The Joy of the English Church for the Coronation of Pious Prince James, Meditations on psalm · Part · Meditation 6
The 6. meditation.
The house of Iehovah] This is a great honour, which the Lord vouchsafeth vntounto such places, as are dedicated to his worship, that they are the Lords houses and dwelling places: that though heauen and earth cannot containe that infinite maiestie, yet he is present among the faithfull assembled together in his house.
1. Thus the Lord saith by his Prophet, Heauen is my seate, earth is my footestoole: where is that house that ye will build for me? To whome will I looke, to him that is poore and of a contrite heart, and trembleth at my words, Isa. 66. 1, 2. So our Sauiour Christ promiseth, Wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst among them, Math. 18. 20.
2. Iacob hereof had experience, when in his dreame he saw that comfortable vision of the ladder, and awaking called it Gods house, and the gate of heauen, Gen. 28. 17. Salomon by his holy praier at the dedication of the temple, obtained that God would be there present, and heare the supplications of the people that should pray in that place. 2. King. 8. 30.
3. Like as then the curtaines of the Temple was pictured with Cherubs faces, Exod. 36. 8. so are the Angels of God present as ministring spirits for the Elect sake, when the people of God are assembled in praier: and as the tabernacle of Moses was shadowed with a cloud, an euident signe of Gods presence, Num. 9. 22. so the Lord doeth ouershadowe by the worke of his spirit the hearts of the faithfull assembled in his house to heare his word.
4. God therefore is present in his house because of his promise: for there the Lord will be seene, as Abraham said; In the mountaine will God be seene, Gen. 22. 14. so will the Lord shew himselfe in his sanctuarie, promising there to heare the praiers of his people. And againe, where els should the Lord be thought to be present, then where he bestoweth his gifts: as it is saide in the parable of the prodigall child; In my fathers house is bread enough, luk. 15. Therefore because the store of this spirituall bread, which is the word of God preached, is dealt in the Church assemblies, that there is surely our fathers house.
5. First, here all superstitious persons must be met withall,Holines not … be ascribed to the place it s…lfe▪ which tie Gods presence to the walls & stones of the church, as though it were in it selfe a more holy place: such were the Israelites, that thought the very presence of the Arke would deliuer them from the Philistims, when as God was not present, whome they had chased away with their sinnes, 1. Sam 4. And they had nothing in their mouth, but the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, Ierem. 7. 4. foolishly imagining, that what sinnes so euer they had committed, if they did but once come within the walls of the temple they were deliuered, Ier. 7. 10. Such is the superstition which the Papists hauehave of their hallowed Churches, ascribing great vertue to the place it selfe: whereas the Lord for his worship maketh no difference of places, but eueryevery where he is accepted, which worshippeth in spirit and truth, Ioh. 4. 23, 24. Churches indeede are holy places, but not in respect of any inherent holines, but because of the holy vse, namely the holy praiers and exercises of holy assemblies: which point is very well touched by Bernard, Habent sanctitatem, sed propter corpora vestra, &c. Your Churches are holy because of your bodies, De d…dicat. eccles. serm. 1.as your soules are holy because of the spirit that dwelleth in you, your bodies holy because of your soules, so this house is holy because of your bodies.
Secondly, all profanation of Gods house is forbidden,Houses of praier not to be profaned▪ or turning of it to any secular vses. Our Sauiour would not suffer them to carrie a vessell through the Temple, nor to buie and sell, but ouerthrew the tables of the money changers, Math. 11. 15, 16. Hereof it is that diuerse abuses of places consecrate to religious vses, hauehave beene by diuers wholesome Canons restrained: that law-daies should not be kept in Churches, Concil. Aretalens. sub. Carol. c. 22. that feasts be not made there, Trullan. c. 74. that no man bring in beasts, or cattell, ibid. c. 88. that no dancing there be vsed, songs, or enterludes, Bracarens. 3. c. 2. All which, and such like corrupt vsages, are great profanations of Gods house, which is appointed for praier, and other holy exercises.
Thirdly, if the Church be Gods house, it ought euen in respect of outward comelines and decencie, to be reuerently kept. Men should not be curious in adorning their owne houses, and dissolute in maintaining the house of God. This was the reproofe of the Israelites in Haggai his time, because they themselues dwelled in sieled houses, and suffered the temple to lie wast, Hagg. 1. 4. And verily where people are slouthfull in this busines to beautifie and repaire the publike places of religion, it sheweth that they much regard not the exercises of that holy habitation.
Lastly, as it is Gods house, so we should come reuerently to it, as into Gods presence; as Iacob resolueth himselfe: How f…arefull is this place? this is none other but Gods house, Gen. 28. 17. Gods palace is much vnlike Ahashuerosh court: Mordecai could not enter there, because he was cloathed with sackcloath, a mourning garment, Esth. 4. 2. but he is soonest admitted into Gods court, that commeth with true sorrow and contrition. Men vse to come trembling vntounto the princes Maiestie, and with reuerence enter into the court: Gods house in like manner is his pallace:Arelatens. sub Carol. c. 22. and therfore in time past we shall finde, that the Church was called foreign, a basilike or princes house.Laodican. 28. It is the mansion of the great King, and therefore we should not come with secure hearts, and profane affections, as the manner of some is, but with reuerence and feare, as into the presence of the highest Maiestie. And herein we hauehave the exāple of our princely Ecclesiastes, that both in practise and precept goeth before vsus in this dutie of reuerence toward God, thus moouing & aduising his princely sonne:foreign. But in your praier to God speake with all reuerence: for if a subiect will not speake but reuerently to a king, much lesse should any flesh presume to talke with God as a companion. Howe much are we bound vntounto God, that in his mercy hath sent vsus a king truely touched with the deuout sense of religion?The 6. benefit, the example of a godly king. who, what he prescribeth to others, doeth first practise in his royall person, and as the Prophet saith, is as an he-goate before the flocke, Iere. 50. 8. that is, most forward of the rest. To conclude this place, Bernard well saith: Terribilis plane locus quem fideles viri inhabitant, quem angeli sancti frequentant, quem sua quo que praesentia dominus ipse dignatur, worthie of all reuerence, which faithfull men inhabite, angels frequent, where God himselfe is present. The presence of Christs Church requireth reuerence, but of angels more, of God himselfe most of all.