1. OUT OF PATERNAL AND DIVINE GOODNESS AND MERCY. [Ps. 103:13+] It is

PATERNAL or fatherly [Ps 103:13+] goodness and mercy, because He is my
Father through Jesus Christ, and loves me as His child. It is

DIVINE goodness and mercy, because God is love, [I John 4:16+] and only
His unspeakable love could move Him to bestow His great benefits upon
sinful men, even upon the wicked and unthankful. [Matt. 5:45+]

2. WITHOUT ANY MERIT OR WORTHINESS IN ME. [Gen. 32:10+] I have merited
(deserved) nothing and I am worthy of nothing but punishment; for I am a
sinful being, [Ps. 51:5] and I have broken God's law many times by
thoughts and words and deeds. [Jer. 14:7]

III. WHAT I OWE TO GOD IN RETURN.

For all His goodness and mercy

I AM IN DUTY BOUND [Ps. 116:12+, Ps. 50:14]

1. TO THANK AND PRAISE HIM. I must not receive God's benefits as a
matter of course, but must recognize them as gifts of His grace, and
daily thank and praise Him in my heart and with my lips. [Ps. 103:1+]

2. TO SERVE AND OBEY HIM. I must show my gratitude in my life by obeying
God's commandments and giving myself with all my heart to His service.
[Rom. 12:1+]

THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE; namely, 1. That all the blessings I enjoy