have seen the “pillar of a cloud by day,
or a pillar of fire by night,” going visibly before us to guide our
course; but this I can say, that the same GOD who was in that pillar of
a cloud, and pillar of fire, which departed not from the _Israelites_,
and who has made the sun to rule the day, and the moon to rule the
night, has, by his good providence, directed us in our right way, or
else the pilot had steered us in vain.
Neither can I say, That we have seen the “sun stand still,” as the
children of _Israel_ did in the days of _Joshua_. But surely GOD,
during part of our voyage, has caused it to withhold some of that heat,
which it usually sends forth in these warmer climates, or else it had
not failed, but some of you must have perished in the sickness that has
been, and does yet continue among us.
We have not seen the waters stand purposely on an heap, that we might
pass through, neither have we been pursued by _Pharaoh_ and his host,
and delivered out of their hands; but we have been led through the sea
as through a wilderness, and were once remarkably preserved from being
run down by another ship; which had GOD permitted, the waters, in all
probability, would immediately have overwhelmed us, and like _Pharaoh_
and his host, we should have sunk, as stones, into the sea.
We may, indeed, atheist like, ascribe all these things to natural
causes, and say, “Our own skill and foresight has brought us hither in
safety.” But as certainly as JESUS CHRIST, the angel of the covenant,
in the days of his flesh, walked upon the water, and said to his
sinking disciples, “Be not afraid, it is I,” so surely has the same
everlasting I AM, “who decketh himself with light as with a garment,
who spreadeth out the heavens like a curtain, who claspeth the winds
in his fist, who holdeth the waters in the hollow of his hands,” and
guided the wise men by a star in the east; so surely, I say, has he
spoken, and at his command the winds have blown us where we are now
arrived. For his providence ruleth all things; “Wind and storms obey
his word:” he saith to it at one time, Go, and it goeth; at another,
Come, and it cometh; and at a third time, Blow this way, and it bloweth.
It is he, my brethren, and not we ourselves, that has of late sent us
such prosperous gales, and made us to ride, as it were, on the wings of
the wind, into the haven where we would be.
“O that you would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness,” and by
your lives declare, that you are truly thankful for the wonders he had
shewn to us, who are less than the least of the sons of men.
I say, declare it by your lives. For to give him thanks, barely with
your lips, while your hearts are far from him, is but a mock sacrifice,
nay, an abomination unto the LORD.
This was the end, the royal Psalmist says, GOD had in view, when he
shewed such wonders, from time to time, to the people of _Israel_,
“That they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws,” _Psalm_ cv.
44. and this, my good friends, is the end GOD would have accomplished
in us, and the only return he desires us to make him, for all the
benefits he hath conferred upon us.
O then, let me beseech you, give to GOD your hearts, your whole hearts;
and suffer yourselves to be drawn by the cords of infinite love, to
honour and obey him.
Assure yourselves you can never serve a better master; for his service
is perfect freedom; his yoke, when worn a little while, is exceeding
easy, his burden light; and in keeping his commandments there is great
reward; love, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost here, and a crown of glory
that fadeth not away, hereafter.
You may, indeed, let other lords have dominion over you, and Satan may
promise to give you all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of
them, if you will fall down and worship him; but he is a liar, and was
so from the beginning; he has not so much to give you, as you may tread
on with the sole of your foot; or could he give you the whole world,
yet, that could not make you happy without GOD. It is GOD alone, my
brethren, whose we are, in whose name I now speak, and who has of
late shewed us such mercies in the deep, that can give solid lasting
happiness to your souls; and he for this reason only desires your
hearts, because without him you must be miserable.
Suffer me not then to go away without my errand; as it is the last time
I shall speak to you, let me not speak in vain; but let a sense of the
divine goodness lead you to repentance.
Even _Saul_, that abandoned wretch, when _David_ shewed him his skirt,
which he had cut off, when he might have also taken his life, was
so melted down with his kindness, that he lifted up his voice and
wept. And we must have hearts harder than _Saul_’s, nay, harder
than the nether milstone, if a sense of GOD’s late loving kindnesses,
notwithstanding he might so often have destroyed us, does not even
compel us to lay down our arms against him, and become his faithful
servants and soldiers unto our lives end.
If they have not this effect upon us, we shall, of all men, be most
miserable; for GOD is just, as well as merciful; and the more blessings
we have received here, the greater damnation, if we do not improve them,
shall we incur hereafter.
But GOD forbid that any of those should ever suffer the vengeance
of eternal fire, amongst whom, I have, for these four months, been
preaching the gospel of CHRIST; but yet thus must it be, if you do
not improve the divine mercies: and instead of your being my crown of
rejoicing in the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, I must appear as a swift
witness against you.
But, brethren, I am persuaded better things of you, and things that
accompany salvation, though I thus speak.
Blessed be GOD, some marks of a partial reformation at least, have been
visible amongst all you that are soldiers. And my weak, though sincere
endeavours, to build you up in the knowledge and fear of GOD, have not
been altogether in vain in the LORD.
Swearing, I hope is, in a great measure, abated with you; and GOD, I
trust, has blessed his late visitations, by making them the means of
awakening your consciences, to a more solicitous enquiry about the
things which belong to your everlasting peace.
Fulfil you then my joy, by continuing thus minded, and labour to go
on to perfection. For I shall have no greater pleasure than to see, or
hear, that you walk in the truth.
Consider, my good friends, you are now, as it were, entering on a new
world, where you will be surrounded with multitudes of heathens; and
if you take not heed to “have your conversation honest amongst them,”
and to “walk worthy of the holy vocation wherewith you are called,” you
will act the hellish part of _Herod_’s soldiers over again; and cause
CHRIST’s religion, as they did his person, to be had in derision of
those that are round about you.
Consider further, what peculiar privileges you have enjoyed, above
many others that are entering on the same land. They have had, as
it were, a famine of the word, but you have rather been in danger of
being surfeited with your spiritual manna. And, therefore, as more
instructions have been given you, so from you, men will most justly
expect the greater improvement in goodness.
Indeed, I cannot say, I have discharged my duty towards you as I ought.
No, I am sensible of many faults in my ministerial office, and for
which I have not failed, nor, I hope, ever shall fail, to humble myself
in secret before GOD. However, this I can say, that except a few days
that have been spent necessarily on other persons, whom GOD immediately
called me to write and minister unto, and the two last weeks wherein
I have been confined by sickness; all the while I have been aboard,
I have been either actually engaged in, or preparing myself for
instructing you. And though you are now to be committed to the care of
another (whose labours I heartily beseech GOD to bless amongst you) yet
I trust I shall, at all seasons, if need be, willingly spend, and be
spent, for the good of your souls, though the more abundantly I love
you, the less I should be loved.
As for your military affairs, I have nothing to do with them. Fear GOD,
and you must honour the King. Nor am I well acquainted with the nature
of that land which you are now come over to protect; only this I may
venture to affirm in the general, that you must necessarily expect upon
your arrival at a new colony, to meet with many difficulties. But your
very profession teaches you to endure hardship; “be not, therefore,
faint-hearted, but quit yourselves like men, and be strong,” _Numbers_
xiv. Be not like those cowardly persons, who were affrighted at the
report of the false spies, that came and said, that there were people
tall as the _Anakims_ to be grappled with, but be ye like unto _Caleb_
and _Joshua_, all heart; and say, we will act valiantly, for we shall
be more than conquerors over all difficulties through JESUS CHRIST
that loved us. Above all things, my brethren, take heed, and beware of
murmuring, like the perverse _Israelites_, against those that are set
over you; and “learn, whatsoever state you shall be in, therewith to be
content,” _Philippians_ iv. 11.
As I have spoken to you, I hope your wives also will suffer the word of
exhortation,
Your behaviour on shipboard, especially the first part of the voyage,
I chuse to throw a cloak over; for to use the mildest terms, it was not
such as became the gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. However, of late,
blessed be GOD, you have taken more heed to your ways, and some of
you have walked all the while, as became “women professing godliness.”
Let those accept my hearty thanks, and permit me to intreat you all
in general, as you are all now married, to remember the solemn vow
you made at your entrance into the marriage state, and see that you be
subject to your own husbands, in every lawful thing: Beg of GOD to keep
the door of your lips, that you offend not with your tongues; and walk
in love, that your prayers be not hindered. You that have children, let
it be your chief concern to breed them up in the nurture and admonition
of the LORD. And live all of you so holy and unblameable, that you may
not so much as be suspected to be unchaste; and as some of you have
imitated _Mary Magdalen_ in her sin, strive to imitate her also in her
repentance.
As for you, sailors, what shall I say? How shall I address myself to
you? How shall I do that which I so much long to do; touch your hearts?
Gratitude obliges me to wish thus well to you. For you have often
taught me many instructive lessons, and reminded me to put up many
prayers to GOD for you, that you might receive your spiritual sight.
When I have seen you preparing for a storm, and reefing your sails
to guard against it; how have I wished that you and I were as careful
to avoid that storm of GOD’s wrath, which will certainly, without
repentance, quickly overtake us? When I have observed you catch at
every fair gale, how have I secretly cried, O that we were as careful
to know the things that belong to our peace, before they are for ever
hid from our eyes! And when I have taken notice, how steadily you eyed
your compass in order to steer aright, how have I wished, that we as
steadily eyed the word of GOD, which alone can preserve us from “making
shipwreck of faith, and a good conscience?” In short, there is scarce
any thing you do, which has not been a lesson of instruction to me;
and, therefore, it would be ungrateful in me, did I not take this
opportunity of exhorting you in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, to
be as wise in the things which concern your soul, as I have observed
you to be in the affairs belonging to your ship.
I am sensible, that the sea is reckoned but an ill school to learn
CHRIST in: and to see a devout sailor, is esteemed as uncommon a thing,
as to see a _Saul_ amongst the prophets. But whence this wondering?
Whence this looking upon a godly sailor, as a man to be wondered at, as
a speckled bird in the creation? I am sure, for the little time I have
come in and out amongst you, and as far as I can judge from the little
experience I have had of things, I scarce know any way of life, that is
capable of greater improvements than yours.
The continual danger you are in of being overwhelmed by the great
waters; the many opportunities you have of beholding GOD’s wonders in
the deep; the happy retirement you enjoy from worldly temptations; and
the daily occasions that are offered you, to endure hardships, are such
noble means of promoting the spiritual life, that were your hearts bent
towards GOD, you would account it your happiness, that his providence
has called you, to “go down to the sea in ships, and to occupy your
business in the great waters.”
The royal Psalmist knew this, and, therefore, in the words of the text,
calls more especially on men of your employ, to “praise the LORD for
his goodness, and declare the wonders he doth for the children of men.”
And O that you would be wise in time, and hearken to his voice to-day,
“whilst it is called to-day!” For ye yourselves know how little is to
be done on a sick bed. GOD has, in an especial manner, of late, invited
you to repentance: two of your crew he has taken off by death, and most
of you he has mercifully visited with a grievous sickness. The terrors
of the LORD have been upon you, and when burnt with a scorching fever,
some of you have cried out, “What shall we do to be saved?” Remember
then the resolutions you made, when you thought GOD was about to take
away your souls; and see that according to your promises, you shew
forth your thankfulness, not only with your lips, but in your lives.
For though GOD may bear long, he will not forbear always; and if these
signal mercies and judgments do not lead you to repentance, assure
yourselves there will at last come a fiery tempest, from the presence
of the LORD, which will sweep away you, and all other adversaries of
GOD.
I am positive, neither you nor the soldiers have wanted, nor will
want any manner of encouragement to piety and holiness of living, from
those two persons who have here the government over you; for they have
been such helps to me in my ministry, and have so readily concurred
in every thing for your good, that they may justly demand a public
acknowledgment of thanks both from you and me.
Permit me, my honoured friends, in the name of both classes of your
people, to return you hearty thanks for the care and tenderness you
have expressed for the welfare of their better parts.
As for the private favours you have shewn to my person, I hope so
deep a sense of them is imprinted on my heart, that I shall plead them
before GOD in prayer, as long as I live.
But I have still stronger obligations to intercede in your behalf. For
GOD, ever adored be his free grace in CHRIST JESUS! has set his seal to
my ministry in your hearts. Some distant pangs of the new-birth I have
observed to come upon you; and GOD forbid that I should sin against the
LORD, by ceasing to pray, that the good work begun in your souls, may
be carried on till the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The time of our departure from each other is now at hand, and you
are going out into a world of temptations. But though absent in body,
let us be present with each other in spirit; and GOD, I trust, will
enable you to be singularly good, to be ready to be accounted fools
for CHRIST’s sake; and then we shall meet never to part again in the
kingdom of our Father which is in heaven.
To you, my companions and familiar friends, who came over with me to
sojourn in a strange land, do I in the next place address myself. For
you I especially fear, as well as for myself; because as we take sweet
counsel together oftner than others, and as you are let into a more
intimate friendship with me in private life, the eyes of all men will
be upon you to note even the minutest miscarriage; and, therefore,
it highly concerns you to “walk circumspectly towards those that are
without,” I hope, that nothing but a single eye to GOD’s glory and
the salvation of your own souls, brought you from your native country.
Remember then the end of your coming hither, and you can never do
amiss. Be patterns of industry, as well as of piety, to those who shall
be around you; and above all things let us have such fervent charity
amongst ourselves, that it may be said of us, as of the primitive
christians, “See how the christians love one another.”
And now I have been speaking to others particularly, I have one general
request to make to all, and that with reference to myself.
You have heard, my dear friends, how I have been exhorting every one of
you to shew forth your thankfulness for the divine goodness, not only
with your lips, but in your lives: But “physician heal thyself,” may
justly be retorted on me. For (without any false pretences to humility)
I find my own heart so little inclined to this duty of thanksgiving for
the benefits I have received, that I had need fear sharing _Hezekiah_’s
fate, who because he was lifted up by, and not thankful enough for, the
great things GOD had done for him, was given up a prey to the pride of
his own heart.
I need, therefore, and beg your most importunate petitions at the
throne of grace, that no such evil may befal me; that the more GOD
exalts me, the more I may debase myself; and that after I have preached
to others, I myself may not be cast away.
And now, brethren, into GOD’s hands I commend your spirits, who, I
trust, through his infinite mercies in CHRIST JESUS, will preserve you
blameless, till his second coming to judge the world.
Excuse my detaining you so long; perhaps it is the last time I shall
speak to you: my heart is full, and out of the abundance of it, I could
continue my discourse until midnight. But I must away to your new world;
may GOD give you new hearts, and enable you to put in practice what
you have heard from time to time, to be your duty, and I need not wish
you any thing better. For then GOD will so bless you, that “you will
build you cities to dwell in; then will you sow your lands and plant
vineyards, which will yield you fruits of increase,” _Psalm_ cvii.
36, 37. “Then your oxen shall be strong to labour, there shall be
no leading into captivity, and no complaining in your streets; then
shall your sons grow up as the young plants, and your daughters be as
the polished corners of the temple: then shall your garners be full
and plenteous with all manner of store, and your sheep bring forth
thousands, and ten thousands in your streets,” _Psalm_ cxliv. In short,
then shall the LORD be your GOD; and as surely as he has now brought us
to this haven, where we would be, so surely, after we have past through
the storms and tempests of this troublesome world, will he bring us
to the haven of eternal rest, where we shall have nothing to do, but
to praise him for ever for his goodness, and declare, in never-ceasing
songs of praise, the wonders he has done for us, and all the other sons
of men.
“To which blessed rest, GOD of his infinite mercy bring us all,
through JESUS CHRIST our LORD! to whom with the Father and
Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, might, majesty, and
dominion, now, henceforth, and for evermore. _Amen, Amen._”