31+ e painnonp of t%e Zibitte 2ttnbntc1 Chap. 17. the numerous Ceremonies of the TewifL' Religion, the LMj quality of their Sacrifices, the Place, the Perfons by whom they mar be prepared and prefented to the Lord: We arenow commanded to draw near toGod with clean. fed hands andpurified hearts, and that men pray every- where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Everyplace is a Temple, and every Chriftian a I'rieit, to offer upSpiritual Incenfe toGod. The molt of the LeviticalCeremonies and Ornaments are excluded from the Chriflian Service, not only as unneceffary, but in- con fifient with its Spiritualnefs: As Paint,they corrupt the native beauty of Religion. The Apoftle tells us, that humane Eloquence was not ufe4 in the firft preaching of the Gofpel, left it fhould render the truth of it uncer- tain, and rob the Crofs of Chrift ofits Glory in conver- ting the World : for there might be fome pretence to imagine,that 'twas not thefupernaturalvirtue of theDo- ¿trine, and the efficacyof its Reafons, but the artifice ofOrators that overcame the fpirits ofMen. So, if the Service ofthe Gofpel were made fo pompous,the Wor- Ehippers wouldbe enclined to believe, that the external part was the moll principal, and to content themfelves in that without the aims and affeéions ofthe Soul, which are the life ofall our Services. Befides, upon another account outward Pomp in Religion is apter to quench than enflame Devotion : For we are fo com- pounded of Fiefh andSpirit,tha.t when the corporeal Fa- culties are vehemently affeiedwith theirabjecls,'tis ve- ry hard for the Spiritual to ad with equal vigour ;_ there being filchcommerce between the Fancy and the outward Senfes, that they are never exercifed in the re- ception oftheir objects,, but the Imagination is drawn that way, andcannot prefent to the mind:diftinEtly and with the calmnefs that is requifit, thofe things on which our thoughts fhouldbe fixt.. But when thofe diverting objeEts.
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