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Bible Encyclopedias
Thanksgiving
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or the act of giving thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercy received. It implies, according to Dr. Barrow (Sermons, 1, ser. 8,9),
(1) a right apprehension of the benefits conferred;
(2) a faithful retention of benefits in the memory, and frequent reflections upon them;
(3) a due esteem and valuation of benefits;
(4) a reception of those benefits with a willing mind, a vehement affection;
(5) due acknowledgment of our obligations;
(6) endeavors of real compensation, or, as it respects the Divine Being, a willingness to serve and exalt him;
(7) esteem, veneration, and love of the benefactor. The blessings for which we should be thankful are (1) temporal, such-as health, food, raiment, rest, etc.;
(2) spiritual, such as the Bible, ordinances, the Gospel and its blessings, as free grace, adoption, pardon, justification, calling, etc.;
(3) eternal, or the enjoyment of God in a future state;
(4) also for all that is past, what we now enjoy, and what is promised; for private and public, for ordinary and extraordinary blessings; for prosperity, and even adversity, so far as rendered subservient to our good.
The obligation to this duty arises
(1) from the relation we stand in to God; (2) the divine command; (3) the promises God has made; (4) the example of all good men; (5) our unworthiness of the blessings we receive; (6) the prospect of eternal glory. Whoever possesses any good without giving thanks for it deprives him who bestows that good of his glory, sets a bad example before others, and prepares a recollection severely painful for himself when he comes in his turn to experience ingratitude. See Chalmers, Sermons; Hall, Sermons; Dwight, Theology.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Thanksgiving'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/t/thanksgiving.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
