A Trial of Church-Forsakers, Section 3
SECT. 3. The vice of thoſe that forſake publick Communion. 1▪ of the prophane.
ALl that can be ſaid, will not prevaile with all. There are ſo many vices to overwhelm that, as it was of old, ſo is it ſtil, it is the manner of ſome to forſake our aſſemblings together. The Apoſtle ſaw it of old, and laboured againſt it as an enemy to perſeverance in the unity of faith and manners, we ſee it ſtil and muſt labour againſt this act of many vices.
Ile ſpeake (thorough Gods helpe) but of two ſorts of perſons, too neere unto us, who give themſelves unto this fault: the firſt are prophane, the ſecond would be accounted truely religious. The prophane ſhew themſelves by foure degrees of forſaking our aſſemblies. The first, is coming to our aſſemmblies like thoſe that are unwilling. Theſe that doe ſo are not altogether withdrawn in body, but in heart are too farre from us. The godly ſay,Zach. 8▪ 21 Eſ. 42.8 Pſ. 110.3 let us go ſpeedily and pray before the Lord: they are like the Iſles that wait for the law; becauſe they are willing people. But they come as if they were in fetters,Zach. 5.7 and bolts, like Zachariahs women preſſed into an Epha with a talent of lead. Lord, how ſlow is their pace, as if it were to the jaile, or Bridewel. The ſecond is, loving to be any where, rather then in the aſſembly. Surely, when any act this, though ſometimes they come, yet they forſake apace. Gods people cannot rejoyce in ſuch commers, when God told Ezekiel that hee ſhould goe to a rebellious people that were unwilling to ſubmit,Ezech. 2.3 5. Ezech. 3.14. hee went in bitterneſſe and indignation of ſpirit. Such needes muſt be the movings of the heart of the aſſembly about ſuch commers. Theſe thinke not that they ſhould come to doe homage to God, as David preſſeth, give, give, unto the Lord, Pſ. 29.1, 2glory ſtrength, worſhip due unto his name. They thinke not, that hee that deſpiſeth the miniſtery done in aſſemblies, deſpiſeth not man, Luk. 10▪ 16but Chriſt: therefore they love any meetings rather then them. They account church-aſſemblies rather matters of complement, then neceſſitie. They need no ſoule reparations, ſo their bodies bee fat, and well-liking.
Wee read of one Victorinus of old,Auguſt. who would bee a Chriſtian,Ego te non deputabo inter Chriſtianos, niſi in eccleſia te videro. but frequented not chriſtian aſſemblies. But godly Simplicianus met him, and thus ſaluted him, I will not reckon thee among Chriſtians, unleſſe I ſee thee in the church among them. Let theſe men take home this judgement, and ſee how they can digeſt it. The third degree, is preferring private before publicke worſhip. If they can ſay they read, & pray at home (though they reade but their owne indictment, and pray for their owne puniſhment in the neglect of Gods rule in aſſembling) they think all is well, and conſcience is wel enough ſatisfied. But theſe are enemies to the honor of God, to their owne good, and to the good of others. God is moſt honoured in the ſervice of aſſemblies:Pſ. 35.18 therefore David vowed to give thanks to God in a great congregation ▪ He knew that this advanced Gods honour moſt. Our owne good ſurely ſhall be greater in aſſemblies:Pſal. 87.2 the Lord loves the gates of Sion (where publick worſhip was) more then all the dwellings of Iudah; and certainely where his love is, there are beſt meanes for our good. Beſides, wee come to ſeek that which is loſt,Apoc. 3.2. or ready to dye: and when many ſeeke there is more hope of finding. Therfore when God was turned away from favour,Ioel. 2, 15 16. the people were appointed to blow the trumpet in Sion, to gather together, that they might be more ſucceſſeful. Laſtly, the profit of others by our examples will be more conſpicuous in aſſemblies:Matth. 5 our light will there beſt ſhine before men. For this end was Solamons brazen ſcaffold in the midſt of the court:2 Chto. 6 13, 2 King 11▪ 14. and Ioaſh ſtood by the pillar as the manner was. It is true, that others examples in doing worſe muſt not weaken us in doing better.Hoſ. 4.15 Ex. 23.2 Though Iſrael play the harlot, yet let not Iudah ſin: we muſt not follow a multitude to do evill, much leſſe muſt ye follow ſome. Examples are not the rule which we ſhould follow If they be good, they cleare a law they doe not make it. Following of others cannot help us in the day of account. I have done as others, will be a poore plea.1 Cor, 10 8. Num. 25 9. The three and twenty thouſand were not helped by the thouſand Princes, who were their leaders to their deſtruction. But yet if our examples be good in acts of aſſembling and worſhip according to Gods rule, then will others profit bee helped, as by the contrary it will bee much hindered.
The laſt degree whereby prophane perſons withdraw from our aſſemblies is, not coming with the firſt, and not ſtaying with the laſt. David would not bee guilty: he deſired to bee a doorekeeper, Pſal. 84who was firſt in, and laſt out. Hee knew not how better to profeſſe himſelfe to be a ſeeker of God early, Pro 8.17and to ſtand in neede of all the acts of worſhip, from the firſt humbling for a bleſſſing, and craving of it, to the laſt giving of it: and thus ſhould it bee with us. Wee muſt come with the firſt. Act, 10.33Cornelius and his friends, and ſervants, waited for Peter. They prevented him that nothing might fall from his miniſtery untaken up.Ioh. 5 The cripple waited for the moving of the waters at the deſcending of the angel: ſo muſt all Gods willing people at the places of aſſembling.Pſal. 110.3 Pro. 8.33 Wee muſt alſo ſtay with the laſt. Even the Prince ſhall bee in the midſt of the people in the temple, he ſhal go in, when they go in, Ezech. 4 10.and when they go forth, they ſhall go forth together. The Jewes and Gentiles at Antiochia continued in publicke ſervice till the congregation was diſſolved. Act. 13.43And though Zachary ſtayed long in the middle temple,Luk. 1.21 Numb. 6.24, 25, 26▪ yet the people would not depart without the bleſſing which the Prieſt muſt give. If any doe otherwiſe (without neceſsity) they withdraw from our aſſemblings, and are in a way of forſaking.