V.

which we cannot but know, if we reflect SER M. at all, to be entirely agreeable to his Will, and in pursuance of the wife and good Defigns of his Creation, and Administration of the Affairs of Mankind. And this feems to be one Reason, why the Love of God is fo ftrictly enjoined, and fo great Strefs is laid upon it in Religion; because, befides its being a most amiable Affection and moft becoming our Nature, and its tending greatly to our Perfection and Happiness, it has a most powerful Influence in determining us to promote the Intereft of Society and of Mankind, by a strict Observance of the Rules of Equity, Temperance, and Charity, in every part of our Conduct; which Virtues, when practised by us from a Principle of Reverence and Love to God, and in imitation of his Nature, are as truly and properly a part of his Worship, as the Exercise of any Affections of which he is the ultimate and fole Object. This is evident not only from the Notion which Reafon gives us of the Worship of God, but alfo from the Accounts and Defcriptions of it, which we meet with in many places of Scripture. I fhall only take notice of two Paffages, which are very direct and full to this purpose: The first is in Micah vi. 8. where we find this Anfwer returned to an Inquiry

L 4

SERM. Inquiry which is made in the foregoing VerV. fes, concerning the true and acceptable Me

thod of worshipping the Deity; He hath fhewed thee, O Man, what is Good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. The other Paffage is in the Epifle of St. James, chap. i. 27. where the Apostle gives us this Description of pure Religion, and the true Worship of the Father Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this; to vifit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction, and to keep ourfelves unfpotted from the World. In vain therefore do any pretend to worship God, while they knowingly omit their Duty to Men: In vain is Religion pleaded, in prejudice to Morality; which is fo far from being fubverted by the Principles of Piety, that these, on the contrary, are a great Support and Security to it; and never attain their End, till they have made us thoroughly just and honest, sober and temperate, friendly and charitable in all our Converfation. Let us always then confider our pious Difpofitions towards God, as intended for influencing and ftrengthning our honeft and generous Affections towards Mankind, and freely fuffer them to produce in us all the Fruits of Mercy, Peace,

Peace, and Righteousness. Thus fhall we SER M. truly honour and worship God, and offer him V. the Sacrifices, with which he is well pleafed. To him may all Praise be given, both now and for ever. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON VI.

The external Duties of Religious Worship, and positive Rites of Christianity.

HEB. X. 25.

Not for faking the Affembling of ourselves together, as the Manner of fome is; but exborting one another.

T is the matter of almost every one's
Obfervation, that Men are very apt to

I

run into Extremes; that not only different Men do fo, but that the fame Men, at different times, have violent Fondneffes and Averfions to the very fame things; many Instances of which may be feen in their Conduct, not only in regard to trifling Amusements and Affairs of little confequence, but with refpect to Matters of the most serious Concern and greatest Importance to them:

But

But that we may confine ourselves to one SER M. Inftance, relating to that, which is to be the VI. Subject of the prefent Difcourfe; while a great number of those who make profeffion of Religion have so high an Opinion of the Duties of Devotion, and the external Acts of Divine Worship, and lay out fo much of their Time and Zeal about them, as to fhow themselves to be no better than Enthusiasts in the Notions which they entertain of them, and grofly superstitious in the Use which they make of them; there are, on the other hand, many others, fome of whom are not to be thought void of a true Senfe of Religion, who fet no great Value upon these things; who confider them to be always capable of great Abuse and Corruption, and frequently productive of a great deal of Harm, and to be at best but weak and childish Amufements, little deserving the regard of a wife Man, who can offer to God a more manly and reasonable Service, a pure Heart and a virtuous Life; which, they fay, after all the Zeal that has been expreffed for other matters, are the only things which are of real Worth and Importance: Nay, of thofe who have been fome time most remarkable for their zealous and punctual Attendance on the outward Forms and Rites of religious Worship,

there