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I TIMOTHY ii. 1.

I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

THESE words evidently demonstrate, that St. Paul looked upon supplications and prayers, as a duty incumbent on mankind, arising from our dependance upon God as the giver and preserver of life, and from whom all the blessings we enjoy are derived,

I will, says the Apostle, that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. And this, he tells us, is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. And when we make truth the object of our minds, it will naturally dictate to us that there is a worship due to the supreme Governor of the Universe.

I shall, therefore, in consequence of the exhortation in my text, endeavour to prove,

First, That there is a worship due from the Creature to the Creator. And,

Secondly, I shall point out in what manner that worship is to be performed, so as to be likely to please God, and benefit ourselves.

First, I am to prove that there is a worship due from the Creature to the Creator. And this is evident from the practice of all nations in the world. There never was a nation that acknowledged a Deity but what had some method of paying him adoration; and, by proper dispositions of mind, by some exterior forms of worship, acknowledged his supremacy, adored his excellencies, and intreated his bounty and protection, as dependant, though unworthy objects. All nations, says holy David, whom thou hast made, shall come and worship before thee, and shall glorify thy name; for thou art great and dost wondrous things: thou art God alone.

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But notwithstanding this general sense of mankind, this present age abounds with a set of men who entertain very loose sentiments with regard to the obligations of religion in general, and of Christianity in particular. They tell you, that this custom of worshiping the Deity had its rise from fear and superstition; that designing men have represented the Almighty as a rigorous and severe sovereign, delighting in the miseries of his creatures; the ignorant and timerous multitude were scared into these devout and enthusiastic practices; which, say they, to thinking men, appear absurd and useless; since God, from his omniscience, must know the wants of his creatures, and from his goodness must be ready to supply

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them, if they deserve it, without asking." In answer to this, if we consider how this custom of worshiping the Deity has prevailed in all ages, amongst persons of the greatest depravity of morals, as well as the most serious and considerate amongst the wisest and most inquisitive, as well as the unthinking and credulous; it will be a fair presumption, if not a strong evidence, that reason gave birth to this practice, and not superstition, as these men affirm.

And as to the observation that God knows the wants of his creatures, and is always ready to relieve them, without being solicited, this may be granted; and yet it is no objection to the fitness and necessity of this practice, because it is suitable to the nature and condition of man, and the relation he stands in towards God. For, does not common gratitude require that we should express our thankfulness for all the blessings we enjoy from our most gracious and bountiful benefactor? Should we not glorify that best of Beings who gave us existence, who continually preserves us, and gives us every comfort of life? Surely we should. And, though our expressions of gratitude are of no advantage to him, yet he is highly pleased with them; and requires them of us, as it testifies our sense of his power and will to do for us beyond what we ask or think. For though our Creator might supply all our necessities without asking, yet it would be very great presumption in aný one to expect that he will.

To make this familiar to our senses: suppose a man in want of the common necessaries of

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life, and yet so proud as to be above acknowledging his wants; and so insolent as to despise and affront the person who should (though unsolicited) send him relief, what man is there amongst you that would pity or regard him? And shall the ungodly, who are so proud that they care not for God, expect that he will care for them? Reason tells us the contrary; not to remark, that Christ has told us, we must ask before it will be given, and must knock before it will be opened unto us.

Hence it is plain, that gratitude is a duty both of natural and revealed religion; and it is so acceptable both to God and man, that it is the ready way to obtain greater benefits from both; whereas ingratitude is so base, that it stops the current of favours for ever; for an ungrateful person renders himself unworthy of

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We see, then, that reason, gratitude, and the practice of all nations, prove that there is a worship due to the great Creator.

Besides, have we not the example of Christ himself, who has expressly told us, that it is our duty to follow his steps? Have we not the practice of Prophets and Apostles, who lived and acted continually under the immediate inspiration and direction of God? Have we not all these, I say, written for our instruction? And not only that, but we have express directions, both in the old and new Testament, for the duty of prayer.

Thus in the old Testament, O thou that hearest prayer, says holy David, unto thee shall all flesh

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