SERMON V.

LUKE XXIV. VERSE LIII.

And they were continually in the temple, praising, and blessing God.

I Do not purpose to recommend, after the model of apostolical righteousness, a devotion so fervid, and so incessant, as that mentioned in my text; because, though in the early disciples of our Saviour it was a natural consequence of the great events to which they were the witnesses, it would, in us, (if such a stretch of all our faculties, and continued elevation of all our ideas, were possible) be a deviation from that life of action, in which the perfection of christianity principally consists; but it may be fairly urged

that, by a constant retrospect to these fathers, and founders of the faith, our devotion will be increased, and confirmed: (every allowance made for diversity of character, and situation,) if prayer was their constant occupation, it should at least be our occasional exercise; if there were no intervals at which they left the temple, there should be some periods at which we approach it; there can be no circumstances which can make an exercise at all times unnecessary to us, which was at every moment indispensable to them.

I lay a great stress upon that part of my text which says they prayed in the temple, not heedlessly, and as every one listed, but at a known, and consecrated place, and together; because, as I presume the efficacy and importance of prayer to be admitted, I mean now only to contend, that prayer should be offered up eminently, and emphatically, on this day, and at this place, in the open church, and on the Sabbath; not that other days, and other places, should be excluded, (God forbid) but that these should be preferred.

The most ordinary reason alleged for the abstinence from public worship, is the pressure of worldly business: now, it somehow or another happens, that the time most commonly selected to answer the calls of › extraordinary occupation, is that which would otherwise be appropriated to the duties of religion; if the enjoyments of pleasure, and society were first sacrificed, and then the concerns of religion entrenched upon, a very bad plea would be made a very little better; but the first resource which presents itself to every industrious man is irreligion, and if this is not sufficient, he then begins to think of sacrificing his amusements: to say that the life of any individual is so wholly engrossed by affairs that he cannot subtract from it the small portion of time allotted to public worship, can hardly be true; and if trucis disgraceful;-when the will goes along with the understanding, every man finds ample resources in the vigor of his mind; energy increases with difficulty; and the busy, accustomed to a strenuous exertion' of their powers, have frequently more leisure. than those whose inveterate idleness magnifies every trifle into a serious con

cern: We may safely say, if the purpose was grateful, the time would be found; but the truth is, that the race is painful, and the goal not pleasant; the means oppress, and the end does not allure; the labour is great, and the reward not inviting; and forgetful man, who never defrauds his appetites of a single moment, can find no time for his God.

This plea, of want of time, (bad apology as it is for the neglect of public worship) is, as I have said before, rarely, or ever true; the most occupied men have, in general, a considerable share of society, and amusement; if friends are to meet together, if vanity is to be gratified by display; if interest is to be promoted by the cultivation of the great; if some new gratification is to be offered to the senses; if curiosity is to be excited; if imagination is to be roused; the wings of time are clipped, and the hours no longer fly away. The little intervals set apart for joy, the sabbaths of pleasure, are ever sacred, and inviolable from the business of the world; but when piety asks a moment from these mighty concerns, the merchant hurries to his business, the scholar seizes on his book,

and an impious sedulity seems to pervade all ranks, and description of men;-one remembers the yoke of oxen that he has purchased; another the wife that he has espoused; then, and then chiefly, we all seem ready to remember this life at the only period when God has commanded us to forget it.

But, admitting this irresistible multiplicity of affairs, and supposing that the calls which society makes upon the industry, and activity of any individual, are as numerous as that individual would wish it to be supposed; it is in every man's power to be a little less rich, a little less powerful, and a little less important; we are not to sacrifice to the Lord our God that which costs us nothing; to give him only the casual refuse of our time, after it has first satisfied every worldly demand; and to offer up the mere relics of existence, susceptible of no higher employment, and worthy of no better use. Consider, I beseech you, what these ceremonies of religion are, to which every little concern of business, pleasure, and profit is preferred; they are the incorporated worship of all who believe alike in Christ;