fons are prefent, what Appearance they make, or how they behave. Let not these Directions, I intreat you, either give Offence, or be defpifed. Very good People, I fear the very best of us all, tranfgrefs them inadvertently, more or lefs. But a Moment's Reflection will fhew any one, that there is great Propriety in observing them: and they will experience more Advantage from it, than perhaps they expect.

Our Service begins, as did that of the primitive Church, with a Preface, to difpofe more completely the Minds of the Congregation to a reverent Performance of the Duty, on which they are entering: according to that Precept of the Son of Sirach, Before thou prayeft, prepare. thyfelf. And this Preface is composed of Sentences of Scripture, with an Exhortation grounded upon them. Nothing can fo effectually awaken us to a pious Frame of Soul, as the Words of God, fpeaking to us. And the Words, here used, are very prudently selected. They all relate to Repentance and Confeffion of Sins which naturally stands first in the Devotions of guilty Creatures, as we all are. Till we feel a genuine Sorrow for having offended

a Sacerdos ante Orationem, Præfatione præmiffa parat Fra. trum mentes. Cypr. de Orat. Dom. b Ecclus xviii. 23.

God,

God, and come to intreat earnestly the Pardon, which is offered us through Chrift, he cannot accept us: and when we do, that will qualify other Part of his Worship. us for

every

In thefe Texts, (you may turn to them in your Prayer-Books, and go through them along with me) we are plainly taught the Nature of true Penitence: that the Wicked muft both turn away from his Wickedness, and do that, which the Law enjoins as right, to fave his Soul alive: that we must not only acknowledge our Tranfgreffions with our Tongues, but have them ever before the Eyes of our Minds, to keep us humble and cautious; on which we may pray, in Faith of being heard, that God will treat us with the fame Kindness, as if he hid his Face from feeing our Sins, or blotted them out from his Memory: that he requires from us, neither the fanciful Sacrifices of Superftition, nor the expenfive ones of the Mofaic Difpenfation; but that of a Spirit contrite with filial Sorrow, and broken to univerfal Obedience; not outward Expreffions of vehement Paffion, as rending the Garments, but a Heart rent and penetrated with a juft Sense of what we have done amiss: that on fuch a Change within we fhall find him, not only flow to Anger for what is past, and

ready

ready to repent him of the Evil which he was bringing upon us, but bountiful and gracious for the Time to come; though we have deliberately rebelled against him heretofore, and still too often inconfiderately neglect to obey his Voice, and walk in his Laws: that we have Cause to be willing, and even defirous, that he fhould correct us, when he fees it expedient; but to beg he would do it with that mild and merciful Judgement, which he exercises towards his Children, not with Anger, as his Enemies, which would bring us to final Destruction: that Repentance is abfolutely and immediately necessary for us; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand; the Hour, when we fhall, each of us, be admitted into it or excluded out of it for ever, draws very near, and how near we know not: that therefore we must refolve to arife and go to our heavenly Father without Delay, and acknowledge our Unworthiness to be called his Sons that whatever we may be in our own Eyes, or the Opinion of our Fellow-Creatures, were we to undergo a human Trial only; yet if God enter into Judgement with us, in his Sight shall no Man living be justified: that therefore to extenuate our Faults, and say or imagine, that we have no Sin, or but little, would

a

be

be a fatal Self-Deceit, and a Proof against us, that we know not, or own not, the Truth of our Cafe: but if we honestly recall to ourselves and confefs to God the Errors of our paft Life, not only his Mercy, but his Faithfulness and Juftice to his Promises will induce him, both to forgive us the Guilt of our Sins, and to cleanfe us from the Defilement, and deliver us from the Dominion, of all Unrighteousness.

It is true, but few of these Sentences are ufually read at the fame Time: but it will be very beneficial for fuch as come foon enough,

to meditate on them all before the Service begins.

The first Words of the Exhortation, Dearly beloved Brethren, exprefs very ftrongly and properly the good Will and tender Regard, which the Minifters of God's Word fhould have for their People who fhould in Return receive their Admonitions meekly and thankfully, fince they speak to them the Truth in Love.

A following Part of the Exhortation reminds us, that although we ought at all Times, even in our private Supplications, humbly to acknowledge our Sins before God; yet ought we most chiefly fo to do, when we assemble and meet toC Eph. iv. 15. gether.

gether. Our Saviour hath laid a peculiar Strefa on joint Prayers; and made more especial Promifes to those Petitions, which his Disciples put up in common: both to unite them closely în mutual Affection, by the mutual Benefits they receive at each other's Requeft; and to encourage a Practice, which he forefaw would prove fo powerful a Means, both of their own Edification, and the Converfion of others. We have Reafon therefore to entertain a much higher Efteem, than many do, of the Advantages to be obtained from Conftancy in public Worship. But then, the more we expect from it, with the more Care we muft qualify ourfelves for what we expect: elfe we shall certainly be disappointed. And as penitent Confeffion in the Name of Chrift is the great Qualification for Pardon and every Mercy; and each one's Example, in the Church, of that or the contrary, must have a good or bad Effect on thofe around him, we fhould endeavour, if there be Room for any Difference, to be more than ordinarily humble and fervent there: Yet we are in Danger of being least so, unless we look well to our Ways, and diligently keep our Foot, when we go to the Houfe of God.