being afhamed of Him, and of his words, SER M. in an adulterous and perverfe generation. II. The remaining particulars included in this Duty of confeffing God with our mouths, are, fpeaking honourably of him, or reverencing his Name, in all private converfation; and paying him Solemn Worship in publick. And Thefe Inftances of Duty, will not eafily be neglected by Such persons, whofe Minds have made natural to themfelves the fore-mentioned Habits of Virtue. For in like manner as our Saviour argues in Another cafe, Mark ix. 39. There is no man which shall do a Miracle in my Name, that can lightly speak Evil of Me; fo here likewise, there is no man who habitually loves Truth and Virtue, that can easily speak dishonourably of God, the Supreme Good, or lightly take his Name in vain, or that will not take pleasure in promoting his Publick Honour and Worship. But

3dly, and laftly: The Worship of God, as it denotes the Regard we are to bear to him in the Affections of our Minds, and in the Expreffions of our Mouths; so it includes likewife, and That principally and chiefly, the Honour we are to pay him

r

And

SER M. in all the Actions of our Lives. It includes II. This, I fay, principally and chiefly. For, worfhipping God with our Lips, unless accompanied with Obedience in our Lives, is nothing more than a Solemn Hypocrify, and is an Abomination before God. the Regard we bear to him in the Affections of our Minds, can by this only Proof be fhewn either to Others or to Ourselves, to be real and fincere; if it caufes us to imitate him, and to endeavour to please him, by a Life of Virtue and true Holiness. For by the Fruit only, as our Saviour directs, can we poffibly make a right judgment of the Goodness of the Tree. Sacrifice therefore most acceptable God, is that which St Paul elegantly ftiles, Rom. xii. 1. the presenting Our felves a Living Sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reafonable Service. Other things are not to be left undone, and the external Worship of God is by no means to be neglected; But the End and Great Defign of All, is the uniform Practice of Virtue and Righteousness, in the whole Course of our Lives. In all comparative Speaking, Behold, to obey, is better than

The

unto

Sacrifice;

II.

Sacrifice; and to hearken, than the Fat of SE RM. Rams: Or, as it is expreffed by the Scribe, whom our Lord commends, in the Gospel, Mark xii. 33. To love God with all the Heart,- -and his Neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and Sacrifices.

AND Now, having thus largely and distinctly explained, [1ft the Suppofition laid down in the Text; that there is One, and One Only, True God or Supreme Lord of all things; and 2dly, What That Duty towards him is, which is expreffed in] thefe words, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God: I should in the

III. NEXT place, from the following words, And him Only shalt thou ferve, have proceeded to explain the nature of the several Species of Idolatry: Which is the Great Breach of this fundamental Commandment. But the Time will not perme to enter upon the Confideration of This matter, till a further opportunity.

SERMON

SERMON III.

Of the UNITY of GOD.

MATT. iv. 10. latter part.

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only fhalt thou ferve.

SERM.

N difcourfing upon these important words of our Savi- III. our; I propofed, ift, to confider the Suppofition laid down in the Text; that there is One, and One only, True God or Supreme Lord of all things; The Lord thy God. 2dly, to fhow What That Duty towards him is, which is expreffed in

thefe