66. Prayers on Particular Occasions

The devout Christian thanks God after the harvest is gathered.

EXHORTATION.

"She did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. Therefore will I return, and take away my coin in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and I will recover my wool, and my flax given to cover her nakedness."—Hosea ii. 8, 9. Of all the manifestations of the munificence of God, that which most strikes the eye is the annual harvest. God preserves the seed in the bosom of the earth in winter, lets it bloom in the days of summer, causes it to grow and bear fruit, averts hail, rain, and storm, and fills the barn and the cellar by his blessing. And yet if there is one favor for which the Lord is defrauded of his full measure of gratitude, it is that of harvest, for ungrateful men suppose that it must be so of necessity—that it is by the course of nature that all things must grow; that God has been of no assistance there. In just anger, therefore, God frequently causes a failure of crops, so that all may see that the THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN THANKS GOD land can bring forth nothing, except the Lord commands, and that nothing can grow without his blessing. A true believer thinks otherwise.

1. On beholding the full ears of corn, and the vines overhung with grapes, he lifts up his eyes to heaven, and praises the Almighty Giver of all good, who has made so many grains out of one, such luscious fruit out of so plain a twig. 2. He praises the divine providence, which has given rain and dry weather in proper season, averted drought, hailstones, and inundations, and protected the harvest. 3. When the time arrives for the sharp sickle to mow down the corn, and for the wain to carry it to the farmyard, and the grapes into the press, he receives all these good gifts with a thankful heart. 4. He makes use of them also, and appropriates them with thanksgiving. He acknowledges and appreciates the goodness of God in sustaining, providing for, and keeping him. 5. He suffers the goodness of God to lead him to repentance. If we thank and refrain from angering a benefactor, who gives us a garment, or some food, why should we not praise the first of benefactors, who gives us everything? AFTER THE HARVEST IS GATHERED.

Give thanks unto the Lord for he is of great goodness, and his mercy endureth forever. Thus I speak, O my God, on rewitnessing the fulness of the harvest. Gracious God, how great is the goodness which thou dost manifest in us; thou hast planted the soil upon its foundation, so that it remaineth for ever and ever. But in this very soil thou hast concealed thy precious treasures, and it brings forth the fruits which serve for our nourishment and health. Especially, O loving father, hast thou crowned this year with thy goodness; thy steps still drip with fat, thou hast moistened the hills from above; thou hast filled the land with the fruits of thy production. Thou hast caused grass to grow for the cattle, and grain for the use of man, so that thou bringest bread out of the earth. O faithful father! thou hast guarded our harvest, the heaven has heard the earth, and the earth has brought forth corn and wine; thou hast given us early rains and late rains in due season; therefore our fields have bloomed, and have held forth the blessing arising out of them. By thy grace our trees have borne sweet and beautiful fruit, and the vine has made us glad. Loving God and Father, thou hast covered the whole field and the whole country with the wings of 40*

THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN THANKS GOO thy grace; thou hast made the sun to shine at the proper time, so that all things have come to maturity; thou hast protected all things from hail, fire, drought, and inundation. When we slept thou didst watch; thou wert the sentinel and guardian of our fields. Lord, thy works are many; thou hast ordained all things wisely and the earth is full of thy goodness. All creatures, men and cattle, look to thee, that thou mayest give them food at the proper time; when thou dost give they gather, and when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good things. Truly, O God of riches, thou hast richly blessed us with thy good gifts this year. Therefore we thank thee from the bottom of our hearts. Come, let us pray, and kneel down, and prostrate ourselves; let us come into his house with thanks, and into his courts with rejoicing. With thankful hearts let us declare, "The Lord hath done great thing in us, whereof we are glad." Lord, Lord, let us not abuse thy gifts and benefits, but in them appreciate thy love to us, and thy fatherly truth. O God! If indeed, some ungrateful ones should abuse thy gifts with gluttony, do not on that account withdraw thy favor, but preserve it unto us according to thy mercy. O father! thou who hast loved us for ever and ever, who dost desire to draw us toward thee by these temporal benefits also, so that we AFTER THE HARVEST IS GATHERED.

may perceive the benefactor in his benefits; let thy goodness lead us to repentance, so that when we see thy gifts before us, we may ever lift up our eyes to thee, thou fountain of every blessing.

And as thou dost sustain and nourish our bodies by these gifts, let us also increase in the inward man, in faith, love, and piety, by thy appointed means of grace. Let us grow in good things, and attain from one clearness to another, until we shall be admitted to the enjoyment of the good things of heaven in eternal life, through Jesus

Christ. Amen.

1. Behold, God's ample blessing

Is gathered in with great delight;

Should we not then consider

How to extol the Lord aright?

God on the year has lavished

The bounty of his grace,

And on us cast in showers

His wealth in every place.

How many are the favors

Which he to us has shown!

Which his paternal kindness

Into our laps has thrown.

2. The fields, the woods and gardens,

Gladden the heart to look upon.

Be praised, O great Creator,

For what thy loving hand has done!

They were severely laden

With fruits on every hand;

God did produce such plenty

To brighten all the land;

When we came to the harvest,

There was far greater store

Than we had e'er imagined;

Come, then, the Lord adore.

3. The earth, with all the people

Can now be fed, and beasts as well;

All with the wondrous plenty

Can be supplied, that us befel;

The great Creator's bounty,

Gives all both meat and drink;

Therefore each mind and spirit,

Shall of his goodness think.

To such unnumbered creatures,

To furnish all they want,

Is the most certain toker

Of God's divine command.

4. This multitude of blessings

Bestowed upon us from on high,

O let us not abuse them

With aught that does his will defy

God can at once withdraw it

By drought, or hail or rain,

If we do not behave us

As followers of his train.

'Tis at the Lord's disposal,

And still remaineth there;

He can at once refuse it

If we despise his care.

THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS IN TIME OF WAR. 477

5. Then let us be more thankful,

The more his mercy does abound;

And as when richly laden,

The ear of corn bows to the ground,

Let us receive in silence,

And prayerful humbleness,

The wealth which in his mercy

He kindly deigns to bless;

The more the Lord hath given,

The more should lips and heart,

Extol the great Creator,

Who doth such bliss impart.

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