The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-11-23

HW38NS6IXAM1 possible or actual
persecution were
eXhorted to be of good cheer and to
count up their mercies." PauPs
words are not only hortatory, but
also mandatory. 1t is the duty OF
the Christian, amid all vicissitudes,
to be thankful. A believer is never
justified in forgetting Gods benefits
to him. He is expected to figure out
every now and then the sum of the
divine favors that have been shown
to him, or what might be called the
statistics of salvation. 1t is true that
divine mercies have been innumer-
able, and cannot be tabulated with
anything like completeness; yet the
Christian believer is exhorted to
dwell upon these mercies in thought
and to render vivid to his mind, by
frequent reflection, SO many of the
visitations Of divine favor as he can
discern providentially unfolded in
his past life.
There is, then, a duty of thanks
giving. Praise is the expected thing,
gratitude is demanded. God is dis
appointed, and even angered, when
men receive his gifts without return
ing thanks. The Lord is gracious,
but that is no reason why the chill
dren Of men should be Ingraciously
thankless. Thanksgiving is a part
Of the code of duty of a Christian, it
is an integral portion of the deca-
logue Of moral action. 1t is not a
kind of extra service, or superhuous
activity added on to the body of duty
otherwise complete, but is of the
warp and wool of the Christians OBJ
legation. "Be thankful" was not the
idle, chance remark of a sentimental
apostle, but is the New Testament in
depreciation of the Old Testament
burden of blessing
But if thankfulness is a duty it is
none the less on that account a grace
If it is not optional, it may certainly
be ornamental. The fact that q
thing or trait is demanded by he
moral law does not render the sacri-
ice of that thing or the exhibition
of that trait any the less noble or
lovely. The grace of gratitude in
particular is peculiarly lovely vir-
tue. There is even, we may say, an
aesthetic quality to thankfulness.
praise is comely for the upright"
said the Psalmist, who was an au-
thority on the beauty of holiness.
Even the world appreciates the aes-
thetic value of gratitude-as we'll as
its earning power acquisitive of flu
ture favors, as a practical asset of
life-and poets in all ages have sung
of the charm OF grateful spirit, the
nobility of responsive nature. Even
the birds look up when they drink, as
II in mute recognition of the heav-
emily source of the bits of blessing
which fall to them, and certainly man,
much more richly endowed and
blessed, should do at least as much,
and express his Thank you!" both
by the testimony of the lips and the
generous actions of the life.
Thanksgiving day is a proper and
convenient occasion for considering
both the duty and the grace of graft
tude to the great Giver of all good
But Thanksgiving day is not simply
for the abstract discussion of general
ideas present in thought or stirring
| the emotions. 1his day does--or
should-have direct governing re-
| lat!on to the ministries of the hand
and the unfolding of the wallet.
| When 1t is celebrated in the spirit cs
the 'scriptural exhortation to thank
fitness, it becomes time of rejoc-
ing In the truest, fullest sense, be-
cause it joins praise to God with prac-
teal ministry to the poor and unfor-
tunate. Thanksgiving should issue
in Thanksgiving. Praise should be-
come practice. Gratitude must be-
come a temper and tendency of the
life. So will God be gloriiied and
eratified. and men, by their cordial
and constant recognition of his good
ness. be lifted in the scale Of being
and be the better fitted TO receive
from heaven more favors still.--Rev.
c. A. S. Dwight.