SERM.may happen to us during the Course of IX. divine Service; and that Weariness and

Flatness of Mind, which fome weak Tempers may labour under, by Reason even of the Length of it.

When we come into the Sanctuary immediately from any worldly Affair, (as our very Condition of Life does, alas! force many of us to do) we come ufually with divided and alienated Minds. The Business, the Pleasure, or the Amusement we left, fticks fast to us; and perhaps engroffes that Heart for a Time, which fhould then be taken up altogether in fpiritual Addreffes. But as foon as the Sound of the facred Hymns ftrike us, all that busy Swarm of Thoughts presently disperses: By a grateful Violence we are forced into the Duty that is going forward, and as indevout and backward as we were before, find our felves on the fudden feized with a facred Warmth, ready to cry out with holy David; my Heart is fixed, O God, my Heart is fixed, I will fing, and give Praise. Our Misapplication of Mind, at fuch Times, is often

fo

fo great, and we fo deeply immersed in S E R M. it, that there needs fome very strong IX. and powerful Charm to rouse us from it; and perhaps nothing is of greater Force to this Purpose, than the folemn and awakening Airs of Church Mufick.

For the fame Reason, those acciden tal Distractions that may happen to us, during the Course of the Service, are also best cured by it. The strongest Minds, and best practised in holy Duties, may sometimes be furprized into a Forgetfulness of what they are about, by fome violent outward Impreffions; and every flight Occafion will ferve to call off the Thoughts of no lefs willing, though much weaker Worshippers. Those that come to fee, and to be seen here, will often gain their Point, will draw and detain for a while the Eyes of the Curious, or the Unwary. A Paffage in the facred Story read, an Expreffion used in the common Forms of Devotion, shall raise a foreign Reflection perhaps in mufing and speculative Minds, and lead them on from R 2 Thought

SER M. Thought to Thought, and Point to IX. Point, till they are bewildered in their own Imaginations. Thefe and an Hundred other Avocations will arife, and prevail; but when the Inftruments of Praise begin to found, our fcattered Thoughts presently take the Alarm, return to their Poft, and to their Duty, preparing, and arming themselves against their spiritual Affailants.

Laftly, Even the Length of the Service itself becomes an Hinderance fometimes to the Devotion, which it was meant to feed and raise: For (alas!) we quickly tire in the Performance of holy Duties; and as eager and unwearied as we are in attending upon fecular Business, and trifling Concerns, yet in divine Offices, I fear, the Expoftulation of our Saviour is applicable to most of us. What! can ye not watch with me one Hour? This Infirmity is relieved, this Hinderance prevented or removed, by the fweet Harmony that accompanies several Parts of the Service, and returning upon us at fit Intervals, keeps our Atten

3

Attention up to the Duties when we SER M. begin to flag, and makes us infenfible IX. of the Length of it. Happily therefore, and wifely is it fo ordered, that the Morning Devotions of the Church, which are much the longest, should fhare also a greater Proportion of the Harmony which is fo ufeful to enliven

them.

But its Ufe ftops not here, at a bare Removal of fome of the ordinary Impediments to Devotion; it fupplies us alfo with fpecial Helps and Advantages towards furthering and improving it. For it adds Dignity and Solemnity to the publick Worship; it fweetly Influences and raises our Paffions, while we assist at it; and makes us do our Duty with the greatest Pleafure and Chearfulness; all which are very proper and powerful Means, towards creating in us that holy Attention and Erection of Mind, which I have fhewn to be the most reasonable Part of this our reasonable Service.

SERM. Such is our Nature, that even the IX. beft Things, and moft worthy of our Efteem, do not always employ and detain our Thoughts, in Proportion to their real Value, unless they be set off and greatned by fome outward Circumftances, which are fitted to raise Admiration and Surprize in the Breasts of those who hear, or behold them. And this good Effect is wrought in us by the Power of facred Musick. To it we, in good Measure, owe the Dignity and Solemnity of our publick Worship; which elfe, I fear, in its natural Simplicity and Plainnefs, would not fo ftrongly ftrike, or fo deeply affect the Minds, as it ought to do, of the Sluggifh and Inattentive, that is, of the far greatest Part of Mankind. But when Voices and Inftruments are skilfully adapted to it, it appears to us in a majestick Air and Shape, and gives us very awful and reverent Impreffions; which, while they are upon us, it is impos fible for us not to be fixed and compofed to the utmost. We are then in

the