plicit faith in what they read, or hear, when it is altogether unsupported by evidence.

2. Endeavor to live in conformity to the word of God's patience, who has promised that if we obey him, we shall be kept in the hour of temptation. In this way, shall we obtain clea light and establishment. Then shall ye know that ye follow on to know the Lord. The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more -unto the perfect day.

3. It is important that we look well to the evil! to which we are exposed: God has forewarned us of our danger. Let us often look into God's word. This scene of darkness and infidelity is an accomplishment of what is there declared, and is therefore, an evidence of its Divine original. In this way we may obtain such an establishment, as to be kept in the hour of temptation.

V. I shall next notice the dreadful consequences of being overtaken in this fatal temptation.

1. The consequences are dreadful, as they respect the state of society here in this world. The prevalence of infidelity and licentiousness saps the foundation of human happiness.

2. But God is coming out in fearful judgments on this world-on all such as yield to Satan's device. He is coming out in battle array, against those who reject and despise Christ, and will, in a terrible manner, pour out his, fury on those nations that have worshipped the beast.

Improvement.

1. We live in a day of dreadful, yet important events. In no age since the Apostles, was there ever greater evidence of the truth of God's word, and yet there was never one in which it was more rejected: Never was infidelity more unreasona ble, while it thus prevails.

2. We see, while God is sending abroad deso lating judgements, what reason we have to humble ourselves for our sins, and cry to him that he would avert such judgments from ourland.

We have reason for deep contrition, and to cry mightily to God to keep us from this hour of temp tation. If I can understand the prophecies, the most dreadful scene is coming on the world, in the compass of a very few years. There will be great destruction as well as delusion. You are exposed: Your families also are exposed. Delusion is a very spreading contagion. We may

flatter ourselves that these cautions are unneces-. sary; that we are in no danger: But it is possible that we may feel a security, for which we have no just grounds.

3. How important is it, as a mean of security, to keep the word of Christ's patience, and to hold fast the doctrines of the gospel! How important that we observe the Divine institutions; that we be zealous to maintain Christian worship in its purity; the Sabbath and other ordinances, and the whole system of Statutes contained in the gospel!: How important to instruct children and youth, and inculcate earnestly on all the great duties of reli-... gion!

DISCOURSE XXIX.

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JOHN IV. 23..

But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth.

AS a great part of our time ought to be spent in the worship of God, and as he has an absolute right to dictate what kind of worship shall be paid

to him; so it is a matter of importance to deter.. mine the nature and exercises of that worship which he has prescribed in his word. This is es-. pecially important, when we consider the many mistakes which have always been made, with re-. gard to this subject; when we consider also that much will-worship has been introduced, and the true worship of God grossly corrupted. The text is a part of our Saviour's discourse with the woman of Samaria.. He goes to Jacob's well, no doubt, with a view to convert this poor woman. He introduces his instruction by asking for water to drink, and by the water, illustrates to her the nature and properties of grace; letting her know also, that he was a Divine person..

Doctrine-Spiritual worship is that only, which can be acceptable to God who is a spirit.

I. I shall make some observations on spiritual worship..

II. Show what are the external acts and exercises of worship, which God has pointed out in his. word.

III. When more especially we are to devote time to the exercises of religious worship..

IV. Consider the end of the institution of external acts and exercises of worship..

V. The importance of steady attention to religious worship..

I. I shall make some observations on spiritual worship.

Spiritual worship is that worship which is by the spirit, or mind. The worship which the Samaritans pretended to yield, was merely external parade, and consisted in rites and ceremonies which were only bodily, and could not, therefore, be acceptable to God, who is a spirit.A spirit. is composed of understanding, will and affections.

So that

1: Therefore, spiritual worship is an understanding, rational worship. There were many things in the worship of that day, as well as the present, that were only blind flights of passion, in many respects irrational. It would be absurd to suppose, that the Supreme Being is delighted with such imaginary flights and heats of the passions. A spiritual worship is in a view of truth. There is a kind of zeal and light which truth tends to quench. But those affections which are thé essence of worship, are in a view of the great truths. that relate to the Deity and the atonement, and can exist only in a view of these truths. to worship in spirit, is to worship understandingly. .2. Spiritual worship most essentially consists in holy affections. Light in the understanding is no part of worship; yet is necessary to those affections, in which the essence of worship consists. Thus we find all the laws of God comprized in love to him, or charity. Love, in this extensive sense, comprehends all holy affections; fidence, submission, joy, faith, humility and abasement for sin. So that the essence of worship consists in holy, religious affections.Where the soul flows out in supreme love to God, gives up the throne to him, and lies low, there is: worship And let there be ever so much parade and external show, without holy, rational affection, there is no worship that God approves.

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II. I proceed to point out the external acts and exercises of worship..

The modes and forms of worship have been ditferent in different ages of the church and dispen- . sations of the covenant. Under the Jewish dispensation, they were exceedingly complex. The forms of worship among the Jews were attended with various rites, designed, for the most part,.... to assist and strengthen their faith in the atone

ment. There were, accordingly, in their ritual, various bloody rights and sacrifices. But the worship under the Christian dispensation, being divested of those shadows which attended the preceding dispensations, is very simple. Such, indeed, is the simplicity, that there has been a great propensity in converts from among the Jews and Heathens, to add rites to the Christian worship. The church of Rome and the church of England. have greatly deviated from the simplicity of Christian worship; which conduct is a high reflection on the wisdom of the Divine author. Had the design of the rites and exercises of worship been merely to excite the passions; the exhibition of Christ on the cross, and many such things, introduced into the Romish church,.might have been highly proper. But the original institution of Christian worship shows, that it was the design of the author to call forth devotion by the exhibition of truth. This appears, by his sermons which

are left on record..

1. One exercise-of Christian worship is pray-er, social and private. This is clearly a part of Christian worship, and well adapted to answer theend of expressing humility, a sense of dependence, faith in Christ, and love to God., No one, I think, can call in question the propriety of this duty.-. Our Saviour himself gave many directions how to perform it, and left an example, or directory.We have Christ's example of secret.prayer, and the Apostle's, of social prayer.-Indeed, we have many commands to be constant in prayer, pray without ceasing, and to pray always with all - prayer."

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2. Another duty, which, under certain circumstances is to be performed, in connection with pray-.. er and other acts of worship, is fasting. Our Sa-viour, in. treating, on this subject, points out the