To think that you are your own, or at your own disposal, is as absurd as to think that you created yourself. It is as plain that you are thus God’s, that you thus belong to him, and are to act and suffer all in thankful resignation to his pleasure, as that in him you _live, and move, and have your being_. 3. * _Resignation_ to the divine will, signifies a chearful approbation, and thankful acceptance of every thing that comes from God. It is not enough patiently to submit, but we must thankfully receive, and fully approve of every thing, that by the order of God’s providence, happens to us. * 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.