Know my brethren, that God loves the gates of Sion more than all the dwelling
places of Jacob: therefore the public worship of God ought to be preferred
before private.
1. This supposeth there must be a visible church.
2. And that they frequently meet together to worship God.
3. That they have an orderly ministry and one ordained elder, at least,
to administer all public ordinances.
4. Moreover, that all persons have free liberty to assemble with the church,
and to partake of all ordinances, save those which peculiarly belong to
the church; as the Lord's Supper, holy discipline, and days of prayer and
fasting. Then the church of old separated themselves from all strangers.
Yet others may attend on all other public ordinances with the church; as
public prayer, reading, and thus preaching the Word, and singing God's praises,
as hath formerly been proved. May others my brethren, join in prayer with
us, and not praise God with us? But O my brethren! let me beseech you to
shew your high value, and estimation for the public worship of God.
[Motives Hereunto]
1. Since God prefers it thus: Or has so great esteem of his public worship.
2. Because he is said to dwell in Sion; It is his habitation for ever. The
place, where his honour dwells.
3. Here God is most glorified. In his temple every one speaks of his glory;
My praise shall be in the great congregation.
4. Here is most of God's gracious presence (as one observes it.)
(1). His effectual presence, in all places; where I record my name, thither
will I come; and there will I bless thee.
(2). Here is more of that intimate presence: Where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. He walks in the midst
of the seven golden candlesticks.
5. Here are the clearest manifestations of God's beauty, which made holy
David desire to dwell there for ever. See the appearance of Christ to the
churches, Rev 2, 3.
6. In that it is said, that those that should be saved, in the apostles
days, God added unto the church.
7. Here is most spiritual advantage to be got: Here the dews of Hermon fall,
they descend upon the mountain of Sion. But here God commands the blessing,
even life for evermore. I will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy
her poor with bread. Here David's doubt was resolved.
8. Here you receive your first spiritual breath, or life, many souls are
daily born to Christ. That good which is most diffusive, is to be preferred;
but that good which most partake of, is most diffusive; O magnify the Lord
with me! let us exalt his name together. Live coals separated soon die.
9. Brethren (as a worthy divine observes) the church in her public worship
is the nearest resemblance of heaven, especially in singing God's praises.
What esteem also had God's worthies of old, for God's public worship? My
soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. How amiable
are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts!
10. See how the promises of God run to Sion, or to his church: He will bless
thee out of Sion. O let nothing discourage you in your waiting at the ports
of Christ's door: David desired rather to be a doorkeeper in the house of
God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Yet nevertheless do not neglect,
for the Lord's sake, private devotion; viz. Secret, and family prayer: O
pray to be fitted for public worship! Come out of your closets to the church!
What signifies all you do in public, if you are not such that keep up the
worship of God in your own families? O neglect not prayer, reading and meditation!
And take care also to educate and catechise your children; and live as men
and women that are dead to this world: and walk for the Lord's sake as becomes
the Gospel. See that zeal and knowledge go together; a good conversation
and a good doctrine go together. These two together, are better than one.
Brethren, he that makes the Word of God his rule in whatsoever he doeth,
and the glory of God his end in what he doeth, shall have the Spirit of
God to be his strength. This is like Solomon's three-fold cord, that will
be one, or it will be three; it can't be two; nor can it be broken.