quence, exciting and teaching the People for the fake of this Houfe, to pray for the Peace of the City, where 'twas built. O pray (fays he) for the Peace of Pial. 122. Jerufalem: they shall profper, that love thee. Peace be within thy Walls; and plenteousness within thy Palaces. For my Brethren and Companions fakes I will wish thee Profperity. Tea, because of the House of the Lord our God I will feek to do thee good. The Patriarchs and Prophets were Men of the fame Devotion. Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in all the places where they pitched their Tents, erected Altars with their Steps and Inclosures, for the Solemnities of Divine Worship; and the Prophet Daniel with all imaginable Earneftness and Fervour, intercedes with Heaven for the rebuilding of the San&uary, that was fallen down. Cause thy c. 9. 19. Face (fays he) to shine upon thy Sanctuary, that is defolate, for the Lord's fake. And thy Servants, fay his Fellow-Captives, take pleasure in her Stones, and favour the Dust thereof. The very Ruins of Sion were more delightful to them, than all the ftately and magnificent Structures of Babylon. In short, 'tis abfolutely impoffible, that Man fhould fincerely love God, who delights not in the place where his Honour Honour dwells: Who can delude his Excufe, when the (m) Πάντες ἐκὶ τὸ αυτὸ ἐν τῇ προσευχὴ ἅμα συνέρχε πε. Μία δέησις ἔσω Κοινή, DE. εἷς νός, μία ἐλπὶς ἐν ἀγάπη, ἐν πίσει τῇ ἀμώμῳ, τῇ εἰς Xsesov Inoir, & apevov ouder ἐς. Πάντες ὡς εἷς εἰς τὸν ναὸν Θεῖ συντρέχετε, ὡς ἐπι ἓν θυσιαsneίον, ἐπὶ ἕνα Ινσεν XPsv. Ignat. Epif. ad χρισόν. Magnef. pag. 55. Ufs. Edit. This Church calls him to Devotions. (m) Come then, my Brethren, come constantly to thefe Holy Affem blies. Let nothing but abfolute Neceffity, keep you from the Congregations of the Saints. Here you hold Commu nion with the Bleffed Quires above, and joyn with Angels and Archangels in finging the Praises of your God. Here you'l be indu'd with fuch wonderful Power from on High, as will raise you above the Terrors and Allurements of this World, enable you to despise both its Frowns and Flatteries, and chear fully to lay down your very Lives for the Lords fake. 'Twas this, that rendred the Primitive Chriftians in the times of Perfecution, so invincible and glorious. They acquitted themselves bravely in the Day of Battel, because they were always girded about with this mighty Armour of God. They gallantly maintain'd the Field against the strongeft Efforts of the Enemy, Enemy, because they held up their Shields together, and conftantly united their Prayers and Praises in the publick Affemblies. They came off with the glorious Character of more than Conquerours, because they fear'd not to affemble themfelves in the House of God, tho' they were fure to loose their Lives, while they were there fpeaking of his Honour. Come them, I fay again, to these Holy Affemblies; for where fhould dutiful Children be, but in their Fathers Dwellings? 'Twas our Lords own Answer to his Mother, when the found him in the Temple, and with the tenderest and most affectionate Complaints, affur'd him, That she and his (reputed) Father had (long) fought him forrowing. How is it, fays he, that ye (thus) fought Luk. 2.4 me ?wift ye not, that I must be es Tois Të Пarpós μs; in my Fathers House? But, 1 2dly, Not only come, but come likewife with Reverence and Godly Fear. The Patriarch Jacob, no fooner perceiv'd by the afcending and defcending of the Angels at Bethel, that 'twas Gods House, but he brake out into this pious Ejaculations poßepòs ó TónQ ETQ ; How H Gen. 28. How Venerable, how Sacred, how Dreadful is this place? And I would to God, that not only you, who Hear me this Day, but that all the People of this Nation could be perfwaded to follow his excellent Example. For never certainly did Men behave themselves with lefs Respect to these Dwellings of the Lord, than do fome, and those of our own Communion too, in these Days. Saint Chryfoftom indeed was highly difpleas'd with his Auditory for their Walking, Talking, and fuch like Behaviour in the Church; telling them plainly, That this indecent Carriage was peculiar to themfelves, no other Chriftians in the whole World prefuming to do the like. But had this eminent Father been referv'd for our Age, I fear he would have found much greater Occafion for his pious Indignation. For how many are there, who come to thefe Religious Affemblies purely to gratify their Curiofity, to gaze about them, and make impertinent Obfervations, without any regard to the great Business of the place, The Worship of God, and the Salvation of their Souls? How many, who either fleep or talk away a great part of their time here, and then impute this illaudable, unchri ftian Temper, not to the Suggestions of Satan, nor to the Wickedness of their own Hearts; but either to the despicable Learning, the penurious Invention, the unfprightly Thoughts, the infipid Expreffions, or the ungrateful Accent of the Preacher? How many (with grief and shame I speak it) who act like Men rather amongst Buffoons and Stage-players, than in the House of God; by their wanton, ludicrous, and infolent Behaviour, rendring themselves the Spots and Blemishes of our Congregations, and the Reproach and Scandal of our moft Holy Religion? Believe me my Brethren, the very Aliens and Strangers to the Common-wealth of Ifrael will affure you, that these things ought not so to be. Intramus Templa compofiti, (n) (n) Sen. fays a learned Pagan,ad facrificium acceffu- Quæft. lib. ri Vultum fubmittimus, Togam adducimus, 7.cap. 30. ad amne argumentum modeftia fingimur. And a greater than he, the (o) Divine (0) De Plato, would have that Perfon punish'd Legib. lib. even with Death, who fhould dare to fine. offend heinously in the publick Worship of their Gods. But if these Examples of Unbelievers have not influence enough to shame these H 2 10. fub |