'Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name' Psalms 103:1
Bless the LORD, O my soul. That is to say, "Let thy vocation be that of the seraphim, O my soul, and enter on the life of heaven!" [Isaiah 6:2-3]
Why should I praise him? Can my praise be of any advantage to him? No; nor that of all the heavenly hosts. It is infinite condescension in him to bearken unto the praises of his most exalted creatures.
Let me bless the Lord, because no function will be more rich in blessings to my soul than this. Let me do it, because it is the peculiar privilege of man on this earth to bless the Lord. When he would find any to join him in this, he has to ascend the skies. Let me do it, because the earth is fully furnished with the materials of praise. The sands, the seas, the flowers, the insects; animals, birds, fields, mountains, rivers, trees, clouds, sun, moon, stars, -- all wait for me to translate their attributes and distinctions into praise. But, above all, the new creation [2Cor. 5:17].
Let me do it, because of him, through him, and to him, are all the things that pertain to my existence, health, comfort, knowledge, dignity, safety, progress, power, and usefulness.
A thousand of his ministers in earth, sea, and sky [Ps. 103:20-22], are concerned in the production and preparation of every mouthful that I eat. The breath that I am commanded and enabled to modulate in praise, neither comes nor goes without a most surprising exhibition of the condescension, kindness, wisdom, power, and presence of him whom I am to praise. Is it not dastardly to be receiving benefits, without even mentioning the name, or describing the goodness of the giver? Let candidates for heaven bless the Lord. There is no place there for such as have not learned this art.
*How shall I [bless] him? Not with fine words. No poetic talent is here necessary: Any language that expresses heart- felt admiration will be accepted. Praise him so far as you know him; and he will make known to you more of his glory.
-- George Bowen, 1873; excerpted from Spurgeon's 'Treasury of David' Ps. 103 v. 22 (which repeats the phrase)
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John 4:23 'But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.'
Bless the LORD, O my soul. That is to say, "Let thy vocation be that of the seraphim, O my soul, and enter on the life of heaven!" [Isaiah 6:2-3]
Why should I praise him? Can my praise be of any advantage to him? No; nor that of all the heavenly hosts. It is infinite condescension in him to bearken unto the praises of his most exalted creatures.
Let me bless the Lord, because no function will be more rich in blessings to my soul than this. Let me do it, because it is the peculiar privilege of man on this earth to bless the Lord. When he would find any to join him in this, he has to ascend the skies. Let me do it, because the earth is fully furnished with the materials of praise. The sands, the seas, the flowers, the insects; animals, birds, fields, mountains, rivers, trees, clouds, sun, moon, stars, -- all wait for me to translate their attributes and distinctions into praise. But, above all, the new creation [2Cor. 5:17].
Let me do it, because of him, through him, and to him, are all the things that pertain to my existence, health, comfort, knowledge, dignity, safety, progress, power, and usefulness.
A thousand of his ministers in earth, sea, and sky [Ps. 103:20-22], are concerned in the production and preparation of every mouthful that I eat. The breath that I am commanded and enabled to modulate in praise, neither comes nor goes without a most surprising exhibition of the condescension, kindness, wisdom, power, and presence of him whom I am to praise. Is it not dastardly to be receiving benefits, without even mentioning the name, or describing the goodness of the giver? Let candidates for heaven bless the Lord. There is no place there for such as have not learned this art.
*How shall I [bless] him? Not with fine words. No poetic talent is here necessary: Any language that expresses heart- felt admiration will be accepted. Praise him so far as you know him; and he will make known to you more of his glory.
-- George Bowen, 1873; excerpted from Spurgeon's 'Treasury of David' Ps. 103 v. 22 (which repeats the phrase)
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John 4:23 'But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.'
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