SERMON I.

PSA L. xxvii. 4.

One thing have I defired of the Lord, that will I feek after, that I may dwell in the boufe of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

DA

AVID, the author of this pfalm, is much celebrated in the facred fcriptures. As a man, he was not without faults; but as a king, he fhines with uncommon luftre. He diftinguished himself in early youth, as the champion of his na- ▾ tive land; in fighting the battles of Ifrael, he became the hero of his age; and, at last, he afcended the throne, on which he fat with much splendour during many years. He was the founder of the Jewish monarchy. From being feparate tribes, he made the Jews a nation. Their judge

in peace, as well as their leader in war, he fecured by his councils what he had gained by his arms, and gave to Judea a name and a renown among the kingdoms of the Eaft. To the bravery of a warrior, and the wisdom of a statesman, he added what in all ages has been no less admired, the accomplishments of a poet or bard. "The fweet Pfalmift of Ifrael" confecrated his harp to the praises of the Lord, and compofed to it facred strains, that have ministered to the improvement and to the devotion of fucceeding times, till this day.

Notwithstanding all his other engagements, he found time for the exercises of religion: Notwithstanding all the pleasures and honours of a throne, he found his chief happiness in the house of the Lord. "One "thing have I defired of the Lord, that will

I feek after, that I may dwell in the house "of the Lord all the days of my life." Whenever his favourite fubject prefents itfelf, he takes fire, and speaks of it, not only with zeal, but with transport. "How "amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of "hofts!

"hofts! My foul longeth, yea, even faint"eth for the courts of the Lord: my heart " and my flesh cry out for the living God."

great import

It becomes then a fubject worthy of our attention, to enquire, What there is in the public inftitutions of religion, to have rendered them an object of so ance to the king of Ifrael? This will apif we confider their influence on men, with respect to their religious capacity; with respect to their moral character; with respect to their political state; and with respect to their domestic life.

pear,

In the first place, let us confider the influence of religious inftitutions upon men, with respect to their religious capacity.

There are many qualities which we fhare in common with the inferior animals. In the acuteness of the external fenfes, some of them excel our fpecies. They have a reason of their own; they make approaches to human intelligence, and are led by an instinct of nature to affociate with one another. They have also their virtues,

A 2

But in all their

virtues, and exhibit fuch examples of affection, of industry, and of courage, as give leffons to mankind. actions they discover no and no traces of religion.

sense of Deity,

It was reserved

to be the glory of man, that he alone should be admitted into the presence of his Creator, and be rendered capable of knowing and adoring the perfections of the Almighty. As piety is the diftinguishing mark of the human race, a tendency to the exercise thereof is in fome degree natural to the mind. When we look up to heaven, and behold the fun fhining in glory, or the moon and the ftars walking in brightness, untaught nature prompts us to adore him that made them, to bow down and worship in the temple not made with hands. When we are furrounded by dangers on every fide, and overwhelmed with deep affliction, by the law of our nature, we tend to fome fuperior being for safety and relief: or when we are surprised with a fudden flow of unexpected prosperity, spontaneously we lift up our eyes and hands to heaven, to pour forth the grate

ful

ful effufions of the heart to our unfeen Benefactor.

nary,

As there are principles then in human nature, which incline men to religion, and principles alfo which incline them to fociety, it would not have been extraordiif the combined influence of the religious and affociating principles had been fo ftrong as to have prompted men to have affembled in public, for the purposes of devotion, although no law had been given to that end. But it was not left to this. Among all the nations of the world, the public interested itself in the cause; the legislative authority interpofed its fanction, and kings and lawgivers encouraged the propenfity of the people to religion. It required no profound wisdom to foresee the manifold advantages that the public worship of a Deity would introduce among men. Accordingly temples were every where built, facred ceremonies were inftituted, an order of men was appointed to officiate in holy things, and certain days were fet apart for the people to join in the celebration of divine worship. Indeed, as to the objects,

A 3.