SERMON ÍI.

BY REV. GEORGE RIPLEY, BOSTON.

THE DUTY OF CONSTANT GRATITUDE TO GOD.

PS. XXXIV. 1.—I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES: HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH.

THERE are probably few whose minds are not directed, at particular times, to the contemplation of the wisdom and goodness of God; but, there are still fewer, we have reason to fear, who cherish the habitual sense of the divine presence and love, which is expressed in the language of our text. The insensibility of man, to the constant perfection and beauty that are displayed in the arrangements of Providence, is indeed, the subiect of common remark; and, it must strike us, as a matter of peculiar astonishment, that this deficiency should be found not only among the frivolous and unthinking, who are indifferent to the claims of religion, in every form, but also among those, whose minds are deeply imbued with sentiments of piety, and who deem themselves the sincere and favored worshippers of the Most High. The difficulty arises from the erroneous ideas which men entertain respecting their connexion

with God. They are apt to look for his presence, in some signal interpositions of his power, rather than in the calm and regular course of his Providence. They are perpetually imagining occasions, on which the agency of God is exercised in their behalf; while they take little notice of the uniform and uninterrupted agency in which he operates for the benefit of mankind. They are more strongly excited at the idea of a blessing, which they have themselves received, from the immediate hand of God, than they are at the contemplation of the blessings without number and without end, which are constantly pouring forth, from the general laws of Providence, upon the whole universe. The rain, which falls upon their own fields, in answer to their prayers, and restores the vegetation, that was withering and blackening under the unmitigated fervors of the summer's sun, produces a deeper emotion of gratitude, than those steadfast and beautiful laws, by which the vapors are collected from the surface of the earth, and return again in showers, to refresh the parched and pulverized soil. They hear the voice of the wind, as it breathes mildly over the hot earth, at the approach of even-tide, or as it rushes, from the four quarters of heaven, in the majesty of the fierce winter's storm; and little do they think of Him, at whose word it comes and goes, obedient to his bidding, and subject to his will; but let it arise, to waft their ship in safety, when struggling with the elements; let it blow, when a conflagration is raging, and avert the flames from their dwelling, then the hand of God is acknowledged,-then a providential escape is spoken of,-then the divine goodness is recognized and blessed. But my friends, the hand of God

is as much in the wind which bloweth over the wilderness, where no man is, as in that which saved your property from destruction. His Providence is as active, in the daily operations of nature, which are scarcely regarded, with a religious sentiment, as in those rare and striking events, which you are accustomed to designate as especial interpositions of his power. It is to this point, that I would now direct your attention. I wish to illustrate the truth, that we should bless God at all times, that his praise should be continually in our mouth, not merely, when we suppose that an immediate act of his power has been exerted, but whenever we consider the wise and beneficent operation of the general laws of Divine Providence.

It may be that you are not deficient in gratitude and are ready to extol the goodness of God, as soon as you think you have perceived its effects. But there must be some interruption of the usual course of events, before you are sensible that the Deity is present. You feel grateful, for instance, that during the past season, the scourge of pestilence which has ravaged so many portions of our land, and clad such numbers of our population in the garments of mourning, has been averted, in so great a degree from our own dwellings, and that we are still enjoying such an uncommon share of health and tranquillity. You may be disposed to say that the Almighty has listened to the prayers of his children, and granted them safety from the calamity, which they feared, by a direct and special interposition of his will. But suppose, that we had suffered no alarm from the progress of a fearful disease, that health had reigned in all our borders, and security in every dwelling, should we

have any the less reason for gratitude to God, on account of the prosperity, which we now enjoy? Would it be any the less true, that the health of our land, was the effect of his providential care, even if no fears had been excited for its continuance? Yet, how few, who think of their dependence upon God, and his constant claim upon their gratitude, when these facts are not forced upon their attention, by the prospect of dangers, which come home to their bosoms! But why should we not acknowledge our Father's care at all times? Why should not his praise be continually in our mouths? For it is his Providence, which has fitted the earth and the air, the wind and the water, to minister to the happiness and health of man. He gives the soft breeze its healing power, he creates the sweet influences of the sun, he prepares the corn and the vine, the seed and the fruit, which furnish our needful sustenance; he has granted to our muscular frame its strength; he has fenced it with bones and clothed it with sinews; he has fashioned the curious organs, by which the miracles of our living nature are performed, and should he withhold his hand, we should die and return to the dust. Ought these proofs of God's goodness to be forgotten by us, my friends, until we are reminded of their existence, by the prospect of their loss? And suppose, that the deliverance, which we have thus far experienced, from the evils we apprehended, is the natural consequence of temperance and cleanliness, the result of physical laws, which it is given to us to understand. We have none the less reason to be grateful to God, than if he had sent the angel of his presence, to stand between the living and the dead, and to stay the pro

gress of the desolating plague. For who gave to temperance and cleanliness their salubrious qualities? Who appointed such invincible barriers to the rage of the destroying foe? The same God, my friends, that gives swiftness to an angel's wing, and strength to an angel's arm. Grateful, undoubtedly, should we be to him, for our preservation, but, not the less, if it were brought to us by those angels of Nature, those ministers of his, that do his pleasure, than if his hand were stretched cut before our eyes, to smite the dark messenger of death, as he went forth on his fearful errand.

Suppose, again, that in returning from a voyage at sea, you had arrived so near the wished-for coast, that you could behold the well-known light, like a friendly guide, standing to bid you welcome home,-your thoughts turn to the fire-side of your family, you imagine the anxious hearts that are there waiting for your arrival; and your own, beats at the thought of soon leaping on shore, and embracing your friends; when, on a sudden, your ship strikes upon a rock; she reels under the blow, the dark waters threaten to swallow her in their deep abyss; despair sits upon every countenance; every arm is paralyzed, every heart is faint, and you give up all for lost; but at the moment, you are most in danger, an unexpected movement takes place, a new impulse is given to your strong vessel, and she rides nobly over the dashing waves, unharmed. A miracle of mercy, you cry; and then, you cannot but acknowledge the care of Providence, as you recount the perils you have escaped, to those, who listen to your tale. If ever a feeling of gratitude to God is excited, it is at the moment, when you feel that you are