ber of its brightest Ornaments, paft or prefent, may at first Setting out have been chiefly determined to that exemplary Conduct in general, and even that regular Attendance upon facred Offices in particular, which advanced them to this Character, by the Influence of temporal Motives; fuch as, Fear of Cenfure and Difgrace on one hand, and Hopes of Reputation and Encouragement on the other. And yet most certain it is (and may we All be duly fenfible of it!) that whilst our Views rise no higher than to be feen of Men; and this in order to promote, not God's Glory, but our own Fame or Fortunes in the World; our Hearts are not right, and our most orderly Appearances at the Worship of our Maker want That, which alone can render them well-pleafing in His Sight. But, must we hence conclude, that the ftated Returns of our Religious Offices, and the Laws by which the Obfervance of them is enforced, are of no real Service in the Advancement of true Piety? Far otherwife. Young Minds are by this Means timely habituated to an awful Deportment towards the Supreme Being: They are. trained up to a Love of the Habitation of GOD's Houfe, and of the Place where His Honour dwelleth: And (by His Bleffing) many

a

a Pfal. XXVI. 8.

Hearts,

Hearts, which at first perhaps were touched only by fecular Confiderations, in Process of Time catch the Holy Flame: A Flame which shall happily kindle in them a regular Warmth of Devotion, and such as shall burn and brighten all their Lives after. This, I doubt not, hath been the Cafe of many Thousands, who are now praising God for those happy Opportunities which they here enjoyed; nay for thofe very Restraints and Chaftenings, which for the prefent feemed not to be joyous but grie÷ vous; which nevertheless afterwards yielded the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness unto them that were exercifed thereby.

a

And, could the like outward Regularity of Worship be as strictly required, and as generally secured, in private Families daily, and in our Churches at least on one Day in feven, in other Parts of this Kingdom; I am perfuaded, the Publick would foon perceive the agreeable Effects of it, at least on the rifing Generation. How far this may be wholly practicable, I prefume not to fay. But furely fomething more might be done, than too often is done, for fo good a Purpose. And if once Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and Giving of Thanks, be not only made publickly for all Orders and Degrees of Men, but as unib 1 Tim. II. 1, 2.

b

a Heb. XII.11.

verfally

verfally frequented by them; then, and not 'till then, may we hope to lead quiet and peaceable Lives, in all Godliness and Honesty.

upon

I have now gone through the Particulars at first propofed. But the Exception juft confidered fuggefts to us one very important, tho' plain, Truth, which I would willingly leave all our Minds in Conclufion of the prefent Subject; namely, "That a Good Life, as it is the best Preparative for Religious Worship, fo is it a Qualification indifpenfably neceffary to render our most punctual Performances a reasonable or an acceptable Service."

a

The Sacrifice of the Wicked is an Abomination to the LORD. Be our Approaches to the Temple, and even to the Altar, never so conftant, and our Minds worked up to a Pitch of Devotion never fo feemingly regular; yet we may affure ourselves, Nothing of this Kind will ever be admitted, either as an Equivalent for a virtuous Life, or as an Atonement for a vicious one: If the prevailing Inclination of our Hearts be to Wickedness, the LORD will not hear us. We know (faid the Blind Man, to whom our Saviour gave Sight) we know, it is one of the clearest Notions we have concerning the Divine Proceedings, that GOD

C

a Prov. XV. 8. b Pfal. LXVI. 8. c Joh. IX. 31.

heareth

a

b

beareth not Sinners: But, if any Man be at once a Worshipper of Him and in the general Tenor of Life doeth His Will, him He heareth.--Let us then lift up holy Hands, and offer unto the LORD our Offerings in Righteousnefs. To the Piety of our Devotions let us add Purity of Life, and Uprightness of Converfation. So fhall our Prayers and Praises come up with Acceptance before GOD; and from thus Fearing and Reverencing Him in the Affembly of the Saints here on Earth, we fhall, in His good Time, be translated into

с

181

the general Affembly and Church of the Firstborn, that are written in Heaven: Where, without Diffidence or Mifgivings, without Wanderings or Distractions, without Weariness or Pain, we shall praise and adore HIM that fitteth on the Throne, and the LAMB, for Ever and Ever!

d

a 1 Tim. II. 8.

b Mal. III. 3.

c Heb. XII. 23.

d Rev. V. 13.

A

SERMON

Preached before the

MAYOR AND CORPORATION,

A T

St. Martin's in OXFORD,

On Friday, February 6. 1756.

Being the Day appointed to be kept as a FAST, on Account of the present Situation of Publick Affairs, and particularly on Occafion of the late EARTHQUAKES at Lisbon and other Places.

Published at the Request of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Affiftants of the City.

The THIRD EDITION.

P