Yet let not those too foon exult in their fuperiority, whofe minds, in fome respect, accord with their petitions, if they intrude themselves into the immediate presence of the Searcher of Hearts, while they are the children of disobedience, and the flaves of guilt.-Though I address myself to God with all the fervour of devotion, yet am confcious of any unrepented fin; though I implore his pardon with all humility, yet refolve ftill to indulge myself in one darling vice, how can I expect his forgiveness and acceptance, who hath required unlimited obedience? Do I withhold my bread from the hungry? Do I oppress and tyrannize over my dependants? Do I purfue my adversary with rancour, and shut my ears to the voice of reconciliation? Do I load my neighbour with calumny, and repay my benefactor with ingratitude? Do I proudly fpurn the entreaty of the humble, and turn, unfeeling, from the pleadings of diftrefs? Then vain are all my prayers. III. To what purpose is the multitude of your fa- SERM. crifices to me? faith the Lord; bring no more vain oblations; incenfe is an abomination unto me; the calling of affemblies I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the folemn meeting. When ye Spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes; when ye make many prayers, I will not hear. Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; ceafe to do evil, learn to do well; Seek judgment, relieve the oppreffed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow *. Let not, therefore, the obdurate or the affuming imagine, that their addreffes are acceptable to the Deity, fince the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. What remains but that we firmly refolve to break the bands of fin; to refift the gratifications of pleasure, and contemn the SERM. advantages of the world; to plant in our III. minds contentment, refignation, humility, and charity; and to trust in JESUS, who bath told us all things. By the Prophets let all nations be admonished; by the Apostles let all nations be taught; by the Son of the HIGHEST let all nations be faved. Ignorance no longer spreads her cloud over the world; for the star hath appeared in the east, and guided us to wisdom and holiness. The hour is come, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerufalem, worship the Father. For He who defcended from heaven hath declared, that God is a Spirit; and they who worship Him, must worship, Him in fpirit and in truth. ON |