XI.

gard to these appears to be fubftituted SE RM. by many, in the room of the weightier matters of the law.- -Though this should be admitted, it goes no farther than to fhew that human weakness, or corruption, may defeat the purpose of the most promifing means of moral improvement. That a fuperftitious attention to external worship, has too often ufurped the character, and supplanted the place of real virtue, will not be denied. Admonitions against so dangerous an error cannot be given too often. But because the best things have been often mifapplied and abused, no argument thence arifes for their being undervalued, and thrown afide. So alfo reafon, inftruction, and difcipline of every kind, have been frequently perverted to bad ends; and yet their intrinfic worth and usefulness remain untouched and acknowledged.--Befides this, it cannot be admitted that, because religious inftitutions produce not all the good that might be wished, and hoped for, they therefore do no good at all. This were a rash and

XI. ----

SERM. ill-founded conclufion. If the morals of men are not always amended by them as they ought to have been, there is reason, however, to think that they would have been worse without them. Some check is always given by them to open profligacy. Some affiftance is furnished to good difpofitions of heart; at least, to decency of manners. Even momentary impreffions of ferioufnefs made on the thoughtless by the folemnities of religion, are not without their fruit. They leave generally fome trace behind them; and when the traces are often renewed, they may be hoped, through the divine bleffing, to form at laft a deep impreffion on the mind.

At the fame time, I do not fay that religious inftitutions work upon the mind like a charm; and that mere bodily attendance on them will always enfure us of fome profitable effect. Let the means that are employed, for the improvement of rational beings, be ever fo powerful in themselves, much of their fuccefs will always depend on the manner in which

they

XI.

they are received and applied. I fhall SERM, therefore conclude my reasonings on this fubject, with a few obfervations concerning the difpofitions requifite on our part, for deriving benefit from the public ordinances of religion,

THE ends for which we affemble in the houfe of God are two; to worship God, and to liften to religious inftructions.

The public worship of God is the chief and most facred purpose of every religious affembly of Chriftians. Let it here be remembered, that it is not the uttering, or the hearing of certain words, that conftitutes the worship of the Almighty. It is the heart that praises, or prays. If the heart accompany not the words that are spoken or heard, we offer the facrifice of fools. By the inattentive thought, and the giddy and wandering eye, we profane the temple of the Lord, and turn the appearance of devotion into infult and mockery,

With regard to religious inftruction, attention and reverence are unqueftion

ably

SERM. ably due. All religious and moral know

XI.

ledge comes from God. It is a light
from heaven, firft tranfmitted to man by
the original constitution of his nature,
and afterwards made to fhine with fair-
er and fuller luftre by the revelation of
the gofpel in Jefus Christ.
Its bright-
ness may sometimes be ftronger, and
sometimes weaker, according to the me-
diums by which it is conveyed. But
ftill, as far as the inftructions delivered
from the pulpit are illuminated by the ray
from heaven, they are the truths of God,
and ought to be received as fuch. Re-
finements of vain philofophy, or intri-
cate fubtilties of theological controver-
fy, are undoubtedly not entitled to fuch
regard. But when the
great principles of
natural or revealed religion are difcuffed;
when the important doctrines of the gof
pel concerning the life, and fufferings,
and death of our bleffed Redeemer are
difplayed; or useful inftructions regard-
ing the regulation of life, and the pro-
per discharge of our feveral duties, are
the fubjects brought into view; it is

not

XI.

not then the human speaker, but the SER M. divine authority that is to be regarded.

In the speaker, many imperfections and infirmities may be difcovered. The discoveries of the gospel are reprefented in fcripture, as a hidden treasure brought to light; but, by the appointment of God, we have this treasure in earthen ves fels.* It is not the spirit of curiofity that ought to bring us to church. Too of ten, it is to be feared, we affemble there merely as critics on the preacher; critics on his fentiments, his language, and his delivery. But, fuch are not the difpofitions which become us on fo serious an occafion. It is with humility, with fairness, and candour, with an intention to improve ourselves in piety and virtue, with a view to make perfonal applica tion to our own character, that we ought to hear the word of God-When we enter the facred temple, let us ever confider ourselves as creatures furrounded with darkness, seeking illumination from heaven; as guilty creatures imploring forgiveness from our judge; as