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and putting to unreasonable Trials, his Omnipotence, his Goodness and Truth: left, as the unbelieving Jews died in the Wilderness, and fo were excluded from the temporal Rest, which otherwise they would have enjoyed in the Land of Canaan, we alfo be excluded from what it prefigured, that eternal Reft, which remains for the People of God in Heaven.

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At the End of this and each Pfalm that we repeat, of whatever Nature it may be, we add the fame Doxology, that we ufed at firft: Glory being due to God, for every Thing he hath taught, and every Thing he hath done, both in former Times and préfent; for every Affliction, as well as every Enjoyment. And therefore we do well to obfervé the Apoftle's Rule, of giving Thanks always, for all Things, unto God and the Father, in the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrifti.

Then we proceed to rehearfe the Pfalms, in proper Portions, according to the Days of the Month: of which it will be needful to fay much more, than there is now Time to fay. I shall therefore conclude with only rémarking in general, that Words of God's own infpiring i Eph. v. 20.

h Heb. iv. 9:

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are furely the fitteft to praise him in: which being so noble a Duty, we should take peculiar Care to perform it in the most unexceptionable, judicious and affectionate Manner. When you glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as you can ; for even yet will be far exceed: and when exalt him, put forth all your Strength, and be not weary; for you can never go far enough*.

* Ecclus xliii. 30.

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SER

SERMON VIII.

1 COR. xiv. 15.

I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the Understanding alfo: I will fing with the Spirit, and I will fing with the Underflanding alfo.

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AVING undertaken, first to fhew the Lawfulness and Expediency of public Liturgies; then to vindicate, explain and point out fuch Things in our own, as are moft liable to be cenfured, or not understood, or not fufficiently obferved: I have finished the former Head, and proceeded under the latter as far as the Pfalms; which very justly make a principal Part of the joint Praises, that we offer up to God. For though feveral of them were composed on particular Occafions, yet they are plainly fitted for general Use; and their Infer

tion into the Canon of Scripture proves them to be defigned for it: the Jews anciently recited them in the Temple, and do ftill in their Synagogues: the New Teftament hath recommended them to Chriftians; and the whole Church hath fung them ever fince. Indeed the fubject Matter of them is very different: but thofe of Joy are much more numerous, than any other Sort and all of them afford Ground of Praise at leaft; the doctrinal, the exhortatory, the hiftorical, as well as the reft. Even the plaintive and petitionary minifter Caufe of Thanksgiving to Him, who hath promised to hear, and fupport, and deliver; and make all Things work together for Good to them, that love him. Glory therefore to the bleffed three in One is a fit Conclufion to every Pfalm.

But in reading them it must be carefully obferved, and may with moderate Care be com-monly diftinguished, in whofe Perfon the feveral Sentences are fpoken. In fome Pfalms, or Portions of Pfalms, it is God or Chrift, in others, wicked Men, that fpeak. These we muft repeat, as their Sayings: and none as our own, but what were intended for us. Even the Words of the Pfalmift, if we are to adopt them,

Rom. viii. 28.

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