which we believe most seriously to heart, and that our lives may be answerable to our faith.

Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercy's fake, and for the fake of thy poor creatures, whom Thou haft redeemed with thy most precious blood; that we may give to Thee, with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, glory, and honour, and praise, and thanksgiving, for ever and ever. Amen.

SERMON XXVII.

THE GREAT DUTY OF WORSHIPPING GOD.

REV. iv. 10, II.

THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE, (THAT IS, BEFORE GOD) AND WORSHIP HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER, AND CAST THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE, SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY, O LORD, TO RECEIVE GLORY, AND HONOUR, AND POWER: FOR THOU HAST CREATED ALL THINGS, AND FOR THY PLEASURE THEY ARE, AND WERE CREATED.3

HE

ERE is, good Chriftians, an heavenly pattern fet before you: here is the manner how the bleffed inhabitants of heaven behave themselves in the presence of God. They fall down before him with all humility, even they that wear crowns; and, in token of the great difference there is betwixt God and the greatest of his creatures, they caft their crowns before his throne; acknowledging, that He only is worthy to receive glory, and honour, and power; for it is he who has made all things, and it is by his will and pleasure alone that they continue in being. From all which we are to learn two things especially:

See Pfalm xix. 1. and xcv. 6.

ift. That

ift. That whenever we come into God's houfe, which is his prefence, we are (after this heavenly pattern) to exprefs our reverence for God after the most becoming manner.

2dly. That we fhould take notice of, and confider, the wisdom, and greatness, and goodnefs of God in the works of the creation; and then we shall be convinced, that he is worthy of all the duty and reverence that we can poffibly pay him.

I. The first thing we are to learn from these words is this, That whenever we come into God's boufe, (which is his prefence) we are to express our reverence for God after the most becoming manner.

And firft; Though God (as the apostle faith') dwelleth not in temples made with hands; though the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good; though a man may be fure to be heard wherever he prays to God in the fincerity of his heart; yet there are fome places in which God is faid to be present in an especial manner. Thus, for inftance, the Temple was called the house of God, a boufe of prayer; that is, the place where men were to offer their prayers and thanksgivings. And God is faid to record his name in all fuch places as are regularly dedicated to his more immediate service; and promises to meet his people there, and bless them: Mine eyes and mine heart (faith God) fhall be there perpetually.

Acts vii. 48. Exod. xx. 24, and xxix. 42. • 1 Kings ix. 3.

So that you fee how foolishly people speak, when they say, that they can pray as well at home as in the church; that they can read a fermon as well themselves, as go to hear one.

But are they sure that God will hear the prayers that are offered to him in contempt of his holy ordinances? Are they fure that God will give his bleffing to what they read at home, when they despise his house, his fervite, and his minifters. And if the holy angels of God, which are our guardians, are in the house of God attending upon the faithful while they are at their devotions, in what a condition are all fuch as are abfent without a reason? Why, in truth, they are very much exposed to the malice and attempts of the devil, who is continually wandering about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; that is, whom he may be permitted to devour, having no good angel to protect them.

In fhort; the church is the house of God, the gate of heaven; the place where God will hear his people's caufes and complaints, the place where he difpenfes his bleffings in greatest abundance, the place where his ministers attend, to inftruct the ignorant, to comfort the afflicted, to pray for all. So that all who expect God's mercy and bleffing ought to go to God's houfe. But then, as they hope for his bleffing, they ought to behave themselves in his prefence with respect and reverence.

When

When we are to go before our betters, we very naturally confider how we may do it after a handfome manner, for fear of provoking them to anger, instead of obtaining their favour. If we are to ask their pardon, we do it with all marks of humility. If we afk them a favour, we do it with fubmiffion to their good pleasure. If we go to thank them for favours received, we endeavour fo to behave ourselves, as that it may appear we are really fenfible of the obligation laid upon us. And this is what God expects from us, as well as our betters.

He expects, for inftance, that creatures, which cannot fubfift one moment without their Creator's bleffing, fhould not think it too much trouble to afk his bleffing; that finners, who are for ever undone without his pardon, fhould ask his pardon with all humility; that people who live altogether upon his favour, fhould own their dependance upon him after a fenfible manner; that people who own his power, fhould be afraid of him; that fuch as acknowledge his wisdom, fhould fhew that they do fo; and that fuch as partake of his goodness, fhould express their fenfe after the most natural way; that is, at leaft with as much concern as men come before, fpeak to, behave themselves in the prefence of their betters.

I know very well what foolish people are ready to fay to this. They fay, for instance,

that