192 Hcw .Divine Worfhip S E R M. extreme which fome have fallen into, and X. perhaps never more than now. But how unreafonable is it? Becaufe inftituted religi- ous fervices have been großly abufed, doth it therefore follow that they are altogether infignificant ? Becaufe they are not in them_ felves, and by the original defign of the in- ftitutor, of equal importance with judgment, faith, mercy, and the love of God, but fub- ordinated to them as means, therefore they are of no importance at all ? Or, becaufe they have been turned into fuperflition, and perverted fo as to make void the moral com- mandments of God, and defeat virtue and goodnefs among men, by being fubftituted in the place of them, and relied on in oppofi- tion to them, as founding a claim to the fa- vour of God, therefore the proper ufe of them for promoting virtue and goodnefs is to be laid afide ? Surely God hath an unalien- able right to our obedience ; and fnce his inf}itutions are mercifully intended for our advantage, and we ourfelves may fee the ap- titude of them for that purpofe, we ought to attend them dutifully and diligently from an affeEionate regard to the authority by which they are enjoined; only taking care that we do it in a proper manner, with underuianding, and an upright intention to ferve the true ends
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