throne of Omnipotence? How can the SERM. praises of man be acceptable to that Power who cannot be dignified by the breath of immortals? to that Power, who felt no acquifition of honour when the morning ftars fang together, and all the fons of God Shouted for joy? But though we can add nothing to perfection, we may fhew ourfelves fenfible of his greatnefs, and our dependance; we may fhew that his grace is not given us in vain ; and, by reflecting on his nature, and acknowledging his goodness, we may improve our faculties, and acquire fresh motives to obedience. Men are commanded to pray without ceafing, not that the Creator may be exalted by their prayers, but that the creature may be made more perfect; not because devotion is beneficial to GOD, but because it is the fource of comfort and happiness to man. III. SERM. III. The fame reason which prompts us to give thanks to the all-ruling Providence for his mercies paft, urges us to entreat his future bounties; for, though he knoweth what things we have need of before we ask him*, yet it is highly requifite that we should thus fhew our truft in, and dependance upon GOD, and learn, by conftantly imploring every thing from Him alone, to place lefs. confidence in the world; to wean our minds from temporal delights and vicious gratifications; and to fix our affections on thofe fpiritual advantages and unfading treasures, which become us to folicit, and which He hath promised to beftow. Since then it is neceffary to draw nigh unto Him, in what manner fhall we addrefs the MAJESTY OF HEAVEN? Few have doubted the expediency of fome kind of *Matt. vi. 8. worship; III. worfhip; but what diverfity of opinions SERM. hath been formed refpecting the mode of approaching the HOLY ONE ?-Wherewith Shall I come before the Lord, and bow my'Self before the high God? Shall I give my first-born for my tranfgreffion, the fruit of my body for the fin of my foul*? Let the deities of favages be appeafed with flaughter and devaftation, let their altars be ftained with the blood of human victims; in their temples let parents plunge the dagger into the breasts of their children, and present the bleeding heart an offering of horror!—Our GOD hath declared, that the carcafes of the people who have burned their fons and their daughters in the fire, fhall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. Shall I offer the fruits of the field, or the unblemished firstlings of my flock?-Will the Lord be pleafed with thoufands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers III. SERM. of oil? Let the deities of pagans delight in the multitude of offerings, and the fat of fed beasts; the facrifices of God are a broken Spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not defpife. Shall I mortify my body with abstinence? fhall I torture my flesh with whips of iron? fhall I clothe myself in fackcloth, and bow down my bead as a bulrufh?-Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn ye to the Lord your God. With humility and contrition, with meekness and charity, with veneration and fubmiffion, with gratitude and hope, let us approach our GOD, our FATHER, and Our REDEEMER. Chrift, our pallover, is facrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feaft; not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of fincerity and truth || * Mic. vi. 7. + Pfalm li. 17, 8. In the filence of retirement let us lift up SERM. our fouls to HIM who liveth for ever; and forget not, amidst all the avocations of the world, the glorious Being by whom we exist. In public, let us join in prayer and thanksgiving with one mind and with one Spirit, undisturbed by vain and fenfual thoughts. Many there are, perhaps the greater part of every congregation, who, though they punctually affemble at the hours dedicated to devotion, and regularly join in the fupplications of the church, yet too often fuffer their attention to be engroffed with trivial concerns, and their minds to be occupied with the business of life: Can worshippers like these expect to derive any advantage from their prefence in the temple of the Holy One, and think that they shall be heard for their much speaking*? This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me †• • Matt. vi. 7. E 2 + Matt. xv. 8. Yes |