SERM. not prefent even then in the Bush, any VIII. more than in all other places; but the place was made Holy by God's manifesting his Glory there; for fo St Stephen expreffly tells us, Acts vii. 30. there appeared to Mofes an Angel of the Lord, in a flame of Fire in the Bush. In like manner, God is faid in Scripture to dwell in the Hearts of good men: (with him that is of an humble and contrite Spirit, as the Prophet, I. lvii. 15. expreffes it;) And that the Bodies of them which are fanctified, are Temples of the Holy Ghoft, and Temples of God. Not by any confinement of the Prefence of God; but by his being pleased to fhow forth his Power and Influence, in particular places, and to particular perfons.

THESE Obfervations being premised, it remains in the

IIId and last place, THAT I proceed to draw fome ufeful Inferences from what has been faid; and to fhow (which is the moft material of all,) how this Meditation upon the divine Omniprefence, may become useful to us in influencing our Practice. And

ift, By

ft, By This Character of Omnipre- SER M. VIII. fence, the True God of the Univerfe is diftinguished from all Falfe Deities; and the Vanity of Idolatry, made plainly to appear. The Gods of the Nations, pretended to be but Gods of particular Coun tries; as the Gods of Henah, Ivah, and Sepharvaim, 2 Kings xviii. 34. Or, of particular parts of the fame Country; as Gods of the Hills, and not of the Valleys, 1 Kings xx. 28. That is, at most, Beings only of a limited prefence and power: in reality, of no power or dominion at all; and commonly not fo much as any Beings at all, but indeed mere Fictions and Imaginations of Men: Lyes, and Lying Vanities, as the Scripture frequently ftiles them. But the True God, who made Heaven and Earth and all things that are therein, does by his presence and power infpect alfo and govern all things, in

the Whole Heavens and in the Whole Earth.

AND from the fame confideration, appears alfo the Vanity of making any Image of the True God, as well as of worshipping falfe Gods. For by what

Likenefs

VIII.

SER M.Likeness can be be reprefented, the Majesty of whose Presence fills all things? And how foolish is it to think, that He in whom we live and move and have our Being, and whofe offspring we all ( even all rational Beings) are, fhould himself be like unto Gold or Silver or Stone graven by art and man's device? Acts xvii. 28,

29.

FROM hence likewife appears the Folly, of fuch Superftitions as that of Balak; who when Balaam was not permitted to curfe Ifrael from one place, carried him to another; faying, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God, that thou mayft curfe me them from thence, Num. xxiii. 27. As if God faw things differently in different places; and would curfe Ifrael from One place, when he had bleffed him from another.

FROM the fame reafon appears alfo the Vanity of Saint- worship, among Chriftians: As if God, who being Omniprefent hears all Prayer Himself, fhould either need or regard the Interceffion of Others, whom he hath not exprefly, (as in

the

the cafe of our Saviour,) appointed to that SER M. High and Singular Office.

2dly, IF God is Ommiprefent; from hence it follows that he is to be worshipped and reverenced every where, in private as well as in publick. Honour is to be paid him, not only by Angels before his Throne in Heaven, and by the congregation publickly in his Temple on Earth, but alfo by every man fingly in his most private retirements. God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands, Acts vii. 47; and xvii. 24. that is, he is not present there only, but fees also that more retired part of our behaviour, which is concealed from the world; and most of all approves that private piety and virtue, which cannot but proceed from a fincere mind, because it is not capable of the applause of Men. When Thou prayeft, faith our Saviour; enter into thy closet, and pray to thy Father which is in fecret; and thy Father, which feeth in fecret, shall reward thee openly,

Matt. vi. 6.

NAY further; he beholds, not only our most private retirements, but alfo That which is ftill much more fecret than

thefe,

VIII.

SER M. these, even the very Thoughts and InVIII. tents of our Hearts; that inward frame and difpofition of the mind, which may be diffembled and entirely concealed from Men. Hence he is ftiled in Scripture, the Searcher of the Hearts and Reins. Nor are there any Paffages in Holy Writ, which do more worthily and magnificently reprefent him, than those which thus describe him, fitting in the circuit of Heaven, and beholding at one view, all the Actions and all the Thoughts of all men throughout the whole World. 2 Chron. xvi. 9, The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth, to Show himself ftrong in the behalf of them, whofe Heart is perfect towards him. Prov. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the Evil and the Good: and ver. 11. Hell and deftruction are before him; how much more then, the Hearts of the children of Men! And Job xxvi. 6. Hell is naked before Him, and Deftruction bas no covering. Which confideration feriously meditated upon, will teach us to behave ourselves at all times, and in all places, with circumfpection and care, as

XV. 3.