of Faith, and our Hopes and Expectations from S ER M, our Religion; what noble Things we have in

View, and what dreadful Things we have to fear according as we please or displease this only Object of our Worship, what Manner of Deportment would he expect to see in us while we paid our public Homage to fuch a ·Being, as Candidates and Suitors for everlasting Life and Glory!

How we might answer his Expectations in fuch a Cafe You know as well as I. Alas, too much Reason is often given by our very careless and inconfiftent Behaviours in public Worship for the Enemies of the Lord to blafpheme; to caft Slanders upon our Service and upon our Religion. When they fee many of us appear fo unconcerned, fo little mindful of the Duties of the Place, and fo obfervant of what doth not belong to it, they are tempted to compare us to the Multitude that flocked into the Temple of Diana at Ephefus, the greatest Part whereof knew not wherefore they were come together.

Forgive my touching upon this ungrateful Topic: The further serious Confideration of which, I moft earnestly recommend to as

many

IX.

SER M. many as are blameable in this Refpect; beIX. feeching them whenever they enter the Places

of religious Worship to bear in Remembrance the seasonable Advice of Solomon in my Text, with which I conclude, giving the Words at length.

Keep thy Foot when thou goeft to the House of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the Sacrifice of Fools, for they confider not that they do Evil.

GOD give us all Grace to behave ourselves fuitably to this Direction. ⠀⠀ To whom, &c.

FINI S.