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III.

repel them in other words, let them learn SERM. and labour truly to get their own living, and let them run with patience the race that is set before them.

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SERMON IV.

ON THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD.

PSALM CXXXix. 2.

Thou art about my path and about my bed, and spiest out all my ways.

AMONG the many reasons which men have SE RM. to excite them to a life of piety and virtue, IV. there is none which, if duly considered, would have more weight with them than the omnipresence of God. By the omnipresence of God I mean that perfection of his, by which he is immediately present to every part of the creation, and by conse

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SERM. quence intimately acquainted with every thing, which is going forward.

IV.

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"If we climb up into the heaven,” says the psalmist," he is there; if we go down "to hell, he is there also. If we take the "wings of the morning, and remain in the "uttermost parts of the sea; even there " also shall his hand lead us, and his right "hand shall hold us." By which is meant, that we can go to no place, however high or low, where God does not reside; we cannot transport ourselves so swiftly, but that his holy spirit will accompany and sustain us; nothing is so secret, that he does not discover it; "he is about our path, and about our "bed, and spieth out all our ways;" all our thoughts, words, and actions, are laid open and known to him.

It was the advice of a celebrated heathen moralist to his disciples, always to behave and conduct themselves, as if some eminently virtuous person was looking on and observing

IV.

observing them; as, with such an idea, SERM. they would be ashamed of the commission of any thing which was mean or wicked, and encouraged in the pursuit of whatever was honourable and worthy. Now if the bare imagination and faint persuasion of the observation of a good man were expected to have so much influence, what may not be looked for froin the consideration of the actual presence of God? of that Being, before whom the highest orders of archangels fall down and worship, whom no mañ can see, and live!-of that Being, who not only views our actions themselves, but is intimately acquainted with the motives from which they spring!of that Being, who is holiness itself, and of purer eyes than to behold iniquity! Surely if any thing can excite in us awe and reverence, and restrain us from the perpetration of wickedness, it must be an habitual recollection of the picpiesence of our Creator.

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