ven and Earth; and that nothing is more SERM. grievous and irksome to them, than the V. diforderly Affections, the unbecoming Poftures, and careless Behaviour of the irreverent Worshiper. Innumerable is that heavenly Hoft which incamps round about us, and though we are ignorant of the Discipline, Government, and Employment, Order and Policy of these glorious Spirits; yet the Holy Scriptures fufficiently intimate to us, that they are the conftant Attendants of the Divine Majesty, that they take great Pleasure in con templating his Perfections, celebrating the Divine Attributes, and obeying his Commands; that the Government both of the natural and moral World is committed to their Care, as also, the safe Keeping of God's Children and Servants, who are protected and defended by them, and affifted in the Performance of their Duty; and, therefore, that Place which is the Refidence of these holy Angels, by whose Ministry God is pleased to beftow fuch particular Favours upon Men, both temporal and spiritual, may be truly faid to enjoy the more peculiar Prefence of God himself.

2. THAT God is thus peculiarly prefent in our Christian Churches will need but little H 4

Proof;

SERM. Proof: For if he vouchfafed his Presence V. in the Tabernacle and Temple; if he was fo gracious under the Jewish Difpenfation, as to dwell in the midst of his People, and to give them Audience, when they came to worship him; can we think that, under a better Õeconomy, he will absent himfelf from those who seek him, in those Places where he records his Name? Efpecially fince we are affured by our Lord himself, that where two or three are gathered together, in his Name, he is in the midst of them.

III. I PROCEED now to fhew, that the Bleffings of God are in a more particular Manner conferred upon those Perfons, who frequent thofe Places, and there worfhip God after a due Manner. God has promised to come unto them, and bless them there, i. e. in his House. His House is the Place that he has chofen to meet with, and give Audience to his People; and whoever comes there duly qualified, and prepared with godly Fear, and an attentive Mind, and offers up his humble Addreffes with becoming Zeal and fuitable Behaviour, fhall not return empty; God will endear that Place to him by granting his Requests, and giving him the Defire of his Soul; he shall ei

ther

ther obtain the Things he ftands in Need SERM. of, or else his Mind fhall be rendered V. more contented, and his fpiritual Part bettered by the Want of them.

Ir is true, God's Ear is every where open to the Prayers of the devout Petitioner; he is no Refpecter either of Person or Place, but hears the private Whispers of Prifoners who lie in the lowest Dungeon, as foon as the greatest Monarch who fits upon the Throne. But this must be understood only in fuch Exigencies, when we are not permitted to join with the public Devotions; for private Prayers are not acceptable to God, when they hinder us from joining with the Congregation of the Faithful. God tells us, that his Houfe fhall be called, or fhall be, the House of Prayer; it is fet a-part for this Purpose, it is God's House, and therefore most fit and proper for this End. God is our King, and has a Palace and fixed Throne amongst us, and has appointed that we fhould pay our Homage there: And whofoever neglects the public Worship of God, and thinks to make amends by his Closet Performances; he offers up the Blind and Lame, an unacceptable Sacrifice to God. Our private Prayers are, indeed, neceffary to make known our private Wants to

God,

SERM. God, and to return Thanks for thofe V. particular Bleffings which we have re

ceived, and are acceptable to God, when they are offered up in the Intervals of our public Devotions; but every good Man will take Care, that, when he performs the one, he doth not leave the other undone.

MANY are the Bleffings and Benefits which he has Reason to expect, who frequents the public Worship of God; for God has promised to honour that Person who honours him, and, the more public our Worship is, the more Honour it brings to God; Honouring or giving Glory being nothing else, but the making God's Praise to be glorious in the Eyes of Men, which can only be performed by praifing him in the Congregation. And as God is better glorified; fo are our own united Prayers much more prevalent than our private Prayers can be, for our Prayers will be rendered more fervent, by beholding the devout and well governed Zeal of those who worship with us. As Fire kindles Fire, fo a devout Worshiper ftirs up and incites the fame holy Flame in the Breasts of those who behold him; his prudent Zeal will compose our Thoughts to Seriousness and Attention, and attach them

to

to the Business we are about; and, by SERM. joining our Prayers to thofe of the Faith- V. ful, they will become more powerful and more fuccessful: Thus we fhall enjoy the Benefit of other Men's Prayers as well as of our own, in joining with the heavenly Host of good Men, in finging Hallelujahs, and offering Praises and Thanksgivings to God. These and many more are the Benefits of offering up our Devotions in that Place where God has chofen to record his Name. It only remains now, that I draw fome Inferences from thefe Premises, and fo conclude.

1. First, IF fome Places in a more particular Manner belong to God, and God honours them with his more peculiar Prefence; then, from hence, we may infer, that fome Places are more holy than others. The Barn, or Stable, is not fo holy as the Church; the one is fet a-part for holy Uses, the other for fuch as are more common; and, therefore, thefe Prayers, which are offered up to God in the one, are more acceptable to him, than when they are performed in any other Place; because it is in thofe Places in which God records his Name, that he has promised to meet his Servants and bless them. Places, indeed, have no inherent Holi

nefs,