_Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God._
_Christian._ OPEN, O Lord, my heart in thy law, and teach me to walk in
thy commandments.
Grant me to understand thy will, and remember thy benefits; that
henceforward I may be able worthily to give thee thanks.
But I know and confess that I am not able to give thee due thanks for
the least of thy favours.
I am less than the least of all thy benefits; and when I consider thy
bounty, the greatness thereof maketh my spirit to faint.
2. All that we have in our souls and bodies, and whatsoever we possess
outwardly or inwardly, naturally or supernaturally, are thy benefits,
and speak thee bountiful, merciful, and good, from whom we have
received all good things.
Although one have received more, another less, all notwithstanding are
thine, and without thee even the least cannot be had.
He that hath received greater, cannot extol himself above others; for
he is greater and better, that ascribeth least unto himself, and is
more humble and devout in rendering thanks.
And he that esteemeth himself vilest of all men, is fitter to receive
greater blessings.
3. And he that hath received fewer, ought not to repine, nor envy them
that have greater store; but attend rather unto thee, and highly praise
thy goodness, who bestowest thy gifts so bountifully, so freely, and so
willingly, without respect of persons.
All things proceed from thee, and therefore in all things thou art to
be praised.
Thou knowest what is fit to be given to every man, and why one hath
less and another more.
It is not ours, but thine to judge, who dost exactly know what is meet
for every one.
4. Nothing therefore ought so to rejoice him that loveth thee, and
acknowledgeth thy benefits, as thy will in him, and the good pleasure
of thy eternal appointment.
With this he ought to be so contented and comforted, that he would be
as willing to be the least, as another is to be the greatest.
He is as peaceable and contented in the last as in the first place.
*He is as willing to be despised and contemned, and to be of no esteem
or account, as to be preferred in honour above all others, and to be
greater in the world.
For thy will, and the love of thy glory, ought to be preferred above
all things:
And to comfort him more, and please him better than all the benefits
which either he hath received or may receive.