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There is nothing more proper than the confideration of our Father's being in Heaven to wean our affections from this world, and make us gafp after the next; it reminds us of the fhortnefs and uncertainty of earthly things, where we have no continuing city, and that an inheritance is to be fought by us in Heaven; for our Father is in Heaven, and where he is there fhould we defire to be alfo.

I fhall conclude this difcourfe with fumming up the full fenfe of the words we have been confidering, according to the explication given of them, and which, by way of Paraphrafe, may run thus:

O, thou great and gracious Being, who haft purchased to thyfelf the name of Father of all men and things by Creation and Preservation, of all men in general by Redemption,

Redemption, and of all Christians in particular by Regeneration and Adoption, who haft all the perfections which an earthly parent can have in an infinite degree, and art entirely free from all their blemishes, who, in refpect of the diffufion of thy prefence art every where, in refpect of the operations of thy grace doft dwell in good men, and in refpect of the manifestation of thy Majefty art faid to be in Heaven, we come before Thee, as commanded by thy bleffed Son, to petition for the relief of our wants, and the pardon of our fins, bringing with us thofe affections which the confideration of a Father, and of a Father which is in Heaven, ought to breed in the breasts of his children. When we confider thy infinite Majefty, Power, and Justice, we are ftruck with the most pious humility, reverence, and fear, are actuated with the most firm resolutions of obedience; VOL. IV. when

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when we contemplate thy goodness, wisdom, and knowledge, we feel the most exalted fentiments of love and gratitude, fubmiffion and refignation, confidence and fincerity; when we reflect on thy example we are inspired with an univerfal love and charity for all men; when we confider that the Heavens are thy habitation, we look with indifference on things of this life, and defire to enjoy complete happiness with thee in Heaven; and in order to ensure ourselves a place there, we make thefe affections the ruling principles of our lives and converfations; we always fet thy example before our eyes, and make, as children ought, the imitation of our Father's perfections the chief study of our thoughts, the chief purport of our words, the chief business of our actions, the chief happiness of our lives.

Now to God the Father, &c.

SERMON

SERMON IV.

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MATTHEW Vi. 9th.

Hallowed be thy Name.

UR Saviour having directed his dif

ciples to whom they were to offer their prayers, and by what name more especially they fhould approach him, proceeds to direct them likewife for what things they should pray to him, and in what order their petitions fhould be prefented, beginning with "Hallowed be thy Name." A petition which, as it naturally arifes out of the words which went before, fo doth it very properly precede and obtain the preference over all that follow after.

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When we receive any great and material obligations from Man, when we are unexpectedly relieved from any great distress, or delivered from any impending danger, the first motion of the foul is all hurry and confusion, a mixture of pain and pleasure rather to be felt than described. But when these first transports are over, when Reason resumes her feat, and Reflexion fucceeds, the first enquiry of a grateful foul is this: I have received an obligation, how shalt I return it? If that appears impoffible, alk that a generous benefactor will require, all that a grateful foul can do, and more than fhe can sometimes exprefs, is to acknowledge her obligations, and to fay, I thank thee.

Thus it is between us and God: when we have thoroughly weighed and examined the great and material benefits conferred

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