Lectures Upon John 4, Part 7 · Lecture 28
Lecture the eight and twentieth, October. 10. 1609.
IT remaines now that I come to the second Vse, and that is for reproofe of such as beare no reuerence, but shew open contempt to the publike Use 2.worship of God. And I finde three principall faults in this kind. 1. The neglect that is had of the place it selfe where our Church assemblies are kept, I meane of our Churches and Temples. 2. The refusing to be present, and to ioyne with the assembly in Gods worship. 3. The vnreuerent behauiour and contempt that is done to Gods worship by them that vse to bee present at it.
1. It is a sinne and contempt done to Gods publike worship, when our Churches are spoiled and defaced. The Prophet complaining of the enemies of Gods people, Psalme 74. 10. that they did blaspheme Gods name, that they blasphemed and reproched the Lord, verse 18. he giues this for one reason of it, verse 8. that they burnt vp the Synagognes of God. Yea it is a sinne and contempt done to Gods worship, when there is not care had that they be decently and comely kept and maintained. I hauehave already granted that it hath beene the folly and superstition of the Papists to thinke, that Lect. 26.their Temples could neuer be (for the building and furniture) stately and glorious enough. And if any shall obiect for their superstition, the glorie and statelinesse of Salomons Temple. I answer, the comparison and proportion will not hold betweene that Temple and ours, but betweene the Synagogues that the Iewes had and our Churches. By reason of three notable differences that are (as I then shewed you) betweene the Temple at Ierusalem and our Temples; yet may we truely say, that as superstition made the Papists too carefull and bountifull, so prophanesse and Atheisme hath made vsus too void of care herein. The dust and cobwebs where with the seates and Pulpits, and walls of our Churches in most places are hung, the small reparations that are made of them, doe proclaime su…iciently to God and men, how small reuerence we beare vntounto the Sanctuary and worship of God. It is a fowle sinne and contempt done to Gods worship, that Parishioners either will not be at charge to maintaine such as may keepe the Church decently, or (if they be willing to be at that charge, yet) are altogether carelesse to see it done, to see that such as they maintain to this purpose doe their office. Dauid thought it vnfit (though he were a King) that his owne house should be more handsome then the House of God, 2. Sam. 7. 2. And though the Lord would not let him build him an house, yet he commends his affection for it. Thou didst well (saith he, 2. Chron. 6. 8.) that thou wert so minded. But with vsus eueryevery meane mans house is more handsome and better kept, then the House of God: yea the barnes and stables of many men, are better kept then their Churches are. When the Tabernacle of the Congregation was to be built, the people of all sorts, rich and poore, men and women contributed so bountifully and readily towards it, that Moses was faine to make a Proclamation that they should bring no more. Exod. 36. 6. I warrant you, there needs no such Proclamation now adayes. EueryEvery man grudges to giuegive two pence a yeare towards the repairing of the House of God. The cause that mooued Dauid to be at such cost in preparing for the building of the Temple was this (as himselfe telleth vsus, 1. Chron. 29. 3.) because He had a delight in the House of his God. And the true cause then why we now a daies will be at no cost with Gods House, is because we hauehave no delight in the House of God. Dauid reioyced greatly, and praised God for the zeale and willingnesse that he saw in the people to contribute towards the building of the Temple, because he knew God was highly pleased with it, and would blesse them for it, 1. Chron. 29. 9, 10. And it must needs then be a iust cause of griefe to eueryevery godly man to see the irreligiousnesse of the people now adaies, and how extreamely carelesse they are of the House of God; because he cannot but know, that God must needs bee highly offended with the people, and plague them for this sinne. And so we finde that the Prophet speaking of a curse that was laid vponupon the Iewes in their substance and labour, Hag. 1. 6. He giues this for the chiefe reason of it, that themselues dwelt in seeled houses and suffered the House of God to lye wast, Hag. 1. 4.
The second kind of contempt done to Gods publike worship, is the refusing to be present, and ioyne with the assembly in the worship of God And I finde three sorts guilty of this sinne.
The first are they, that doe ordinarily (without any iust or necessary occasion) absent themselues from the assembly, keepe their beds, or their shops, or the alse-house when they should be here. I know these men will be ready to say, our Preachers are proud, they would hauehave all men to heare them, they take it in great budgin if one be away when they preach; and it is no maruell sure, for what good shall we get by hearing of them? If such or such eloquent learned famous men did preach, we would giuegive them the hearing. To these men I say first, be not deceiued, there is none of vsus so simple as to be proud of such hearers as you be. Can a Preacher thinke you be proud to see drunkards, or whoremongers, or blasphemers, or prophane fooles that scorne all goodnesse to come and heare him? Surely as much as Ezechiel was, when the Lord told him, Ezek. 2. 3. 5. I send thee to the house of Israel, and thou shalt say vntounto them, thus saith the Lord. But surely they will not heare for they are a rebellious house; and see what comfort he tooke in such hearers, Ezek. 3. 14. he went in the bitternesse of his spirit to preach vntounto such men No, no, we glory not at all to hauehave our ministry frequented by some men; but there are many, that we are glad to see that they keepe themselues away, and sorry at the heart when we see them come into the Church; as it may seeme Iohn was, when he saw the Pharisees and Sadduces come to heare him, a generation of Vipers (saith he, Matth. 3 7.) who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? as if he should hauehave said, who brought you hither, what doe you here?
But 2. let me tell thee, thou mightest receiue profit (if the fault be not in thy selfe) by the meanest of vsus that preach, at least more then thou canst do in thy bed, shop, or alehouse.
3. If thou wert sure thou couldst not profit yet must thou come to doe thy homage to God, and shew thy reuerence to his ordinance, giuegive vntounto the Lord the glory due vntounto his name (saith the royall Prophet, 1. Chron. 16. 29.) bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse, thou denyest to giuegive to God the glory due vntounto his name, if thou neglect to come before him, and to worship him in his Sanctuary. We do not require you to come to do any duty or homage therein vntounto vsus, but vntounto God, and if (in refusing to come) you did but discountenance, disgrace, and shew your contempt to vsus, then the matter were not great; but thou wilt finde one day, that by this wilfull absenting of thy selfe, thou hast discountenanced and disgraced the ordinance and worship of God, and so despised and shewed contempt to the Lord himselfe. Thou shalt one day finde that Christ will make that good vponupon thy soule which he hath said, Luke 10. 16. He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me: and can that seeme vntounto thee a small matter?
The second sort that offend in refusing to be present at Gods publike worship are they that preferre the seruice that is done to God in a Chappell or priuate chamber before that that is done in the publike assembly. True it is (and no man may deny but) it may be lawfull to hauehave all the parts of Gods publike worship vsed in a priuate Chappell, or for want thereof in a chamber. For preaching of the Word, we hauehave a plaine warrant in the example of the Apostles who vsed to preach in houses sometimes, euen then when they had liberty to preach in the Temple, Acts 5. 42. Yea the Sacraments (which are the most solemne parts of Gods worship) may also sometimes be lawfully administred in a familie, namely when 1. Either through persecution the doores of Gods House are shut against vsus, and we cannot be permitted to receiue them in the Congregation according to Christs ordinance, or 2. When a family is of it selfe a competent and distinct Congregation, and such as vseth to ioyne together in all parts of Gods publike worship without offence to Church-gouernement. For so we reade of Baptisme administred in Cornelius house, Acts 10. 44. 47. and the Communion in a chamber at Tr…as, Acts 20. 8. But the most solemne and publike, and best frequented assemblies of Gods people, are much fitter places for Gods publike worship, then any priuate Chappells or Chambers, and to be preferred before them. And for any (through nicenesse, or idlenesse, or out of disdaine to ioyne with the base multitude) to neglect the Church-assemblies, and to rest in their domesticall deuotions, is a great sinne. See what account the godly made of the publike assembly, and what an aduenture they made for it, and that euen in such a duty, as they might hauehave performed in priuate, namely in prayer, Acts 16. 13. Nay see what account our Sauiour himselfe made of the publike assembly, Luke 4. 16. his custome was (euen before he was a Preacher) to frequent the Synagogue eueryevery Sabboth day.
Three Reasons there be why all men should preferre the worship that is done in most publike assemblies, before that that is done in more priuate places.
1. The respect of our owne good: for we may looke for a greater blessing from God vponupon his ordinances in the publike assemblies then in more 1.priuate meetings. Euen to our Church assemblies that may be applyed that we reade, Psal. 87. 2. The Lord loues the gates of Zion aboue all the habitations of Iacob, Matth. 7. 7. Prayer is compared to seeking of a thing that is lost, and to knocking at a gate we desire to enter into. And when many seeke a thing, there is more hope of finding it, when many knocke at heauen gates they will be the better heard. Therefore when Gods people hauehave shewed more then ordinary desire to preuaile with God in their prayers they hauehave shewed more then ordinary care that the assemblies might be as publike as might be, Ioel 2. 15. Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctifie a fast, call a solemne assembly, verse 16. Gather the people, assemble the children, &c. as if he should say, leaue none out. Iehosaphat, 2. Chron. 20. 3. proclaimed a fast throughout all Iudah, verse 13. All Iudah stood before the Lord with their young ones, wiues and children, and Iudg. 20. 20. Then all the children of Israel went vp, and all the people came also into the House of God, and till then they preuailed not. That is the reason also why Hezechias was so carefull to gather such a solemne assembly to keepe the Passeouer, 2. Chron. 30. 1, 2.
2. The respect we should hauehave to the good of others, for we may much benefit others by our good example. Dauid professed he receiued much 2.good by beholding the forwardnesse of his people in going to the House of God, Psal. 122. 1, 2. How much more good, will the example of great men doe of the multitude, when they are such diligent frequenters of Gods worship. That is the reason why the Lord would hauehave the Prince not onelyonly to ioyne with Gods people in his seruice, but to be in the midst of them, that they might all see him, Ezek. 46. 10. It is said that the scaffold Salomon made for himselfe in the Temple, was in the midst of the Court, so as all the people might see him, 2. Chron. 6. 12, 13. And of King Ioash it is said, that so soone as euer Athalia came into the Temple, she saw the King stand by the piliar as the manner was, 2. King. 11. 14. So it is also said of Iosia, 2. King. 23. 3. By which three examples it is plaine that the Kings seate was so set in the Temple, that all might see him there.
3. The respect we should hauehave to the honour of God, for the more publike the assembly is wherein we worship God, the more publike is the profession 3.which we make of the homage and duty that we owe vntounto him. Therefore it is required, Psalme 29. 12. of great men to worship the Lord in the Sanctuary, that so they might giuegive vntounto the Lord the glory due vntounto his name. That is the reason why Dauid vowed he would giuegive thankes to the Lord in a great Congregation, and praise him among much people, Psalm. 35. 18. And Hezekiah resolued to goe vp to the House of the Lord the third day so soone as euer he was recouered, 2. Kings 20. 8. And Dauid professed that it had beene one of the chiefe comforts he had in the world, that he had beene wont to goe with the multitude to leade them to the House of God, Psalme 42. 4.