wise so to think, and so to speak, of a religion, upon which so much may depend, judge ye.

But what shall we say of those who, believing and knowing the Bible to be true, and professing to look to it as the only guide and comfort of their lives, sometimes allow themselves to indulge in unholy levity, upon its doctrines, or its history: introduce into their ordinary language disrespectful allusions to its sacred mysteries; or abuse the solemn grandeur of its diction, to give an epigrammatic point to poetry, to enliven familiar conversation, or to adorn a tale? Surely these know not of what spirit they are. "My heart standeth in awe of thy word", says David. And this respectful fear will be exhibited by all who, like David, wish the words of their mouth to be acceptable to God.

3. Still a third instance, in which the words of our mouth are prevented from being acceptable in the sight of God, is when our duty of prayer to him is either totally omitted, or carelessly performed. And this deficiency in our duty is of no uncommon occurrence. Too many, who call themselves Christians, have by degrees allowed the regular observance of family worship and of private prayer to fall into neglect. Forgetting the inestimable benefits which prayer

• Psalm exix. 161.

is made the means of procuring—the intimate connection which it is calculated to maintain between the Lord of Heaven and the sinful inhabitants of the earth—the powerful check, which it often gives, even to the most unruly passions—and the comfort, which it sheds upon the hours of affliction, when the world and the things of the world are rejected as utterly worthless—breaking the very commandment of God, "Pray without ceasing," "pray always,"g "continue instant in prayer"h—unmoved by the assurances, "by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned;" "by the mouth, confession is made unto salvation"-disregarding the example, which our Saviour Christ himself gave us that we should follow his steps, and the examples of all those holy men, who have been successively raised up to give light to the world—many, who yet consider themselves in the pale of the Christian Church, who look for salvation by no other means, and, whenever they think upon religion at all, think upon it with the reverence it deserves, do yet go on, from day to day, and from year to year, without once bending the knee in private supplication to God; without

f 1 Thess. v. 17.

h Rom. xii. 12. Col. iv. 2. * Rom. x. 10.

8 Eph. vi. 18.

i Matth. xii. 37.

once calling around them their family and their household, to worship Him, who alone setteth the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flockl.

Now this surely ought not to be. In the sight of God, the words of that man can never be acceptable, who neglects his commands, sets at nought his counsel and his instruction, and wilfully neglects the principal means of grace, which in his mercy He has vouchsafed to sinners.

The

Again, the words of our mouth are unacceptable, when our offering of prayer is made with irreverence, or with carelessness. duty of public worship has always been considered most important, and susceptible of being rendered most advantageous. The solemnity of the place in which we assemble, the force of association, which enters more or less into almost all our actions, and the influence of example, jointly conspire to give a higher tone to our devotions in public than to those of a more private nature. Still it requires but little observation, in every assembly for public worship, to discern many, whose careless demeanour and wandering eye sufficiently indicate the inattention of their minds: and that more especially, when their own duty of prayer and

1 Psalm cvii. 41.

of hearing the revealed word of God is to be performed. Some perhaps may be seen engaged in frivolous discourse; some whose thoughts are manifestly roving abroad among the world and its pursuits; and some, who even intentionally and habitually slumber away the time, which a sense of decency or of duty has induced them to spend within these sacred walls. I would not now speak of the influence of this evil example on those around them: although that is great and dangerous. But I would ask such persons how they will answer for this negligence—to call it by no severer name— at the great day of general account? They are here, to make the words of their mouth acceptable to their Creator and Redeemer : to offer up the voice of prayer and praise. If they wilfully neglect this duty, if they are less ready to hear than to offer the sacrifice of fools, undoubtedly they are committing a very great and dangerous sin. If this be done through thoughtlessness; a rational being ought surely to be thoughtful in the more immediate presence of God in his courts: if through wilfulness; the most daring ought to tremble, when he knows that God requireth truth in the inward parts, and that he has both an eye to discern, and an arm to avenge, whatever is wilfully done amiss.

That purity of words, then, for which David so earnestly prays, is principally violated by open profaneness, by treating the Holy Scriptures with irreverence: and by omitting, or carelessly performing, the duty of prayer.

II. But David further prays that "the meditation of his heart may be acceptable" in the sight of God.

The effect of religion upon the soul of

is marked by the degree of habitual influence, which it obtains over his heart. In order that religion may be really effective in any one, its motives, its hopes and fears, its general precepts, must enter deeply into his customary train of thought; and present themselves to his mind without effort, as soon as any occasion calls them forth. When the time of immediate action, or the trying hour of temptation is come, it is then too late to be acquiring the religious knowledge, which may enable us to encounter the difficulty. Deep and earnest meditation must first have familiarised the mind with the great truths of religion; and enabled it, at one glance, to discern the connection of the several parts, which complete the scheme. Long continued discipline must have trained the Christian soldier, and taught him to draw forth, and effectually employ the polished weapons, supplied by the armoury of

Q