and Ashes offer up to the Almighty? Struck with this just Sense of Humility, he stirs not from the Place or Subject of his Devotion, till he had first begged Pardon for the Lamenefs of his Sacrifice, for the Imperfections even of his Prayers and Praises, and implored God's Acceptance of the poor Tribute he was able to pay him. He knew how imperfect the best of his Actions were; how unworthy his Praises were of God; and how dangerous a Subject Prayer is, fince we know not what we should pray for as we ought. Prayer, if not directed by the Spirit, will be influenced by the Paffions, and taught the unworthy Language of Self-Love: Far therefore from being exalted with his Performance, the Saint retires excufing his Devotion, and begging one farther Mercy of God, That he would accept the Service he was able to offer. An Example worthy of our Imitation! and which yet we are hardly worthy enough to imitate: For if we confider with what Coldness we pass through our Prayers and Praises, with what Inattention we are present at the Service of God, how our Thoughts wander, and our Hearts are furprized into the Pursuit of vain and idle Conceits, or are poffeffed with worldly Thoughts and Care, we must needs think

it an Act of the higheft Prefumption to defire God to receive fuch Devotion, or to accept the Meditation of fuch idle roving Hearts. This was not the Pfalmift's Cafe: When he began the Praises of God, he launched out into his Course with the Life and Vigour of the Sun, which he describes, like a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber, and rejoicing as a strong Man to run his Race; When his Subject naturally changed upon his Hand, and Prayer took Place of Praise, his Mind followed his Subject, and the Petitions themselves fhew with what Zeal and Fervour of Spirit they were offered up, And if fuch Devotion as this was to beg Admittance to the Prefence of God, and not to appear without an Excufe, what muft become of ours? fince, without injuring our own Merit, many of us have Reason to say when we leave the Church, Lord, lay not this Sin to our Charge! For furely to approach the Throne of God with Indevotion, with Hearts not difpofed to Serioufnefs, to fit out the Prayers of the Church as if fomething were doing in which we have no Concern, is one of those Offences which are noted down in the Book,. and for which God will call the Sons of Men into Judgment.

But

But fecondly, The Words of the Text are capable of a more enlarged Senfe: The Pfalmift had begged for Mercy for his secret Faults; had implored the Affistance of God to preserve him from prefumptuous Sin; and if you continue the Thought to the Words of the Text, in them he befeeches God to take under his Direction likewife the Words of his Mouth, and the Thoughts of his Heart, that he might be continued innocent and blameless in Thought, Word, and Deed. This Senfe expreffes the greatest Regard to Virtue and Innocence, and the fullest Dependence upon the Grace and Protection of God: He knew that God not only faw all his Actions, his open and notorious Sins, but that he fpied out all his Ways, and knew his Thoughts long before; and that it was in vain for him to wash his Hands in Innocence, unless he purged his Heart likewife from all Filthinefs of Spirit: To him therefore he applies, that he would guard the Paffages of his Heart, and fet a Watch upon the Door of his Lips, that nothing unclean might enter into one, or proceed out of the other. Our Lord has told us, That for every idle Word, Men fhall give an Account in the Day of Judgment: And his Apoftle St. Paul has taught us, That

there

there will be a Day in which God will judge the Secrets of all Men by Chrift Jefus: Which are fufficient Cautions to us to be watchful over our Tongues and our Hearts, that they rob us not of the Fruit of all our Labour and Hope. Unchafte Thoughts, and loose Defires, are the Beginning of lewd and impure Actions; and if they are generated and conceived in the Heart, that fruitful Womb of Iniquity, they will foon be born into the World, and grow up to the full Stature of Sin. To fecure the Heart is therefore the Ground-work of Virtue: It is almost the one Thing neceffary, fince without it no other Care can be effectual: It is that only which can render our Praises or Prayers acceptable to God, and give us Courage to offer up our imperfect Devotions before his Throne. The best of Men have their

Failings, and an honeft Christian may be a weak one; but weak as he may be, the Goodness and Sincerity of his Heart will entitle him to put up the Petition of the Text, which no Hypocrite or cunning Deceiver can ever make use of, Let the Words of my Mouth, and the Meditation of my Heart, be acceptable in thy Sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE XV.

LUKE xii. 21.

So is he that layeth up Treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.

T

茶

HE Riches of the World being often the Fruits of Injustice and Oppreffion, one wealthy Man's Eftate being raised per

haps upon the Ruin and Po

verty of hundreds, and built upon the Tears and Cries of Widows and Orphans; and yet being fometimes reprefented in Scripture as the Bleffing of God upon the honest Labour. and Industry of Men diligent in their Calling or Profeffion; or as the Reward beftowed upon a virtuous Contentment, and Refignation of Mind to the Providence of the Almighty: A great Fortune being often used

to