itis begun, or not joining in it according to Rule, we break that Decorum, Symmetry, and Proportion, which should be obferved by us, and confequently leffen the Beauty of our Worfhip For beneby the Devotion of other Men is disturbed, and our own is maimed. And if we confider how strictly the Jews were forbid. den to facrifice any Bead that was blemifhed, maimed, or any Ways imperfect; and how angry the Prophet Malachy, in the ft Chapter of his Prophecy, repre fents God at the bringing of fuch Obla tions, 'twill appear reafonable to conclude, that he will not at all like our Spiritual Sacrifices, unle's we endeavour all we can to offer them whole and entire. bot

But now if we come early to God's Houle, watch at his Gates, and wait at the Pots of bis Doors; if we all begin our Prayers together, and join in every Part of them according as we are directed; this will be highly pleafing to Almighty God, and make our holy Worfhip extremely beautiful; This will prevent all Difcord from arifing in our Churches, and fill them with a pleasant and delightful Harmony.

If we are attentively devout in Silence when the Minifter only fhould fpeak, ...how

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how decent will the Silence ber how awful the Attention! And if we exprefs a becoming Fervour when all our Voices fhould be heard, how lovely will be the Union! how glorious the Symphony!

By thus behaving, ourfelves, we fhall caufe the Worthip of Godto be a Delight, and render the Dwellings of the Lord of Hofts exceedingly amiable.

By thus behaving ourfelves, we fhall throughly conform to the primitive Church, in which all Things were done decently, and in Order as well as prescribed fo: In which the united Voices of its Memhers were lifted up with fo much Zeal, that the Sound of them was compared to the heavenly Thunder.

Nay, by thus behaving ourselves we fhall bear a near Refemblance to the Church which is above; where St. John heard the Voice of the great Multitude, as the Voice of many Waters, and as the Voice of mighty Thundrings: Where the Divine Praises are celebrated with the exacteft Regularity, and God is worship ed in the most perfect Beauty of Holinels.

I have now done with the First Head of Difcourfe, which was to show how we are to behave ourselves in order to worship God in the Beauty of Holiness...

From hence I pafs on to the Left

Thing propofed, namely, to lay down fome Motives earnestly to perfuade us fo to worship him: That fo we may have a Defire and Longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord, to behold the fair Beauty of the Lond, and to visit his Temple. And becaufe Men are generally fwayed in other Matters, by the Profpect of Profit, Honour, and Pleasure, and the Neceflity of doing any Thing in order to their Well-being, I fhall therefore endeavour to excite to the Practice of this Duty, by briefly fhowing;

Firft, That it is a Means whereby to get the greatest Profit.

Secondly, That it is the Way to obtain the highest Honour.

Thirdly, That it will fill us with the most exquifite Pleasure.

Lastly, That it is Neceffary in order to our Well-being hereafter. And

First, To worship God in the Beauty of Holinefs, is a Means whereby we may get the greatest Profit. We cannot get To great Profit by any Thing, as by that which will procure us all Things that be needful for our Bodies and Souls; but this the worshipping God in the Beauty of Holinefs, will most certainly do. For if we worlhip God in the Beauty of Holiness, that supposes our Souls to be 'beautified

with univerfal Holinefs: And if our Souls are beautified with univerfal Holiness, that fignifies that we are adorn'd with all Chriftian Graces, and Virtues: And if we are adorned with all Chriftian Graces, and Virtues, then we hall put up our Petitions to God faithfully, according to his Will: And if we put up our Petition to God faithfully, according to his Will, he will be fure to anfwer them effectually, to the Relief of our Neceflity, and for the fetting forth of his own GloWhere two or three, or a greater Congregation are met to worship him in this Manner, he will not fail to be in the Midst of them, to hear their Supplications, and to fupply their Wants. Those who thus devoutly ask Favours, fhall receive them: Thofe who thus diligently Jeek goodly Pearls, hall find them: And thofe who thus importunately knock at Heayens Gate, shall at length have it opened unto them.

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In fhort; there is no Benefit la great, but we may acquire, no Danger fo emminent, but we may prevent, by worshipping God in the Beauty of Holiness. We hall even out-do the Thundering Legion that is mentioned in Church Hiftory: Wefhall draw down upon ourfelves heavenly Biel

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fings,

fings, annoy and confound fpiritual Ene

mies.

Since therefore all thefe Things are to be done by worshipping God in the Beauty of Holiness, 'tis plain that from thence there will accrue to us the greatest Profit.

Secondly, To worship God in the Beauty of Holiness, is the Way to obtain the highest Honour. When we worship God in the Beauty of Holiness, we adore the boundless and immeafurable Excellencies of his Nature: We confefs and recognize our eternal Dependance upon him: We praise him for his inestimable Goodness to us; and declare the Wonders that he hath done, and doth do, for the Children of Men. In thefe Exercifes, we afcribe unto him the Glory which he deferves, we give him the Honour which is due unto his Name. Now nothing can be more certain, than that by doing this, we must obtain the highest Honour ourselves; because God hath exprefsly faid, that thofe who bonour him, he will honour. And how high a Degree of Glory muft they be arrayed with, who fhall be cloathed upon from Heaven! How vaft an Honour muft they poffefs, whom God will delight to honour!

Farthermore, when we worship God