down to the holy duty he is engaged in, grows a fhamed of his own indifference and indecencies, his fpiritual diffipations and drynefs, and prefently fets himself to imitate that amiable pattern, and refolves to be remarkably devout, and as much the object of other mens imitation.

*

But believers are not the only persons, that receive benefit by it; unbelievers too, though un willingly, have their fhare. The profane teoffer, who dares encounter a fingle Chriftian, without fhame or fear of reproof, has here an answer to his bold feoffs, in that ftill and powerful argument, which arifes from the behaviour of a devout multitude, worshiping God" in the beauty of holinefs" Such an argument as will deftroy all its unreasonable fufpicions, and convince him of the fincerity of men's hearts towards God, by the natural unaffected figns of it, which are fhewn in his fervice: Such as will put him in mind of the numbers of devout and good men, against which he engages, lead him on from the thought of the prefent congregation to thofe of the fame kind that are fpread over the face of the earth; and make him fit down and confider, whether with fuch a fmall ftrength (his own, and that of a few morey he can encounter fo many thousands, even the united wisdom and practice of mankind. Surely, as St. Paul argues in relation to the prophefying practifed in the primitive church, if all thus worship, and there cometh in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifeft; and fo falling down on his

face,

face, he will worship God, and report, that God is in you of a truth," I Cor. xiv. 24, 25.

Thus have I explained the several grounds, on which external adoration stands, and the feveral good ufes, to which it may be employed; how much the honour of God depends upon it, the advancement of piety in our own breaft, and in that of our neighbour. And fure I need exhort you but briefly to the practice of that, which appears every way fo plain and fo reasonable a duty. Let us then lay up these thoughts in our hearts, "and keep our feet" (as the wife man fpeaks) "when we go to the fanctuary," by a careful reflexion upon them! Let us carry in our ears always when we enter into the place of God's public worship, the found of thofe expreffions he ufed to Mofes out of the flaming bush; "Put off "thy fhoes from thy feet, for the place whereon "thou ftandeft is holy ground!" Exod. iii. 5.

Let us confider with ourfelves, if fuch and fo many are the advantages that fpring from a due care of external behaviour, how great muft the inconveniences then be, that arife from the neglect of it? from an indecent and flovenly worship; a worship fit neither for God, who is a God of beauty and order, to receive; nor for man, who is the only creature in this lower world that has a sense of these things, to pay. Surely, nothing lefs can follow from fo loofe a practice, than the decay of religion in all its vital and fubstantial parts; a forgetfulness of that God, whom to have always in our thoughts is the greatest prefervative against fin that a Chriftian man can have; the derifions of the proud towards these our fo

lemn

emn meetings, and the open scorn of every thing that is holy.

From the primitive writers of the ftory of the church we learn, that the first Chriftians, who were fo exemplary in all the parts of Chriftian duty, above thofe of latter times, outstripped us in nothing more than in the outward marks of devotion and reverence, which appeared upon them in their public affemblies. They reforted to the house of God with the fame holy awe and reverence, as if they were really to meet, and to converfe with him there: They continued, during the time of divine fervice, immoveably fixed to their duty, without the leaft fign or token of a wandering, or alienated mind. They contented not themselves with the ordinary poftures of devotion, fuch as genuflexion, the bowing of the head or the body, but did (as one of the ancients fpeaks) proftrate themfelves on the pavement, cover it with their bodies, and wash it with tears of devout joy..

God grant, that, if thefe heights of devotion be too exalted for an age fo degenerate as this, in which "Iniquity abounds, and the love of

many is waxen cold;" yet, at least that so much of the life and 1pirit of primitive piety may be kept up among us, as may render our behaviour fober and compofed in the ufe of holy things, and take away from wicked men an occafion to blafpheme!

Now to God the Father, &c.

VOL. IV.

A SER

Let us lift up our hearts, with our hands, unte God in the heavens.

HESE are the words of Jeremiah, fpoken to the fews of his time, who were very exact and punctual in the outward ceremonies and performances of religion, but very deficient in the inward life and reality of it They reforted to the temple conftantly, and were careful to practife the various rites which the law of Moses prefcribed: But they did not bring along with them a difpofition of foul fuitable to theie folemnities; their mind was alienated from the fervice. even while they were performing it. The prophet, fenfible of this great defect in their way of worship,

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