Praising God should be to us our chiefest, happiest employ. It
is the "service of song" of the sanctuary. God preserve us from
ingratitude, that abominable thing, that viper which creeps forth
when the sun is up; for when signal mercies demand especial thankfulness,
how often have we resembled Hezekiah, who rendered not again
according to the benefit. (2 Chron. 32:25)
To hang my harp upon the willows is to say, "Christ is not ruling
well."
So long as our hearts are cleaving to earthly things, we shall
not be able to sing the pilgrim's song; but if we are thorough
pilgrims, and apprehend our great High Priest ever living for
us at the right hand of God, we shall be perpetually giving thanks.
Can I fail to praise God _always for all things_, if I have no
interests but the interests of Christ, and no purposes but those
of Christ? Let me, by faith, but see Christ at the right hand
of God ordering all things by His wisdom as the head of the body
the church (Eph. 1:22.23; 5:23), I shall then see Him prospering
in all that He doeth, and with Him I shall ever rejoice.
To avoid an unthankful spirit, we must make thankfulness a business.
If we thank God for _wants_, we shall not distrust Him for _supplies_.
If, because of painful circumstances, we cannot praise the Lord,
we ought to confess the sin. (Eph. 5:20)
I would especially urge it upon the people of God to maintain
a _good conscience_ and a _thankful heart_.
Look back on the last seven days of your life how much of thanksgiving
and praise has your heart rendered to God?
Communion with God, by hearkening to His voice in the Scriptures,
and speaking with Him in praise and prayer by the Spirit of His
Son, each member of Christ fulfilling his own office, is the
proper end of every assembly of saints.
Oh that we were wise and tender-hearted, to cease from grieving
that Holy Spirit of promise, our indwelling Paraclete! Then would
the comfort of love, and fellowship of the Spirit, in every assembly,
be earnest and foretaste of our perfect fellowship at the coming
of the Lord.
"Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every
man according as his work shall be" (Rev. 22:12)
"If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love [that
is, in the communion of My love]; even as I have kept My Father's
commandments, and abide in His love." (John 15:10)
"Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John
15:14).
"Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4)
"He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth [or
abideth] in Me, and I in him" (John 6:56)