Sermons Preached from Luke 11:21-22, To the reader
To the READER.
WORSHIP is a Divine and Excellent Duty or Service. The Nobleſt Powers of the Soul are Exerciſed, in the most noble manner, upon the moſt Excellent Object. The Holy Diſpoſitions which God hath created in the Regenerate, and the Divine Principles which he has implanted in them, as they are the things most pleaſing to the New Nature, ſo being Exerted by ſupernatural Aſſiſtances, they muſt needs yield it the Divineſt Joyes.
Chriſtians ſhould have great Pleaſure in the Society of one another in Acts of Worſhip. Solitary Worſhip is neceſſary, and in its ſeaſon is pleaſant to the Soul, and ſo is Social Worſhip. In Heaven it may be the Worſhip is all Open & Social: Every Breaſt is always full of Devotion, and ever running over. At preſent we need more the aſſiſtance of one another in our Devotion. As Iron ſharpens Iron, ſo do the devout Faces of Chriſtian Brethren hearten & brighten one another in the publick Solemnities of GOD's Houſe.
Here are the moſt Excellent Perſons, in their beſt Frames, Uniting in the most juſt & ſolemn Acts of their Lives, Confirming their Love to GOD and one another, Promoting each his own and every Man his Brother's Eternal Salvation. Here are the best Friends met together, the best, the greateſt, and the wiſest of Men; in Whom is the Spirit of the Holy GOD; who are of Angelical Tempers, and in Heavenly Frames; the moſt nobly Imploy'd that Created Spirits, Humane or Celeſtial, in Bodies or ou… of them, can poſſibly be. Souls — One in the Love, Admiration and Reverence of the High GOD, and breathing after the fulleſt Conformi…y to Him and Complacency in Him! Brethren — going hand in hand to Heaven! How pleaſantly ſhould they go, ſinging in the Ways of the LORD, and helping one another forward. It is meet that they ſhou'd make merry and be Glad. So when Barnabas ſaw the Worſhipping Aſſemblies of Chriſtians as far as Antioch, he was glad, and Exhorted them that with full purpoſe of heart they would cleave to the LORD: And ſo the firſt Chriſtians gladly received the Word, — and continued ſtedfaſtly in the Apoſtles Doctrine and Fellowſhip, and in breaking of Bread and in Prayers:—They continued daily with one accord in the Temple, & breaking Bread from houſe to houſe, did eat their Bread with gladneſs & ſingleneſs of heart; Praiſing GOD, and having favour with all the People; & the Lord added to the Church daily ſuch as ſhould be ſaved.
Theſe few Words I tho't meet to prefix to the following Diſcourſe.
THE Great PLEASƲRE OF Publick WORSHIP.
PSALM CXXII. 1.
I was Glad when they ſaid unto me, Let us go into the Houſe of the LORD.
THIS Pſalm is one of the Fifteen that are here plac'd together under the Ti…e of Songs of Degrees, or Songs of Aſcents, as the Word properly ſignifies. Some have conjectur'd that they are ſo called from their ſingular Excellency: as the Song of Songs ſignifies the moſt excellent Song, ſo a Song of Degrees may ſignify a Song excellent in the higheſt Degree. Others have conjectur'd, that theſe Pſalms were appointed to be ſung by the Levites on their Stairs and Aſcents, whereof we read, Neh. 9.4. And ſo we might ſay of them, that they are Songs for the Pulpit.
Others would underſtand by Degrees, the Elevation of the Voice together with the Affections, unto a higher Strain and Note in the ſinging of theſe Pſalms, and ſo ſuppoſe them called as they are from the Tune they were ſet to, or the Muſical Inſtruments they were ſung to, or the raiſing the Voice in ſinging them; as we read of ſinging with a loud voice on high, and of the high-ſounding Cimbals.
There are ſome other Conjectures concerning the meaning of this Title, which I will not ſtay to mention; for both Jewiſh and Christian Expoſitors are at a loſs to give the true Reaſon of this, as well as moſt other Titles of the Pſalms.
To come then unto this particular Pſalm. It ſeems to have been pen'd by David for the uſe of the People of Iſrael, when they came up to worſhip at Jeruſalem, at the three Solemn Feaſts. And by the way, this is another Reaſon given, and not the leaſt probable, why it is called a Song of Aſcents; namely becauſe it was to be ſung by the Tribes (ſay ſome) as they were going up to Jeruſalem to worſhip: for which Uſe it muſt be own'd the Pſalm is exactly calculated: I was glad when they ſaid unto me, Let us go into the Houſe of the Lord. Our Feet ſhall ſtand within thy Gates O Jeruſalem, whether the Tribes go up, the Tribes of the Lord unto the Teſtimony of Iſrael, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
In the Text I would only obſerve,
1. An Expreſſion of holy Pleaſure, Satisfaction and Delight: I was glad.
2. The thing which was the Matter, Reaſon, Occaſion and Cauſe of his Joy: When they ſaid, Let us go into the Houſe of the Lord.
It is the Publick Worſhip of God, according to his own Ordinance and Inſtitution that is here ſpoken of. The Place, the Time, the Company, and the Call to God's ſolemn Publick Worſhip.
1. The Houſe of God was the Place of David's delight.
2. The Opportunity to go thither was the time and ſeaſon of his Pleaſure.
3. The Company and Society of the Faithful there, were the Helpers of his Joy. And,
4. Their Call and Invitation to him to go along with them: I was glad when they ſaid, &c.
Obſerve,
1. They us'd to call upon one another to go and worſhip God at the ſolemn and appointed Seaſons.
2. They did it with Alacrity: Let us go up.
3. And ſo they entertain'd the Call too; they were glad when it it was ſaid unto them, Let us go into the Houſe of the Lord.
This was as became Iſraelites indeed; the pious Spirit of the Children of Zebulun: Deut. 33.19. They ſhall call the People unto the Mountain, there they ſhall offer Sacrifices of Righteouſneſs.