z8 4. How Divine Worfhip SERM. its effence, which confifleth in devout aff'ec_ X. tions, folemnly addreffed to God. One ar- gnment Solomon urgeth in the text, is taken from the tranfcendent excellence and glory of the divine Majefly, compared with our mean and frail condition. God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few. It is thus that the fcripture frequently expreft eth the fupremacy of God, and the dignity of his nature ; he is in heaven, not as if his prefence were confined to that higher fituá_ tion, for be is every where ; but to give us an idea of his fuperior perfections and abfo- lute dominion : And when we fet againft this, what may be juflly in comparifon called the bafenefs of our own fiate, as ourfounda- tion is in the duff, and we dwell in houfes of clay, the true inference is, that our worfhip íhould be performed with the deepeft humi- lity, and that we fhould maintain the moil awful refpect for him in our minds, which naturally expreffeth itfelf rather by a few well chofen words, than by vain bablings and loud clamorous repetitions ; for let any one judge, whether reverence appeareth more in a modefl and awful filence, or a noify profu- lion of words. It were to be wifhed that the forms of de- votion ufed among chriflians, were more free 5 from
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