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unthinking Perfons into a greater Regard and Veneration for the House of God, I intreat them at least to confider how honourable and facred it appears to be from the Holy Scriptures. The PfalPfal. 87.2. mist affures us, That the Lord loveth these Gates of Sion, more than all the Dwellings

Jacob. And can we fo lightly efteem thofe Tabernacles, which the Majesty of Heaven fo highly values? Our Lord has graciously promis'd, that where two or three are thus gather'd together in his Name, there he is in the midst of them. And is it not our Duty to demean our felves after the most awful, ferious, and folemn manner in the Prefence of Him, who is to be our Judge? The invisible Host of Heaven, the glorious Troops. of Angels (as you have feen) encamp. here. And can we behave our felves rudely or unhandsomely in fuch glorious Company? In fhort, in thefe Confecrated Places, God has particularly promis'd to meet us, and to blefs us, and to hear our Petitions. I have fanctify'd King.9.3. the House (lays He to Solomon) which thon aft built, i. e. the Houfe, which you have defign'd for my Worship, I have defid for your Blefling; what you have dedicated, I have accepted; what

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you have confecrated, I have hallow'd I have taken it to the fame purpose, as you defign'd it in your firft Intentions and Expence. Now then fince Man hath offer'd, and God hath accepted: Since (I fay) these Places are both by God and Man defign'd only for the Service of God, and the Offices of Religion, right Reason as well as the Religion of all the World will certify, That they ought to be treated with efpecial Reverence and Honour. We juftly esteem those Perfons honourable, whom the Fountains of Honour in Civil Ac-" count have entitled to Honour. But God is the proper and true Fountain of Honour, and therefore fince he has deriv❜d a peculiar Honour upon thefe places, accepted them for his own, put his Name upon them, and dignifies them with his fpecial or moft gracious Prefence, we ought (I fay) to demean our felves in them continually with Reverence and Honour. With Reverence and Honour continually; not only while the Offices of Religion are actu ally in Ministration, but also when they are over: Thofe places, which have once entertain❜d Religion after this manner, being separate and facred for ever. What

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What mean then fome amongst us, by irreverently putting on their Hats in thefe places, as foon as the Sacred Offices are over? They would not behave themselves at that rate in the Prefence chamber, tho' the King was not there; much less in the Prefence of the King himself, before whom, as long as they stand, and not only while they are permitted to speak to him, they are careful to continue their Expreffions of the most folemn and extraordinary Reverence. Nay, what meant our Diffenting Brethren, when in the late unhappy times of Ufurpation and Rebellion, Vid. Evag. they (as the Arian Vandals of old ferv'd Ecc. Hift. the Orthodox Christians in Africa) procap. 15. ftituted our Churches to all the lamenta

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ble Abuses of the most infolent Prophaneness? Our Saviour drove the Beasts out of the Temple; but they presumptuoufly brought them in again. He pronounced it an House of Prayer, but they most impiously render'd it again a Den of Thieves. But to conclude: Whatever others can prevail with themfelves to do, let us, my Brethren, perpetually take care to demean our felves decently in the House of God. Let us never defecrate thefe amiable Dwellings

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of the Lord of Hofts by our Impiety and Impertinence, our curious, lazy, prophane Difpofitions; but by our Devout, Industrious, and Reverential Attendance upon the Holy Offices, whilft they are doing, and our humble and modeft Retirement when they are done, demonftrate to Men and Angels, that they are the Defire of our Souls, the Delight of our Eyes, and the fingular Refreshment and Joy of our Hearts. Thus will He, whom the Heaven, and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, vouchsafe us his most Gracious Prefence in our Religious Affemblies; the Holy Angels, that refide here, behold our Devotions with wonderful Complacency, and Delight, to join with us in praifing the Goodness of our God. Thus will our Souls arise and shake themselves from the Duft, every Day regain more and more their Native Vigour and Brightnefs, till (like Eagles, that have re new'd their Plumes) they take Wing and fly away from thefe Houfes of Prayer into the Regions of Praife; from thefe Amiable. Dwellings of the Lord of Hosts, with Men upon Earth, into his most peculiar Habitation in the Highest Heaven, where he unveils his Beauty, and

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and shines in his Effential Glory to all his Saints, who in Hymns and Songs, which none, but immortal Beings can fing, extol and magnify the Incompre henfible Greatness and Goodness of their Maker, for Ever and Ever. To which Bleffed State, God in Mercy bring us all, through the Merits and Mediation of Jefus the Beloved. Το whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit, Three Perfons and One Infinite and most Glorious Lord God, be Glory in the Church throughout all Ages, and World without End. Amen.

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