! I 64 What are no Signs PART. H. preached : It makes the Gofpel a joyful Sound to them ; Pfal. 89.15. And makes the Feet of thofe who publifh thofe good Tidings, to be beautiful ; Ifai. 52. 7. How beautiful upon the Mountains are the Feet of him that bringeth good Tidings, &c 1 It makes them love God's publick Worfhip ; Pfal. 26. 8. Lord I have loved the Habitation of thy Houfe, and the Place where thine Honour dwelleth. And 27. 4. One Thing have I defired of the Lord, that will Ileek after, that I may dwell in the Houfe of the Lord, all the Days of my Life ; to behold the Beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple. Pfal. 84. 1, 2, &c. - --- How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Ho/ls ! my Soul longeth, yea even fainteth, for the Courts of the Lord. - -- Yea the Sparrow hathfound an .Houle, and the Swallow a Nell for herfelf, where Ile may lay her Young, even thine Alters, O Lord ofHofls, my King andmy God. Bled are they that dwell in thine Houfe, ; they will be/lill prafrg thee. Bled is the Man in whofe Heart are the Ways of them, who peng through the Palley of Baca, -- -- go from Strength toSirength, every one of them inZion appearethbefore God. - - -- Ver. i o. A Day in thy Courts is better than a thoufand. This is the Nature of true Grace. But yet, on the other Hand, Perfons being difpofed to abound and to be zealoufly engaged in the external Exercifes of Religion, and to fpend much Time in them, is no Pure Evidence of Grace ; becaufe fuch a Difpofition is found in many that have no Grace. So it was with the Ifraelites of old, whole Services were abominahle to God ; they attended the new Moons, and Sabbaths, and calling of lllmblies, and fpread forth their Hands, andmade many Prayers ; Ifai. 1. 1 2,---15. So it was with the Pharifees; they made long Prayers, andfajled twice a Week. Fai fe Religion may caufe Perfons to be loud and earneft in Prayer : Ifai. 58. 4. Ye (hall not fall asye do this Day, to caufe your Voice to be heard on high. That Religion which is not fpiritual and Paving, may caufe Men to delight in religious Duties and Ordinances : Ifai. 58.. 2. Yet they feek me daily, and delight to know my Ways ; as a Nation that did Righteoufnefs, and forfook not the Ordinance of their God. They afk of me theOrdinances of fu/lice,they takeDelight in approaching toGod.It may caufe them to take Delight in hearing the Word ofGod preached ; as it was with Ezekiel's Hearers, Ezek. 33. 3r, 32. And they come unto thee as my People cometh, and they fit before thee as myPeople,and they hear thy /47ords ; but they will not do them: for with their Mouth they Phew much Love ; but their Heart goeth after their Covetoufnefs. And lo, thou art unto them, as a very lovely Song,of one that bath a pleafantVoice, and can play well on an Inflrument : For they hear thy Words, but they do them not. So it was with Herod ; he heard John the Baptift gladly : Mark 6. 20. So it was with others of his Hearers,for a Seaton, they refoyced
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