Imperfection  cleaves  to  every  part  of  it.  Our
thankfulness  is  never  what  it  ought  to  be,  or  any
thing  like  it ;  and  it  is  only  when  we  have  some
particular  reason  for  being  pleased  that  we  are
thankful  at  all.  Formality  is  apt  continually  to
steal  upon  us  in  our  worship :  more  especially  in
our  public  worship;  and  formality  takes  away
the  immediate  consciousness  of  what  we  are
doing;  which  consciousness  is  the  very  life  of
devotion  ;  all  that  we  do  without  it  bemg  a  dead

ceremony.  j    /-.  j   u-

No  man  reviews  his  services  towards  God,  his
rehgious  services,  but  he  perceives  in  them  much
to  be  forgiven,  much  to  be  excused;  great  un-
worthiness  as  respecting  the  object  of  all  worsliip ;


SERMONS  ON  SEVERAL  SUBJECTS.
569


much  deficiency  and  imperfection  to  be  passed
over,  before  our  service  can  be  deemed  in  its  nature
an  acceptable  service.  Tlaat  such  services,  there-
fore, should,  in  fact,  be  allowed  and  accepted,
and  that  to  no  less  an  end  and  purpose  than  the
attainment  of  heaven,  is  an  act  of  abounding
grace  and  goodness  in  Him  who  accepts  them ;
and  we  are  taught  in  Scripture,  that  this  so  much
wanted  grace  and  goodness  abounds  tovs^ards  us
through  Jesus  Christ ;  and  particularly  through
his  sufferings  and  his  death.
