The Choice Benefit of Communion with God in his House, Errata – To the reader
ERRATA
THere are Literal faults and mispointings which if the Peader's Curiosity observes it is hoped his Candour will pardon. Such as are most material may be thus attended,
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A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE CHOICE BENEFIT of Communion with GOD in His HOUSE, Witnessed unto by the Experience of Saints as The best Improvement of TIME. Being the Summe of several Sermons on Psal. 84. 10.
Preach'd in Boston on Lecture-Dayes
By JOSHUA MOODY Minister of the Gospel.
Psal. 27. 4.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life &c.
Psal. 63. 2.
To see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary.
BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND Printed by Richard Pierce for Joseph Brunning. And are to be sold at his Shop at the Corner of Prison-Lane next the Exchange. 1685.
To the Reader.
Christian Reader
THe Ensuing Sermons are such for the exacellent Matter and Usefulness of them that they will sufficiently commend themselves to the judicious: It being of great and universal Concern to Rational and Intelligent Beings to be directed and helped in Improvement of Time to the best Advantage. The Labours of the Reverend Authour for the Clearing and Furthering this in the following Discourses upon that Subject, need no Letters of Commendation; He did therein Commend himself to the Consciences of many in the Preaching of them, of whom I profess my self one, and such an one who is sensible that his Candle-light will not further, nor Contribute any thing to the clear and powerful Demonstrations and Evidences you will find in the serious Perusal of them. Yet being desired to say something, I was willing to testifie my Esteem of its Usefulness and Seasonableness to our present Time, which not only commends things to us for our delightful Use Eccles. 3 10. by the wise over-ruling Providence of God, but Instruments …oo, as fitted for Ministerial work Isa. 50. 4.
The great Evil that is most provoking to God among a Professing People (especially sincer Christians) even the root-evil whence all other a issue is that which Christ charges upon the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 5. the want of first-Love. Tho' true Converts have not a defect of a principle of Love, which may distinguish them from the most specious Hypocrites; yet may not be so warm and fervent as in their first union to Christ, and Communion with God in their Pardon and Holiness. This is more offensive to Jesus Christ in true Saints than the open out-breakings of those that are profane sinners, and for which he threatens Removing the Candlestick if his Warning and Advice be not attended.
What can be more suitable then such Truths, whose Tendency is to further us in our Complyance with the mind of Christ to such a people where their and our condition is so like, non ovum ovo similius. As,
1. To put us in mind whence we are fallen. It is Communion with God in his Ordinances that makes Time there so valuable above all other 1. Pet. 3. 8. This one thing is that the Apostle would not have us ignorant of viz. that one day with God is as a Thousand years, & a 1000 years as one day: It is true there he Speaks of God's Eternity which is not measured by Time, nor is any Time considerable with it; yet it may be improved with respect to Believers being with God, here is such an immense and universal good that we have more true soul-pleasure with God himself in an Hour, than if we had the quintessence of Created Good all our Dayes, therein we are tru…ly happy, it is our Heaven upon Earth. But if these be Ordinary dayes and under common Esteem with us, that we go not to his House to enjoy God as our Exceeding Joy, we have lost our Communion with God (and so far our Happiness) that we are herein like other men.
2. If this were practically remembered, it might have its Influence to promove our Repentance in bewailing those sins and that bitterly that have caused our Beloved to with-draw. It is not that Ordinances are not as precious in themselves as they have been to us and other Saints, nor is it that they are not as suitable meanes to convey those Blessings, nor is it want of kindness and love in God and Jesus Christ who have the same delight in and desire of Communion with Believerse and the design of his Grace in us, and his Ordinances to us is that he might enjoy us … but our carnally-secure Hearts in with-drawing from him have provoked him to with-draw from us Cant. 5. 2,—6. It began in our low esteem of Christ & his Fellowship, bemoan it heartily and labour to recover it.
If this be also attended with suitable Reformation in a diligent Frequenting the HOUSE of God, and pressing after Fellowship with the Father and the Son (the great design of Ordinances) and that we will not be satisfied without Him, then shall we again have our best dayes returned to us. All these may be furthered by our diligent Perusal of the Sermons here presented us, that show what the benefit is that Saints do experience in Ordinances so improved.
That it may be accompanied to thee in reading with the gracious presence of the Holy Spirit that breathed in its Delivery, for ends fore-mentioned, that so the joy of his Salvation may be restored, and House of God continued to us, is my earnest Prayer, to which I desire thy AMEN, who am thy soul's well-wisher
JAMES ALLEN.