We must stir up ourselves to praise God with the consideration both of the reason and of the encouragement we have to praise him. › The goodness of his grace relating to our souls and the life that is to come.

1. We must give thanks for his gracious design and contrivance of man’s redemption and salvation, when he was lost and undone by sin.

O how wonderfully did the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appear! Not by any works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us. We had destroyed ourselves, but in thee, and thee only, was our help. Titus 3:4, 5. Hos 13:9.

When we were cast out in the open field, and no eye pitied us, thou sawest us polluted in our own blood, and thou saidst unto us, Live; yea, thou saidst unto us, Live ; and the time was a time of love. Ezek 16:5, 6, 8.

When the redemption of the soul was so precious, as that it must have ceased for ever, and no man could by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him, then thou wast pleased to find a ransom, that we might be delivered from going down to the pit. Ps 49:7. Job 33:24.

When we must needs die, and were as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, then didst thou devise means that the banished might not be for ever expelled from thee. 2 Sam 14:14.

When thou spared not the angels that sinned, but didst cast them down to hell, thou saidst concerning the race of mankind, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it. 2 Pet 2:4. Isa 65:8.

Herein appears the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world for our glory. 1 Cor 2:7.

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Pray now: a guided prayer in six parts, with the next heads each day.

Henry’s text is in the public domain. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, No. 265 Chestnut Street. Undated, about 1840 to 1860. The preface is dated Chester, March 25, 1710. From the Internet Archive scan. The KJV text is in the public domain.