is to be acceptably performed. 273' fòrmity to the modes of ipftituted worfhip, S E R M. negle king altogether the reft of their be- X. haviour, and abandoning themfelves to a "'"--j wicked courfe of life ? This was the way of the hypocritical yews, even before Solomon's time. The prophet Samuel, i Book xv. 22. when Saul had, in violation of God's exprefs commandment fpared the Amalekites cattle, under the pretence of referving them for fa- crifice, feverely reproveth him, and leaveth this folemn inftrut Live declaration, as a warn- ing to the woríhippers of God at all times, bath the Lord as great delight in burnt -jèr- ings and facrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than facri- fice, and to hearken than the fat of rains; for rebellion is as the fin of witchcraft, and flub- bornnefs is as iniquity and idolatry. The Pfalmift infifteth largely on the fame fubjed in the loth Pfalm, proving by the plaineft and molt convincing arguments, that facri- fices which were of divine appointment, and by parity of reafon, other external ads of worthip could not pleafe the Deity, and that we cannot reafonably hope for his approba- tion, without thankfgivings, and other du- ties of moral and perpetual obligation, toge- ther with the effedual amendment of our lives. In the writings of the following pro= VoL. IV. T phets,
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