272 How Divine Worfhip S ER M. muft be a bad fort of religion againft which X. the fear of God is a remedy, whereas it is the great principle of true religion. But it is worthy of our obfervation, that the fear of God, fo often enjoined in fcripture, and re- prefented as the fum of religion, is never once, I believe, particularly, and by way of diftinaion applied to the duties of divine woríhip ; it always comprehendeth univer- fal righteoufnefs or obedience to the whole moral law, which includeth juftice, mercy, and temperance, as well as piety towards God. So Solomon himfelf, in the conclufion of this book before referred to, fpeaketh of keeping God's commandments, as having a neceffary conneEtion with, and being the ge- nuine effect of the fear of him ; and when the Pfalmift undertaketh to teach the fear of the Lord, P/àlms xxxi. i t. how doth he explain hitnfelf, and what are his particular inftruc`tions ? He doth not once mention go- ing to the houfe of God, offering facrifice, and prayers, and making vows; though thefe things were not to be left undone; but his fpecial directions are, keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from (peaking guile ; depart from evil and do good, feek peace and purfUe it. But how many are there who place the the whole of their religion in an exat con- - formity
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