commanded in Scripture to do: So that if we are commanded to spend our whole Time in the Performance of one Duty, what Time will there be left for the other Duties that are equally enjoined us? or, how can the Scriptures be reconciled to themfelves? A literal Interpretation, therefore, of the above-mentioned Paffages, relating to the Duty of Prayer, is fo abfurd, that I fhould not have thought it worth mentioning, if there were not, even at this Time, many Enthufiafts, called Methodists, who fuffer their Piety to eat up their Morality, to the Neglect of the common Duties and Offices of the Station in which God has placed them, and the Ruin of themselves and Families. These ignorant People, instead of being encouraged by their Teachers to be perpetually running after them, fhould be taught to mind the Bufinefs of their Calling, in order to answer the proper Ends of Life; and that one great End of Prayer is, to enable them to do it with Diligence and Fidelity, and to behave properly as focial Creatures. Befides, if we had nothing elfe to do but to pray, we could not be always praying, to any manner of Purpose. Our prefent State will not admit of fuch an uninterrupted Course of Devotion, whatever we may be capable of in the next Life. It is impoffible for our Attention and Affection to be thus conftantly kept up, though the Lips. might be inceffantly employed; and, unless we pray with Attention, and fome tolerable Degree of Affection, we might as well be doing nothing. But we may be faid, in a very proper Senfe, to

pray

pray always, and without ceafing, if we be daily conftant in the Obfervance of fet. Hours of Prayer, both in publick and in private.

First, Let us confider Frequency as it respects publick Prayer. This will vary with the va rious Circumftances of Men in the different Stations of Life; which will afford fewer, or more frequent, Opportunities of attending the Service of the Church. There is one Rule, indeed, that will reach all Mankind, unless hindered by Sickness, Works of Mercy, and abfolute Neceffity: Thefe Cafes excepted, every one is obliged to attend publick Worship twice on a Sunday. I fhall fay the less upon this Head here, because 1 have fully confidered it in Two Sermons lately published upon the Obfervation of the Sunday, which will be annexed to this Difcourfe, as having an immediate Connection with it. I fhall only take notice of one Thing, which I am most fincerely and heartily concerned that there is fo much Occafion to mention. I have already given a Hint of it, and would be glad to drop a Subject that may poffibly give Offence to fome whofe Stations I greatly honour. I defy any Man living to have a more refpectful Regard for his Superiors than I fincerely have, to be more pleafed with any proper Opportu nity of fhewing it, or to be more unwilling to difoblige them: But as I have prefumed to take upon me the Bufinefs of a publick Inftructor, upon Subjects of the laft Importance to the Salvation of Mankind, the Support of Government, the Peace and Happiness of the Society. whereof

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I am a Member, it is incumbent upon me to discharge my Office with Fidelity, tho' I fhould be glad to do it with the utmoft Tenderness. Perfons in High-life, and of affluent Fortunes, being independent, have not the leaft Pretence for neglecting to attend the publick Service of the Church, and yet many of them scarce ever appear there, unless neceffitated by the Duty of fome Civil Office, or occafionally drawn by fome Motives of Intereft, or Decency; by which means they not only neglect their own Duty, but hinder their Servants from performing theirs; and by the Influence of their Examples, occa fion others in the Neighbourhood to stay away. When they fee Perfons whom they naturally fúppose to have more improved Understandings, fhew fuch an utter Contempt for publick Worship, it must leffen their Opinion of its Obligation and Importance, and beget fuch an Indifferency, at least, as will give every the slightest Excufe for not attending it the greater Weight. But there are ftill many more who would be thought to have a very ferious Senfe of Religion, while they content themselves with attending the Service one Part of the Day only, without any better Excuse than not being willing to rife early enough to prepare themselves for Church; or for the Pleasure of indulging, after Dinner, in Converfation with their Friends. If what I have faid upon the Advantages attending the due Performance of the Duty of publick Prayer at Church, can have any Weight, I think it must put all fuch idle Excuses out of Coun

Countenance; if it has had no Effect, I am fure it is not in my Power to fay any thing that will, and therefore I can only beg of God to give them a better Sense of their Duty. But, while I am complaining of the great Decay of Piety among People of Fashion, Juftice requires me to acknowledge that there are, to my Knowledge, (and I hope there are many more in other Parts of the Kingdom) Gentlemen of very large Fortunes, who conftantly attend the Church with all their Servants that can poffibly be spared, both Morning and Afternoon. One in particular, whom I have formerly had the Pleasure of knowing, has so strict a Sense of his Duty that if a Nobleman of the firft Quality dined with him upon a Sunday he never excufed himself to his Maker for not attending him at his House of Prayer, but always excused himself to his Friends for not bearing them company in the Time of Divine Service, leaving only a Servant to attend them in his Abfence: And he was so happy in the Uniformity of his Conduct, that they did not think him either rude, or fuperftitious.

2. There are other fet Times for publick Prayer befides what are appointed on Sundays. These, indeed, are not like the former, of univerfal Obligation, but to be obferved wherever People have a convenient Opportunity; I mean, the publick Service of the Church on WeekDays. Many Perfons conftantly attend it both Parts of the Day on Sundays, because they confider that Day as a Day fet apart for religious Ufes, but the rest of the Week they apprehend K

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to be theirs, to be employed in what Manner they shall think fit, provided they do not spend it in any unlawful Bufinefs, or Diverfion. Of this strange Opinion I meet with not only ignorant and illiterate Perfons, but with very fenfible and ferious People. But, where do they learn this Divinity? Not from the Nature and Effects of publick Prayer, for those are the very fame at all Times: Not from the Practice of the Jews, for they affembled together for the Worship of God at other Times befides the Sabbath: Not from the primitive Chriftians; not from the Constitution of our own Church, which has appointed a daily Service, and requires the Clergy to read daily Prayers at Church, where they can get a Congregation, and are not otherwife occafionally hindered. Now, if publick Authority has provided a daily Service, and the Clergy be commanded, as often as they conveniently can, to read it, furely it must be the Duty of the Laity, as often as they conveniently can, to attend it. Men are not to neglect the Duties of their Station, but every Station of Life will afford more frequent Opportunities than most People make use of. In London and Westminster, there are Prayers in fome Church or another, at almoft every Hour of the Day, by which means Bufinefs and Piety, Pleasure and Piety, might often be reconciled, where there is an Inclination to do it. But, now, go into any of the Churches, and you seldom fee any young Perfons, much feldomer any Perfons of Fashion, but only a few old and poor People; as if Youth

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