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to God, whom we are to worship in body as well as fpirit.

And as no one should 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 obviousnefs 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 interefting parts of this duty,-even when they are making confeffion of their fins, as if they were afhamed to be thought serious with their God? Surely, to address ourselves to his infinite Majesty after a negligent and dispassionate manner, befides the immediate indignity offered, it is a fad fign we little confider the bleflings we afk for, and far lefs deferve them. ---Befides, what is a prayer, unless our heart

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and affections go along with it? It is not fo much as the fhadow of devotion; and little better than the Papists 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 absence 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 propofition can never happen to be true, that a truly religious frame of mind fhould exift without fome outward mark of it. -The mind will shine through the veil of flesh which covers it, and naturally express 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 thousand of his faints in heaven, to judge the world, we may be partakers of their eternal inheritance. Amen.

SERMON XVII.

The Ways of Providence juftified to

Man.

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