* For there is no reason why we should be patient, but what is as strong a reason why we should be thankful. If we were under the hands of a wise and good physician that could not mistake, or do any thing to us, but what tended to our benefit; it would not be enough to be patient, and abstain from murmuring against such a physician; it would be as much a breach of gratitude, not to be thankful for what he did, as it would be to murmur at him.
* Now this is our true state with relation to God; we cannot be said so much as to believe in him, unless we believe him to be of infinite wisdom. Every argument therefore for patience under his disposal of us, is as strong an argument for thankfulness. And there needs no more to dispose us to this gratitude towards God, than a full belief in him, that he is this being of infinite wisdom, love and goodness.
Do but fully assent to this truth, and then you will cheerfully approve of every thing that God has already approved for you.
When you are satisfied that God does not only do that which is wise, and good, but which is the effect of infinite wisdom, and love in the care of you; it will be as necessary to be pleased with every thing which God chuses for you, as to wish your own happiness.
4. Whenever therefore you find yourself disposed to murmuring, at any thing that is the effect of God’s providence over you, you must look upon yourself as denying either the wisdom or goodness of God. For every complaint supposes this. You would never complain of your neighbour, but that you suppose you can shew either his unwise, unjust, or unkind behaviour towards you.
Now every impatient reflection under the providence of God, is the same accusation of God. A complaint always supposes ill usage.
Hence you may see the great necessity of this thankful state of heart, because the want of it implies an accusation of God’s want either of wisdom, or goodness in his disposal of us. It is not therefore any high degree of perfection, founded in any uncommon nicety of thinking, but a plain principle founded in this plain belief, that God is a being of infinite wisdom and goodness.
5. This resignation to the divine will, may be considered in two respects: first, As it signifies a thankful approbation of God’s general providence over the world: secondly, As it signifies a thankful acceptance of his particular providence over us.
* First, Every man is, by the first article of his creed, obliged to acknowledge the wisdom and goodness of God, in his general providence over the world. He is to believe that it is the effect of God’s great wisdom and goodness, that the world itself was formed at such a particular time, and in such a manner: that the general order of nature, the whole frame of things, is contrived and formed in the best manner. He is to believe that God’s providence over states and kingdoms, times and seasons, is all for the best: that the revolutions of state, and changes of empire, the rise and fall of monarchies, persecutions, wars, famines and plagues, are all permitted, and conducted by God’s providence, to the general good of man in this state of trial.
A good man is to believe all this, with the same fullness of assent, as he believes that God is in every place, tho’ he neither sees, nor can comprehend the manner of his presence.