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X.

and farther enfnared within the magic SER M. circle, till at length you are precluded from all retreat. The most pure and virtuous man is always the freeft. The religion of Chrift is justly entitled the perfect law of liberty.* It is only when the Son makes us free, that we are free indeed: and it was with reason the Pfalmift faid, I will walk at liberty, for I feek thy precepts.

James i. 25.

+ Pfalm cxix. 45.

SERMON

1

SERMON XI.

On the IMPORTANCE of PUBLIC

WORSHIP.

PSALM XXVI. 8.

SERM.

Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy houfe, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

XI. GOD is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in fpirit and in truth. That religion chiefly consists in an inward principle of goodness, is beyond difpute, and that its value and efficacy are derived from its effects in purifying the heart, and reforming the life.

All

ΧΙ

All external services, which have not S ER M. this tendency, are entirely infignificant. They degenerate into mere fuperftition, equally unacceptable to God, and unprofitable to man. Hence they are fo often treated in fcripture with high contempt, when fubftituted in the room of the important duties of a virtuous life.

Notwithstanding this, it is certain that external services have their own place, and a confiderable one too, in the system of religion. What their proper place is no one can be at a lofs to difcern, who will only make a juft diftinction between the means, and the end, in religion. It is evident there is danger of men's erring here, either on one fide or other; and it is certain that they have erred on both. After it was observed, that mankind were prone to lay too much weight on the external parts of religion, it began to be thought, that no weight was to be allowed to them at all. The time was, when all religion centered in attending the duties of the church, and paying veneration to whatever

VOL. IV.

P

XI.

SERM whatever was accounted facred. This alone fanctified the character, and compensated every blemish in moral conduct. From this extreme, the spirit of the age feems to be running faft into the oppofite extreme, of holding every thing light that belongs to public worship. But if superstition be an evil, and a very great one it undoubtedly is, irreligion is not a fmaller evil: And though the form of godliness may often remain, when the power of it is wanting; yet the power cannot well fubfift where the form is altogether gone. The holy Pfalmist, whose words are now before us, difcovers much better principles. Expreffing always the highest regard for the laws of God, and the precepts of virtue, he breathes, at the fame time, a fpirit of pure devotion. Though loaded with the cares of royalty, and encircled with the fplendor of a court, he thought it well became him to show refpect to the great Lord of nature; and on many occafions expreffes, as he does in the text, his delight in the public fervice of the temple.

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Lord,

XI.

Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy S ER M houfe, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. In difcourfing from which words I purpose to fhew the importance of the public worship of God, and the benefits refulting from it. I fhall confider it in three lights; as it refpects God; as it refpects the world; as it refpects ourselves.

I. LET us confider it with respect to God. If there exist a Supreme Being, the Creator of the world, no confequence appears more natural and direct than this, that he ought to be worshipped by his creatures, with every outward expreffion of fubmiffion and honour. We need only appeal to every man's heart, whether this be not a principle which carries along with it its own obligation, that to Him who is the Fountain of our life, and the Father of our mercies; to Him who has raised up that beautiful structure of the universe in which we dwell, and where we are furrounded with so many bleffings and comforts; folemn acknowledge

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