Of Gratitude for the Grace of God
In this chapter, Thomas reminds us to be thankful for all things. We are materially blessed beyond measure (especially in this country). But Thomas tells us to go beyond the merely physical comforts, and to be thankful for spiritual blessings: for grace and for the salvation provided to us by Christ. Lastly, Thomas reminds us that Jesus “always does for our salvation (Dan 3:28) whatever He allows to come upon us.” In other words, whatever we have encountered, Jesus has encountered before us and suffered it for us. Thank you, Jesus!
Why do you seek rest when you are born to labor? Prepare yourself for patience more than for comforts, and for bearing the cross more than for joy.
For who among the people of this world would not gladly receive consolation and spiritual joy if they might always have it? For spiritual comforts exceed all the delights of the world and all the pleasures of the flesh.
For all worldly delights are either empty or unclean, while spiritual delights alone are pleasant and honorable, the offspring of virtue, and poured forth by God into pure minds. But no one can always enjoy these divine comforts at your own will, because the season of temptation does not pause for long.
2. There is a great difference between a heavenly visitation and false liberty of spirit and great self confidence. God does well in giving us the grace of comfort, but man does ill in not immediately giving God thanks for this grace. And thus the gifts of grace cannot flow in us, because we are ungrateful to the Giver of these graces, nor do we return the graces to the Fountainhead from which these flow. For grace will always be the portion of the believer who is grateful, and what is due to be given to the humble will be apportioned away from the proud.
3. I desire no consolation which takes away from me compunction, I love no contemplation which leads me to pride. For all that is high is not holy, nor is everything that is sweet good; every desire is not pure; nor is everything that is dear to us pleasing to God. I willingly accept that grace which always makes me more humble and more wary and more ready to forsake myself.
Whoever is made learned by the gift of grace and taught wisdom by the scourge of the withdrawal of grace, will not dare to claim any good thing, but will rather confess true poverty and need. Give unto God the things which are God’s, (Matt 22:21) and ascribe to yourself that which is yours; that is, give thanks to God for His grace, but for yourself alone confess your fault, and that your discipline is deserved for your fault.
4. Always sit down at the lowest place in the room and you shall be given the highest place (Luke 14:10). For the highest cannot exist without the lowest. For the highest saints of God are least in their own sight, and the more glorious they are, the more humble they are in themselves. Being full of grace and heavenly glory, they are not desirous of vain-glory; resting on God and strong in His might, they cannot be lifted up in any way. And they who ascribe unto God all the good which they have received, “seek not glory one of another, but the glory which comes from God alone (John 5:44),” and they desire that God shall be praised in Himself and in all His Saints above all things, and they are always striving for this very thing.
5. Be thankful, therefore, for the least benefit and you shall be worthy to receive greater things. Let the least be to you even as the greatest, and let that which is of little account be to you as a special gift. If the majesty of the Giver be considered, nothing that is given shall seem small and of no account, for that is not a small thing which is given by the Most
High God.
Yea, though He gave punishment and stripes, it ought to be acceptable, because He always does for our salvation (Dan 3:28) whatever He allows to come upon us. He who seeks to retain the favor of God, let him be thankful for the favor which is given, and patient in respect of that which is taken away. Let him pray that it may return; let him be cautious and humble lest he lose it.