Thanksgiving: The Blessings of the Covenant

The Blessings of the Covenant

O Lord, we take to ourselves without stealth, but of good and honest right, all the blessings of the Covenant; seeing we are heirs of the Covenant, joint-heirs with Christ Jesus Thy Son, and therefore doth our soul again exalt in God; for Thou art ours in Covenant now, and we are Thine. Thou art the Covenant God, and we are the Covenanted ones, a people near unto Thee, whom Thy grace has chosen and called and redeemed and set apart unto Thyself; of whom Thou hast said, even of all believers: "This people have I formed for Myself. They shall show forth My praise."

And, indeed, most gracious God, we feel this morning as if we must show forth Thy praise as we remember all Thy delivering mercy to us. Some of us have now known Thee for years, and we have had great and sore troubles, but Thou hast established Thy word unto Thy servants wherewith Thou hast caused us to hope. Thou hast led us by devious ways, but always by the right way. Thou hast chastened us sore, but Thou hast not appointed us unto death. Thou hast given us marks of Thy Fatherly love in every touch of Thy rod, and therefore do we bless Thy name. Thou didst bring us through fire and through water; men did ride over our heads, yet hast Thou brought us out into a wealthy place. Thou hast set our feet upon a rock and established our goings, and our soul sometimes wishes that the body would dance before the ark of God, for very joy and gratitude that overflows the soul, and would overflow the body too, till the very flesh should be made to pay homage before the ever-blessed One who hath caused His mercy to flow to us in ceaseless rivers of love. Amen.