if any should come to Meeting only for a name to get and keep a Reputation for Religion truly if you think you have made your market and done your errand I doubt you will find your selves mistaken such a 〈◊〉 and unseasonable With-drawing will crack your Credit and lessen your Esteem among them that are serious and judicious They are to be Reproved who tho' they pretend to much Devotion come to the House of God and sit there like Gods people yet while they offer the lame and the blind unto God reserving the Male in the flock for their better friends discover their Insincerity unto the Heart-Searching God who curses such deceivers Mal. 1. 14. however cunningly and fairly they may carry it before men The Lord tells the Prophet Ezekiel Cap. 33. 31. what a sort of Hearers he had who both look'd and sate spoke and in their outward behavior carried it like his people but their Hearts went after their Covetousness Their Hearts were in their Houses Fields Shops in close pursuit of their worldly Concerns under the Cloak of External Worship God expects the Heart if we give him not that he reckons he hath nothing if he has the Heart he can overlook many Infirmities and Defects while the most specious Appearances and fairest Performances without the Heart are but bodily exercise and Lip-labour little profitable to themselves but highly provoking unto God Such Persons give â—od only the Skin for the Sacrifice the lame â—â—an seeming Services instead of the fat of heart-Obedience and the Lord gives them as good as theâ— bring rewarding empty Professions with as empty Expectations They are deceived that think God will be mocked he doth not only see men but see into men and through them and all those duties will be found too light for his acceptance that have not the heart going with them in the performance It was a pleasant sight Luk. 12. 1. to see the people crowding together to hear the Word of God insomuch that they trod one upon another and one would think it should be common among us where the people are so numerous and the access to the Ordinances so easie but yet even then it is observable that Christ began with a caution against Hypocrisie Beware of Hypocrisie is a Text fit to be preach'd on before the most zealous and full Auditory Look diligently that the snake of Hypocrisie lurk not lye not hid among the tallest and rankest herbs of a forward Profession Worshiping of God and coming constantly to his House is like the Apothecaries Oyntment very odoriferous and grateful only the dead Fly of Hypocrisie will spoil the Savour of it and make us to lose all that we have wrought thereabout USE 3. In the last place this Doctrine may be improved by way of Exhortation and we are from hence excited unto these three Duties I. To Prize the House of God after the raâ—â— given in the Text. II. That we thereupon carefully attend the same and this will follow on the former III. That we so carry it towards and under those Ordinances as that we may find the Truth of this Text in our own Experience which is the genuine fruit of our being sincere in the two foregoing duties 1. Thus prize the Liberties and Priviledges of God's House labour to believe that One day in God's Horse is worth a Thousand in so doing thou wilt shew a David-like heart an heart after God's own Heart Indeed David was taught the worth by the want of God's House the Lord grant we may learn at a cheaper rate usually our Dullness puts him upon such kind of Discipline We may well and safely take them at the price God has set them they are not prized too high 2. So prizing the House of God attend it accordingly Here is most profit to be had and therefore omit no season of being here Wait dayly at Wisdom's posts You may buy Gold too dear but the Liberties of God's House you cannot buy to dear their fruit is better than Gold and their Revenâ—e than choice Silver Prov. 8. 19. with 34. Tho' you should be at great pâ—ines and expence you will have a good Penniworth Let not any Ordinary Business divert you from a Sermon Make Conscience of taking every Opportunity to work while the Day lasts And here let me say If that Business hinders you from a Sermon that would not hinder you from a Feast a merry-meeting from receiving mony from spending an hour or two with a friend that had sent for you or come to visit you from making a good Bargain c. I say if kept from a Sermon by those occasions which would not have kept you from these you will not be able to answer it to God nor to your own Judgment and Consciences neither when they come to be Serious and Considerate Then call upon one another exhort and encourage one another say come let us goe to the House of God you that have ever tasted the sweet of God's Worâ— oâ— been made joyful in his House of Prayer tell others what you have found your Example and Council may be of use to draw others along with you for which they will thank you and God will reward you another day 3. So attend upon God in his House as that your own Experience may testifie to the Truth of this Text and Doctrine viz. That One day here is worth a Thousand that you may be able to say as we have heard so have we seen in the House of God we have heard that there is great profit and Gain there to be gotten and we have found it so Do not content your selves as many do that you have been there but enquire what you have done and gotten there To goe in a Round of Duties Secret Private Publique without making any progress or getting any profit is in it self irrational and unto God very provoking You are going up to the House of God to spend a day before him there now see that it prove a good day to you that you may have the good of it to your selves this ought to be every one 's Care You would think your selves much to blame if being in extream Want you should come to a plentiful market where all manner of supplies are offered you freely and you carry home nothing with you And yet how often hath many an Hearer come into God's House and tarried till the Sermon was ended but carried away not one penniworth of spiritual good soul-benefit and it may be not so much as afflicted or troubled to think on it How did the Spouse behave her self when her Beloved was with-drawn Cant. 3. 1 to 5. she rises goes about seeks enquires of the Watch-men never rests till she had found him and then held him fast and brought him home with her 'T is Finding Christ in his House that is the profit of our day's work that renders Time so advantagiously spent and therefore this should be sincerely aym'd at
and strenuously endeavoured by every one that comes thither This was Mary's Case Joh. 20. 1 16. she got up early and her business was not to see the Sepulchre where Jesus was laid or the linnen Clothes and Napkins in which he was wrapt but to see Jesus himself her Lord was in her heart and to see Him was her Errand hence when others went away with no other sight than the Grave and linnen she waits and weeps and looking into the Grave there sees Angels unto whom she gives this reason of her weeping because her Lord was carried away and turning about enquired of the supposed Gardener for her Lord and being thus earnest and unsatisfied in her Enquiries at last she found him Thus should every one behave himself having realized to himself that the Ordinances of God's House are wayes of Communion with Christ and that there lies the good of them he should make that his busines and be contented with nothing unless he attains his end It should not satisfie him that he hath been at the place where Christ is wont to appear and that he hath been at the place where Christ is wont to appear and that he hath been under Ordinances in which Jesus Christ is wont to be conveied but he must goe and wait with an heart fixt for Christ himself and sadly bemoan himself under a disappointment there and unto such the Lord will make good that word Isa 45. 19. I said not to the seed of Jacob seek ye my face in vain In no Duties is the Word of God more solemn than about those of his House See the dreadful charge to him that preaches 1. Tim. 6. 13. I give thâ—e charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Jesus Christ c. So again 2. Tim. 4. 1 2. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom Preach the Word be instant in season and out of season c. In obedience to which Command are Lectures set up and can you think that you which hear are not under a like Charge Shall they that preach be so charged to preach so preach as in the sight of him that will judge them for their preaching and may you that are to hear think to scape the Judgement of God if you hear without Seriousness and Profit Does not his Strictness with them that preach more than intimate that he will also be exact with them that hear If they must take heed to themselves and their Doctrine you must take heed to your selves and your Hearing If they must speak so for matter and manner and end as they that look to answer it at the great and dreadful Day you must hear upon the like peril There is no serious preacher of the Gospel but goes with an akeing heart about his work and when he has preached is ready to condemn himself for fear lest he hath not so spoken as he ought to have spoken and I believe that there is no serious Hearer but will see cause to ask himself and have I so heard as I ought to have heard Let us pray for David spirit Affection and Experience of which there is but little now a dayes to be found Take a few Directions 1. Be well acquainted with the Being Nature Worth and Need of your souls Know that you have souls how many live as if they had none Consider also they are immortal Existences and must live for ever Then acquaint your selves with their Needs listen to their Cravings and think of what a necessity they are in of a Supply Your souls are a Thousand times better than your bodies and therefore Providing for them of a Thousand times more Concernment Oh an immortal Soul eternal Estate and endless Life are momentous Considerations and should be attended accordingly 2. This being supposed it will necessarily follow that you are indispensibly bound to attend all meanes that God has appointed for the Salvation of your Souls Neglecting means for outward Subsistence or bodily Maintenance will bring you to Penury then neglecting meanes for your soul's maintenance will issue in Ruin and Misery 3. Press on your souls the stamp of Divine Authority that is upon the Ordinances of his House Here God will be found if you slight these wayes of his appointing he will not be found elsewhere And be assured that God will not deceive you Here he hath recorded his Name and â—â— you wait here you wait under a Promise of a blessing and shall not wait for nothing Then come to the House of God out of Conscience not out of Custom nor for any by-Ends and if you come conscientiously you will come constantly I mean as often as God gives you an opportunity To omit one Duty does but make way for our omitting another Once give way to Hindrances and you will never be without them but they will come in upon you like 2 â—â—od Make but a Gap once and you will scarce know how or when to stop it And who can tel but that season which you lose might have been for your Everlasting Advantage The diseased persons not knowing when the Angel would come down and move the waters â—ay there alwayes waiting to prevent the loss of an opportunity and so should we A pious soul if providentially detained from God's House growes the more hungry after it the want of one meal sharpens his stomach and increases his Appetite for the next but a carâ—al heart who out of sloth and slightiness neglects it will grow every day more carless and unconcern'd than other like a weak stomach the more it fasts the more it may 4. Get suitable preparations for such a Solemnity When 〈◊〉 was commanded by God to goe to 〈◊〉 to worship he advises his people to put away the strange Gods wash their 〈◊〉 and be 〈◊〉 Gen. 35. 1. â— 3. Every â—usines of moment and Importance bespeaks â—reparation A Journy by land a Voyage by â—ea Entertainment of a great friend call for â—reparation much more then when our work to meet with and entertain the Lord of Gloâ—â— at his House which is appointed for a place of meeting with God Exod. 20. 23. Hence that charge Eccl. 5. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear c. When there we must be ready then there must be some time taken to make ready and that on penalty of offering the sacrifices of fools He that has so great a work to do and does not prepare for it does egregiously play the fool They that observe their own Hearts will find that they are not ordinarily so ready for so great a work of drawing near to God as they ought to be then either we must prepare or rush in without preparation and what ill musick must that needs be in God's ear where the Instrument is out of tune the danger of which we
more Sweetness in one hour's Fellowship with God in his House than in all the pleasures of sin for a whole Life-time See what plentiful Provision the Lord makes and invites us to there Isa 25. â— fat and marrowed things and wine upon the lees No Cook dresses such meat no Tavern sells such drink The Lord in his House makes such provision as abundantly exceeds what is to be found in any other and those that seriously attend there do find abundant satisfaction therein Psal 36. 8. And as for matter of Honour none like that which God puts â—pon them who honour him as all diligent conscientious waiters upon him in his House eminently do It is their glory to come near him and behold his Glory and there as in the Context ver 11. he gives glory and that is true Honour indeed It is the Honour and Glory of Angels to be waiting upon God in his upper House of Glory of Men to wait upon him in his lower house of the vissble Church where we may both see speak of and partake in his Glory To be admitted unto near approaches to God in his House is a greater Honour dignity than to be admitted to stand before converse with the greatest Potentates upon earth If then account themselvs much honour'd by the Company of great men much more Honour is it to be in the Company and dwell in the House of the Great God And that which commends the good things of God's House to â—â— above all other is that they are soul-Blessings soul-profit soul-pleasures c. Now as much as the Soul is better than all the world so much does soul-profit exceed all other profits whatsoever A little soul-good is infinitly better than a great deal of worldly good and consequently soul-loss is the worst loss Suppose you should gain a little worldly profit or pleasure while you might have been at a Sermon yet you lose soul-profit pleasure the while then your loss exceeds your gain Suppose you should be filling your purse by the one you are thinning your souls by the other you get bodily refreshment comfort c but you lose soul-benefit and souls-pining will not be recompensed by your estates-thriveing Isa 55. 3. hear and your souls shall live work toyl labour and your bodies may live tho' possibly they mayn't neither but hear and your souls shall certainly assuredly everlastingly live If men would but consider that they have souls and thereupon study the worth of them til they find the preference of their souls to their bodies they would then prefer soul-enrichments in God's House above all worldly profit or pleasure in their own but while men are carnal sensual and bruitish minding only their bodies and those things that do concern their bodies this Argument will neither be understood by them nor be prevalent with them Oh pray the Father of spirits the God that hath made us these souls that he would also make us to know what our souls be and what is the Concernment of our souls above all other Considerations in the world then we should realize that the enlightning of the soul converting of the soul restoring of the soul Satisfying the hungerings and thristings of the soul strengthening us with strength in our soul communion with the dearly beloved of our souls and making our souls to rejoyce in Him the universal prosperity of our souls and Salvation of our souls at last all which good things are to be attained in God's House are the Best of all blessings and consequently the attending on God there the most profitable and delightful of all duties and by many Thousand degrees eligible before all other Imployment whatsoever More particularly these that follow are some of those things to be gotten in the House of God that are a Thousand times better than what are to be had else where e. g. 1. Here is the word of God the powerful enlightening converting sanctifying saving word of God to be heard and the efficacy of it to be felt and experienced the Word preached which is the wisdome of God and the power of God to salvation Rom 1. 16. 1. Cor. 1. 18. 24. The Word by which blind eies are enlightened deaf ears opened dead souls quickned unconverted ones converted unbelievers brought to the Faith of Christ Act. 26 18 Dayes of being in the House of God are dayes of power in which God is wont by his Word to speak to the Hearts of poor needy waiters upon him and makes sinners a willing people Psal 110. 3. Here David met with that Word which was more worth to him thaâ— Thousands of silver and Gold and more sweet than the Honey and the Honey comb Psal 19. 10. with 119. 103. He that brings his Heart not his body only as many do to the House of God and laies it under the droppings of God's Word there he by so doing laies himself in the way of Light and Life and puts his soul under the Influence of an Ordinance appointed by God for the conveying of all spiritual good to him it being the Lord's way to do all by his Word If any of you come to the House of God on a Sabbath day and there God meet with you and bring your souls within the Net of the Gospel and save you then you will say it was the best way of spending Time that ever you met with If the Lord shall please to draw you off from your worldly Occasions and allure you into his House upon a Lecture-day and there speak to your Hearts and by his Spirit work upon you for your souls everlasting Good you will then be as so many living Monuments of the Truth of this Doctrine you will have the Witness in your selves and be able to set your seals to the experienced verity thereof 2. Here is the best Company to be had and such as is a Thousand Times better than what you will meet with else where And Company is a very attracting thing for the sake of good-fellowship falsly so called is many an hour and many a good day in God's House lost whereas here is that which is truly and deservedly called Good-fellowship Here God Father Son and Spirit are to be seen and Conversed with the Vision of and Fellowship with God are the great things here to be enjoyed It s â—â—ue God may be seen and conversed with elswhere but not in that manner and measure as here nor at all savingly by those that may but will not wait upon him here They have seen his goings in the Sanctuary Psal 68. 24. and so may we the sight of that Beauty which David there desired Psal 27. 4. is free for us also This is eminently a Place of drawing near to God and if you engage your hearts to draw â—ear to him there he will there meet you and bless you Exod. 20. 24. Now if you can fare so well in the House of God as to get a light of him