We must stir up ourselves to praise God with the consideration both of the reason and of the encouragement we have to praise him. › We must be particular in our thanksgivings to God

1. With reference to all the creatures, and the world of mankind in general.

Thou hast stretched out the heavens like a curtain, and in them thou hast set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run race. And thou causest thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust. Ps 104:2; Ps 19:4, 5. Matt 5:45.

When we consider the heavens, the work of thy - fingers, the sun, the moon, and the stars which thou hast ordained, Lord, what is man that thou thus visitest him? For truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. All the glory be to the Father of lights, who commandeth the morning, and causeth the day-spring to know his place. Ps 8:3, 4: Eccl 11:7. Jas 1:17. Job 38:12.

Thou didst not leave thyself without witness among the heathen, in that thou didst good, and gavest them rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:17

Thou coverest the heavens with clouds, and preparest rain for the earth, and makest grass to grow upon the mountains : thou givest to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. Ps 147:8, 9.

Thou causest it to rain on the wilderness, where there is no man, to satisfy the desolate and waste ground. Job 38:26, 27.

Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water; thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it; thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly, thou settlest the furrows thereof, thou makest it soft with showers, thou blessest the springing thereof: thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy paths drop fatness. Ps 65:9–11.

Thou sendest the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills, and they give drink to every beast of the field; and by them the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. Ps 104:10–12.

Thou hast laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever, and settest bounds to the waters of the sea, that they turn not again to cover the earth. Thou hast shut up the sea with doors, and broken up for it thy decreed place, saying, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; here shall thy proud waves be stayed. And thou hast made good what thou hast sworn, that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth. Ps 104:5, 9. Job 38:8, 11. Isa 54:9.

Thy covenant of the day and of the night is not broken, but still thou givest the sun‘for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night; and art faithful to that covenant of providence, that while the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. Jer 33:20; Jer 31:35. Gen 8:22.

The heaven, even the heavens are thine, but the earth thou hast given to the children of men, and thou hast put all things under their feet, and made them to have dominion over the works of 10 # 4 thy hands; so that the fear of man, and the dread of man is upon every beast of the earth, and upon the fowl of the air, and into his hand they are delivered, because thou hadst a favour to him, and thy delights were with the sons of men. Ps 115:16; Ps 8:6. Gen 9:2. Prov 8:31.

Thou causest the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that thou mayest ‘bring forth food out of the earth ; wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart. Ps 104:14, 15.

Thou givest to all life and breath, and all things on the earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy. Acts 17:25. Ps 119:64.

All the creatures wait upon thee, that thou mayest give them their’ meat in due season; that thou givest them they gather; thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good; thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; thou renewest the face of the earth. This, thy glory, shall endure for ever, and thou rejoicest in these works. Pya. civ. 27, 28, 30, 31. Ps 104:27–28

It is through thy goodness, O Lord, that as one generation of mankind passeth away, another generation comes, and that thou hast not blotted out the name of that corrupt and guilty race from under heaven. Eccl 1:4. Deut 29:20.

‹ The goodness of his providence relating to our bodies, and… · With reference to us in particular. ›

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.