ftate from fociety. It never was, and never will be good for man to live alone. Social worship is peculiarly acceptable to God, as might be fhewn from many paffages of fcripture, Math. xviii. 19, 20.

Again, I fay unto you, that if two of you fhall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they ́ shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are 'gathered together in my name, there am I in the 'midft of them. Pfal. lxxxvii. 2. The Lord lov

eth the gates of Zion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob. And doth not the experience of every one of thofe who love the habitation of God's houfe, and the place where his honour dwelleth, teftify what an elevation of foul, and enlargement of heart, they obtain by mingling their voices in his praife? As united fires brighten each other's blaze, as many concordant founds make the finer harmony, fo the union of many hearts, in divine worship, makes the higher spiritual melody, not only more grateful to God, but more delightful to themfelves. The pleafure of this is, indeed, greatly allayed on earth, by a mixture of difcordant notes (to continue the former allufion) of enemies with friends. But allow me to make a fuppofition, that all within thefe walls, this evening, were perfectly upright with God, and that our mutual fincerity were perfectly known to each other, what inexpreffible fervency, and rapture of fpirit, would it give to every one, in finging the praises of God, and of the Lamb, to confider him. felf as joined with fuch a number of pure, holy, bleffed, redeemed fouls? But how much beyond

Y

conception will this be increased, when we meet with the innumerable company of the redeemed above, and all our pious fathers, who, many ages before this, ferved our common master; many, we hope, who kept holy days, in this very place, and whose bodies now fleep in the dust under our feet, and around us; nay, when all, from the east and from the weft, fhall be completely gathered in, when every heart fhall agree with every tongue, and falvation to the Lamb fhall be the univerfal, delightful, repeated, acclamation? There are two pafages of fcripture which speak of the multitude, and employment of this glorious company, which ought never to be read without a holy and delightful reverence. Rev. v. 9, 15. And they fung a new fong, faying, thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the feals thereof: for thou waft flain, and haft redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of e' very kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and the four beafts faid Amen. And the four and

twenty elders fell down, and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Rev. vii. 9, 12. After • this, I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no • man could number, of all nations, and kindreds,

and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; faying, Amen, bleffing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God, ' for ever and ever, Amen.

I proceed, now, to conclude the fubject, by fome

practical improvement of what has been faid. And can we refufe to begin, by praifing God for his unfpeakable love, and matchlefs condefcenfion? The whole work of our redemption is wonderful; but, in a particular manner, the conclufion of it: that we should not only have our clothes washed in the blood of the Lamb, but should be before the throne of God, and ferve him day and night in his temple. At the dedication of the temple of Solomon, that wife and pious prince breaks out into an expreffion of holy admiration and astonishment, and fays, 2 Chron. vi. 18. But will God in very deed dwell ' with men on the earth? Behold, heaven, and the ⚫ heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much 'lefs this houfe which I have built? How much greater reason have we to fay, when recollecting our guilt and unworthiness, and shall men in very deed ⚫ dwell with God in heaven!' how amazing the dif tance! how glorious the dwelling and employment! and how mean the invited guests! Let us take confufion of face to ourfelves, and acknowledge, that this cannot be accounted for, but by the propitiation and purchase of the eternal Son of God, as the only foundation of our hope. Let us, in the view of every privilege, renew the exercise of faith in him, as giving us a title to it; and, on this occa fion, particularly, beg of him to lead us, by his Spirit, through all the neceffary steps of previous preparation, and at last receive us into his glory.

In the fecond place, from what has been faid, you may fee the importance and benefit of the worship and fervice of God on earth. If this ftate is a state

Ser. 8. of trial and preparation for that which is to follow it, and the worship of God is fo great a part of the employment, and fo great a fource of the happiness of the faints above, it is plain, that his worship on earth must be of the highest usefulness. It is not only an unquestionable duty, but it is manifeftly ne ceffary to fit us for, and habituate us to the heavenly exercife. It is plain from the whole analogy of providence, that a preparation of nature is necessary for the poffeffion and enjoyment of any flate. We see, even in natural things, that fowing, and a long time of gradual nourishment, is neceffary to the strength and confiftency of any plant or tree; and that, according to the feed, fo is the production. This the Apostle very strongly applies, Gal. vi. 7. 'Be not deceived; God is not 'mocked; for whatsoever a man foweth, that shall

he alfo reap.' Thefe that expect to ferve God in his temple above, must be habituated to ferve him in his church on earth. This is the feed-time; then is the harvest. The houfe of God is the place both of the birth and nourishment of his people, Pfal. Ixxxvii. 5. And of Zion it fhall be faid, this and that man was born in her; and the highest himself fhall establish her.'

Therefore fuffer me, my brethren, to reprove the fin, and fhow the danger of thofe, who altogether ne glect and defpife the worship of God. If chance, imita tion, curiofity, or a worfe motive, has brought to this audience, any who are habitual defpifers of the wor→ fhip of God, I hereby affure them, in his name, that, unless they change their heart and practice, in heaven they shall never dwell, because its employment

they do not love. It is both the evidence and caufe of the degeneracy of many in this age, that they have fallen into a neglect and contempt of the pu blick worship of God; that, in their notions of religion, when they form any at all, they, in a great measure, leave out their duty to their Maker, and confine it only to a few of the ordinary offices due from one man to another. Experience, indeed, plainly fhows the weakness and feebleness of thefe virtues that are not enlivened and animated by piety towards God; and that it is as poffible to uphold the fuperftructure, by taking away the foundation, to preferve the vigour and verdure of the branches of a tree, by feparating them from the root, as to preferve and fecure any regularity of conduct, without a principle of divine life, of vital, fpiritual union with God through Chrift; but what, in a particular manner, fhows the folly of all fuch, is their relation to eternity. Suppofing their practice were every way fit and proper for this world, how does it agree with the em ployment of heaven? Doth not confcience tell you, that you have neither right nor relish, nor even capa city for it, and, by neceffary confequence, are under a fentence of condemnation, children of wrath, and •heirs of hell?' for there is no middle state. I be feech you therefore, nay, obteft you, in the most fo lemn manner, that you henceforth honour God in his houfe and ordinances, if you expect that ever he fhould honour you: and, remember, that this warn ing, which you have received by the wife disposal, of his providence, will be an aggravation of your guilt, if you neglect and defpife it,