folemn duty in the houfe of God.This is furely the leaft that can be neceffary in the immediate prefence of the Sovereign of the world, upon whofe acceptance of our addreffes all our prefent and future happinefs depends. External behaviour is the refult of inward reverence, and is therefore part of our duty to GOD, whom we are to worfhip in body as well as fpirit. And as no one fhould be wanting in outward refpect and decorum before an earthly prince or fuperior, much lefs fhould we be fo before him, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain. Notwithstanding the obvioufnefs of this branch of duty,-it feems often to be little understood; and whoever will take a general furvey of church behaviour, will often meet with fcenes of fad variety. What a vein of indolence and indevotion fometimes feems to run throughout whole congregations !-what ill-timed pains do fome take in putting on an air of gaiety and indifference in the most interesting parts of this duty, -even when they are making confeffion of their fins, as if they were ashamed to be thought ferious with their GOD! -Surely, to addrefs ourselves to his infinite Majesty after a negligent and difpaffionate manner, befides the immediate indignity offered, it is a fad fign we little confider the bleffings we ask for, and far lefs deferve them.-Befides, what is a prayer, unless our heart and affections go along with it?-It is not fo much as the fhadow of devotion; and little better than the papifts telling their beads, or honouring GOD with their lips, when their hearts are far from him.-The confideration that a perfon is come to proftrate himself before the throne of high heaven, and in that place which is particularly distinguished by his prefence, is fufficient inducement for any one to watch over his imagination, and guard against the leaft appearance of levity and difrespect. - An inward fincerity will of course influence the outward deportment; but where the one is wanting, there is great reafon to fufpect the abfence of the other. I own it is poffible, and often happens, that this external garb of -religion may be worn, when there is little within of a piece with it;-but I believe the converfe of the proposition can never happen to. be true, that a truly religious frame of mind fhould exift without fome outward mark of it.The mind will fhine through the veil of flesh which covers it, and naturally exprefs its religious difpofitions; and, if it poffeffes the power of godlinefs,--will have the external form of it too. - May God grant us to be defective in neither, but that we may fo praise and magnify GOD on earth,-that when he cometh, at the last day, with ten thoufand of his faints in heaven, to judge the world, we may be partakers of their eternal inheritance. Amen. SERMON XLIV. The Ways of Providence juftified to Man. PSALM LXXIII. 12, 13. Behold these are the ungodly who profper in the world, they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. T HIS Complaint of the Pfalmift's concerning the promifcuous diftribution of God's bleffings to the just and unjuft, that the fun fhould fhine without distinction upon the good and the bad, and rains defcend upon the righteous and unrighteous man,-is a fubject that has afforded much matter for inquiry, and at one time or other has raised doubts to dishearten and perplex the minds of men. If the fovereign Lord of all the earth does look on, whence fo much diforder in the face of |