A Trial of Church-Forsakers, Section 2
SECT. 2. The way to keepe a Chriſtian state is publick communion.
TO ſpeake firſt of the act of vertue of all good chriſtians. If they would draw neere to heaven, and stand faſt there, they muſt not forſake the aſſemblings of our ſelves together: they muſt love church aſſemblies, and the publicke fellowſhip of the ſaints: in a word, they that are good, and would be better,Tit. 1.4. Iude 3. muſt chooſe to bee where Gods people are in publicke ſervice for the common faith, and our common ſalvation.
All the beſt ſaints and people of God have been ever for this. They have loved, and delighted to pray, reade, meditate, and conferre in private: but were moſt glad when others would ſay unto them,Pſ. 122.1. let us go into the houſe of the Lord. They mourned when they could not go with the throng of them,Pſal. 42.4 that went to the houſe of God, with the voice of joy and praiſe to keepe holy day. Yea,Pſ. 84.10 they accounted a day in his courts better then a thouſand, and had rather bee doorekeepers in the houſe of God, then to dwel in the tents of ungodlineſſe.
Not onelyonly they under the law were for it (when yet Gods bleſſings were in drops to ours in pouring ſhowres):Ioel 2.28 Act. 2.17 but as it was prophecied, that, in the daies of Chriſt,Eſ. 2.3. Mic. 4. chriſtians ſhould ſay, come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord, to the houſe of the God of Iacob; ſo was it fulfilled by the firſt converted Jewes and Gentiles, as wee ſee in the hiſtory of the Acts.
Yea, in the hardeſt times, and dayes of perſecution, when goods, liberties, and lives, lay at the ſtake, how readily did they deprive themſelves of naturall comforts for ſpiritual? To the caves and holes of the earth, to ſtinking mines, and pits, to woods and dens would they flock (when they had no places authoriſed for aſſemblings) to perform their devotions, and publick worſhips.
This hath beene ever the glorious practiſe of Gods people: and we cannot wonder at it, when wee conſider, the preſence in our aſſemblies, and the benefit that ariſeth from them.
Firſt in our aſſemblies are Gods people, Gods Angels, Gods ordinances, and God himſelfe. There are Gods people, who have reſpect due unto them from the greateſt Princes in the world. Paul ſpeaking to all ſorts of Chriſtians, ſaith, ſubmit your ſelves one unto another in the feare of the Lord:Eph. 5.2…. and there is a double ſubmiſſion, of Reverence, of Service. By the firſt, all inferiours muſt ſubmit themſelves to their elders, and to every ordinance of man for the Lords ſake.2 Pet. 5 5 1 Pet. 2.13 By the ſecond, even the higheſt muſt ſubmit to the loweſt for good. Thus Peter hath it, bee ſubject one to another: and that ye may not be hindered,1 Pet. 5.5 hee cloathed with humility. Thus Eſay prophecied,Eſ. 49.23 Kings and Queenes ſhall bow down to the church, with their faces to the earth, and ſhal lick up the dust of her feete. Not by a ſubjection of reverence, as if they muſt be underlings to the cenſures of that particular congregation whereof they are (as Browniſts would have it, whereof hereafter): but by a ſubjection of ſervice, when they uſe their crownes and dignities for the honour and advancement of religion, as every good king doth.Mat. 18.10 For they muſt not deſpiſe one of Chriſts little ones: but with many people and ſtrong nations ſeek the Lord, Zach. 8.22.23.and take hold of the skirt of him that is a Iew (that is a religious perſon) ſaying, we will go with you, for we have heard the Lord is with you; there are the Angels alſo. This was figured in the curtaines of the Tabernacle, where Cherubims were wrought of cunning worke:Ex. 26 1 and in the walls of the temple, where were carved the carvings of Cherubims: yea,1 Kin. 6.29 this alſo hath been taught by the Apoſtle; who would have women to have power on their heads, (that is, a vaile,1 Cor. 11.10 as a ſignificant ceremony of ſubjection to the man, among the Corinthians) becauſe of the Angels, who are their guardians, and there more eſpecially, preſent with them. There are with Gods people, and angels Gods ordinances alſo, both the word, prayer, and ſacraments. The word to bee a ſeed of immortality, and a word of life: praier to powre out our ſoules, 1 Pet. 1.23 Phil. 2.13 Lam. 2.19that God and all grace may have roome enough to dwell in them: and the ſacraments,Rom. 4.11 to be the ſeales of the righteouſneſſe of faith, and ſo, the buckets of heaven to convey grace by Gods aſſiſtance, and covenant, to the worthy receivers. Laſtly, there is with Gods people, angels, and ordinances, God himſelfe. For though wee cannot limit him to temples made with hands:Acts 7. yet Chriſt having promiſed to be with his Apoſtles alwaies to the end of the world (which therefore muſt be enlarged to their ſucceſſours when they were dead:Apoc. 1.13) and he having preſented himſelfe in the midſt of the ſeven golden candleſticks: and laſtly, having covenanted for his word and ſpirits going together:Eſ. 59.21 therefore certainely hee is (by way of ſpecial favour) in the aſſemblings of his people.2 Cor. 3.8 9. If to the Jewes, much more to us: becauſe the miniſtration of the ſpirit is much more glorious. Lay now this together, that in our aſſemblings there are Gods people, Gods Angels, Gods ordinances, and God himſelfe and yee cannot wonder that the good have choſen to dwel in publick aſſemblies, if it might be,Pſal. 23▪6 for ever.
Secondly, in our aſſemblies all things are for benefit: every thing is edifiable. And if our hearts were in tune, Pſal. 57.7 Eph. 1.3and our heads full of the expectation of Gods ſpirituall bleſſings in heavenly things in Chriſt, how might the kingdome of ſinne and Satan fall downe like lightning, Luk. 10.18 Ioſh. 6.as the walls of Iericho at the ſound of thoſe rams-hornes of old, when we are in publicke worſhip.Eſ 59.21 Ioh. 16.13 There yee have not onelyonly the ſpirit promiſed, which will lead you into all ſaving truth, convince, convert, and comfort you,Eph 4 13 till yee are of full ſtature in Chriſt: but yee have many hands to help you in confeſſion, ſupplication, deprecation, interceſſion, and giving of thankes. There ye have many encouragements to hold on in the way of Chriſt. There is the word to promiſe, ſacraments to confirme, prayer to procure, and many of Gods people to give you the right hand of fellowſhip till you come to your journeyes end.Gal. 2. The firſt ſtep to apoſtacy is the neglect of publick aſſemblies. As a man that hath an inclination to take wicked courſes, withdrawes himſelfe from good company (as Iudas when he went out from Chriſt and his diſciples, and yoaked with the high-prieſt and elders) ſo, if a man encline to warp, hee declines the aſſemblies of Gods people, as one wearie of ſuch a courſe. But if hee ſtick unto them, his hands are ſtrengthened to hold God faſt, by the word of precept, promiſe, and correction; by the ſacraments, wherein a bargaine is ſtrook betweene God and us, by the prayers of our ſelves and others, which bring God neere to helpe; and by the examples of others,Gal. 2.14 which have a compelling vertue to good, as well as ill. When therefore yee conſider this bundle of profit, yee cannot wonder that Gods people have ſo conſtantly tyed themſelves to watch at the gate, Pro. 8.34and wait at the poſtes of the doores, where publicke worſhip hath beene prepared.
Oh that all Gods people that ate good and would be better, would lay theſe things to heart, and not forſake our aſſembling together! God workes by theſe meanes, and if wee forſake them, wee forſake the hands of the God of ſtrength, which are in them ſtirred up to come and help us.Pſal 80.2 Pſal. 42.2 Forſake church aſſemblies and yee turne your backes upon Gods face, angels, ſaints, and comforting acts of worſhip.
Ezech. 13 22▪ Ier, 23, 14.Forſake church aſſemblies and ye ſad the hearts of Gods people, ſtrengthen the hands of wickedneſſe, and ſhew no reverence to worſhip. Forſake church-aſſemblies, and yee let looſe thouſand of temptations upon you againſt faith and manners: the Devill will take you upon his owne ground.
Object.You wil ſay (happily) that great preſence▪ and profit is talked of, but ye ſee none, nor feele any upon you.Sol. It maybe ſo, yet without the fault of our aſſemblies, and with the fault of none but your unworthy ſelves. Take therfore this advice in Gods feare, and ſpeed better hereafter.
Firſt, come with prepared hearts, that is, hearts unloaded of the guilt of wilfull ſins: hearts ſtanding in awe of Gods preſence, and worſhipping in feare: and hearts ſincerely purpoſing to bee better. Yee know Gods advice, lay apart all filthineſſe and ſuperfluity of naughtineſſe, Iam. 1.21and receive with meekneſſe the ingraffed word which is able to ſave your ſouls. Ye know Peters propoſition, now are we all here preſent before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God:Act. 10.33 Pſal. 5.7 Eſ. 2, 3. Pſ. 119, 34. and Daevids practiſe. In thy feare wil I worſhip towards thy holy temple. Ye know the prophecy that went of you of old, and Davids reſolution, to keepe the law, yea, to obſerve it with his whole heart, according to grace given. Do but you thus, and yee ſhall find preſence and profit. Secondly, bring an humble ſoule along with you to God houſe. If God doe meete with you in our aſſemblies, hee acknowledgeth a Publican, Luke 18,before a Phariſee: hee calls no man Benjamin, the ſonne of his right hand, but thoſe whom their owne hearts call Benoni, in their humility: hee ſalutes them not Naomi, beautifull, who doe not humbly feele themſelves Marah, bitter. The humble God wil teach, Pſal. 25 9. Luke 1,and the humbled God will lift up: for he fills the hungry with good things. Bring but ſuch ſenſes, and yee ſhall ſee preſence and profit. But if yee bee ſwift to heare, and not ſlow to ſpeak, Iam, 1. Luke 1,ſlow to wrath, God ſends ſuch rich ones emptie away, and caſts ſuch mighty ones from their thrones.
Thirdly, carry your hearts along thorough the whole ſervice. Looſe your hearts, and looſe your comforts in any thing ye do. It was ſweetly ſung of old,Pſal▪ 86, 4. rejoyce the ſoule of thy ſervant, for unto thee doe I lift up my ſoule. Let that plummet runne downe to the ground, and the wheeles of your actions will not runne to your content. Therefore, do but you come with prepared hearts, humbled ſoules, and binde your hearts for hearty ſervice in the whole, and then the preſence in our aſſemblies ſhall bee for you, and the profit for you too, as well as for others, who are thus vertuous, as not to forſake our aſſemblings together.