Robert Traill (Sermons from 1 Peter 1:1-4), Works 4:138-139:
What then is this blessing and praising God, so much spoken of in the word, practised by the saints, and commanded by God? … Owning his perfect blessedness in himself, in all the appearances of it to his creatures. When we bless him, we only own what is in him, but we do not add any thing to him. It is only the inconceivable blessedness and perfection of God, that shine to us in his word and works, which we see and own when we bless him. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man, as Elihu speaks to Job, chap. 35:6-8. All the service and obedience that is paid by his creatures add nothing to him; and all the sins and provocations that are amongst men detract nothing from him. His infinite perfect blessedness is incapable either of addition or diminution. Our blessing of him is only acknowledging his blessedness.
What then is this blessing and praising God, so much spoken of in the word, practised by the saints, and commanded by God? … Owning his perfect blessedness in himself, in all the appearances of it to his creatures. When we bless him, we only own what is in him, but we do not add any thing to him. It is only the inconceivable blessedness and perfection of God, that shine to us in his word and works, which we see and own when we bless him. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man, as Elihu speaks to Job, chap. 35:6-8. All the service and obedience that is paid by his creatures add nothing to him; and all the sins and provocations that are amongst men detract nothing from him. His infinite perfect blessedness is incapable either of addition or diminution. Our blessing of him is only acknowledging his blessedness.
