fo as to distinguish pure and rational devotion, of which I have hitherto treated, from that which is, in any degree, spurious and adulterated. In the first place, It is an error to place devotion in the mere performance of any external act of worship. Prayer and praife, together with the ordinances peculiar to the Chriftian religion, are the appointed means of raifing the heart towards the Supreme Being. They are the instituted signs of devotion; the language in which it naturally expreffes itself. But let us remember, that they are figns and expreffions only; and we all know, that, in various cases, these may not correfpond to the thing fignified. It is in the dispofition of the heart, not in the motion of the lips, or in the pofture of the body, that devotion confifts. The heart may pray or praise, when no words are uttered. But if the heart be unconcerned or ill affected, all the words we can utter, how properly framed soever, are no other than empty and unacceptable founds in the ear of the Almighty. IN SERM. X. In the fecond place, It is an error to conceive the pleasures and advantages of devotion to be indifcriminately open to all. Devotion, like many parts of religion, may in fome lights be confidered as a privilege, and in others as a duty. It is the duty of all, to love God,, and to refign themselves to his will. But it is the privilege of good men only, to rejoice in God, and to confide in his friendship. Hence a certain preparation is requifite, for the enjoyment of devotion in its whole extent. Not only muft the life be reformed from grofs enormities, but the heart must have undergone that change which the Gofpel demands. A competent knowledge of God must be acquired. A proper foundation must be laid in faith and repentance, for intercourfe with Heaven. They who would rufh all at once from the arms of the world, into the facred retreat of devotion; they who imagine. that retreat to ftand always ready for the reception of fuch as betake themselves to it. : X. it, for no reason, but because every other SERM. refuge excludes them, betray grofs ignorance of this part of religion. They bring to it faculties unqualified to taste its pleafures; and they grasp at hopes, to which they are not entitled. By incorporating with devotion the unnatural mixture of their unfanctified paffions, they defile and corrupt it. Hence that gloom which has often spread over it. Hence, those superftitious mortifications and aufterities, by which the falfely devout hope to purchase favour from God; haunted by the terrors of a guilty confcience, and vainly ftruggling to fubftitute a fervile and cringing homage, in the room of the pure affections of a renewed heart. On fuch altars the hallowed fire of true devotion cannot burn; nor can any incense ascend from them, that shall be grateful to Heaven. Bring no more vain oblations. Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, faith the Lord. Ceafe to do evil, Then draw nigh to God, learn to do well. X. SERM. nigh to you.- -But though devotion requires a pure heart, and a virtuous life, and neceffarily fuppofes the exercise of frequent retirement, I must observe, In the third place, That it is an error to conceive it as requiring an entire retreat from the world. Devotion, like every other branch of religion, was intended to fit us for discharging the duties of life. We serve God, by being useful to one another. It is evident from the frame of our nature, and from our common neceffities and wants, that we were defigned by Providence for an active part on this earth. The Gofpel of Christ, accordingly confiders us as engaged in the concerns of the world; and directs its exhortations to men, in all the various relations, characters, and employments of civil life. Abstraction from fociety, therefore, and total dedication of our time to devout exercises, cannot be the most proper method of acquiring the favour of God. J any But I mean not, however, to throw blame on those, who having loft all relish for the ordinary purfuits of life, in consequence of severe wounds which they have received from affliction; who, being left to ftand alone, and difcerning their connections with the world to be in fome measure broken off, choose to feek tranquillity in a religious retirement, and to confecrate their days entirely to God. Situations fometimes occur, which both justify a great degree of retreat from the world, and entitle it to refpect. with regard to the bulk of mankind, Christian devotion neither requires nor implies any fuch fequeftration from the affairs of men. Nay, for the most part, it will be cultivated with greater fuccefs by those who mingle it with the active employments of life. For the mind, when entirely occupied by any one object, is in hazard of viewing it at last through a false medium. Objects, especially, fo great and fublime as those of devotion, when we attempt to fix upon them SERM. } |
