as players on a stage ^. Even their private devotions were made subservient to their main design ; and were ostentatiously displayed in places of public concourse. They pretended to have so much reverence for God, that they would not defer their accustomed services even for a few minutes, but would perform them in the corner of a street, or in any other place, however conspicuous and frequented ; whilst, in reality, the whole was a contrivance, in order to attract notice, and obtain a high reputation for sanctity. Such persons our Lord justly calls " hypocrites," and their services he declares to be alto- gether unacceptable to the heart-searching God.
These precise habits are no longer seen ; but the disposition from whence they arose, prevails as much as ever. We shall not now speak of formalists, who frequent the house of God in order to be accounted religious, because we shall notice them under another head : but there are many in the religious world who very nearly resemble the Pharisees of old, whilst they themselves have not the least idea that there is any such defect in their character. I refer to those who are forward to pray and to expound the Scriptures in religious societies, whilst they have no delight in secret prayer, but only in displaying their gifts and talents. I would notice those also, who, in the house of God, use unnecessary peculiarities, whether of voice or gesture, in order that they may appear to be pre-eminently devout. Nor must we overlook those who carry the same hypocritical desires even into their own closets, and contrive, either by the loudness or the length of their devotions, to con- vey to their families an idea of transcendent piety. But such dispositions, by whomsoever indulged, are hateful to God : and in proportion as we are actuated by them, we debase our best services, and render them an abomination to the Lord.]
In all our approaches to God, we should rather affect privacy and retirement —
[Doubtless, when in the house of God, we ought to con- duct ourselves with the deepest reverence : nor should we be afraid of the observations which may be made upon us by un- godly men. Whatever consequences may attend a reverential regard for God, we ought not to put our light under a bushel ; but should, like Daniel, brave death itself, rather than for a moment deny our God''. But where our devotions are pro- fessedly private, and no necessity is imposed upon us, we should shun every thing which has the appearance of ostenta- tion or vain-glory, and study to approve ourselves to Him only, " who seeth in secret." It is his approbation only that
^ UpoQ TO deadrjrai, in ver. 1, seems to convey this idea. b Dan. vi. 10. VOL. XI. N