Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

ti of Fablick prayer and the excellency of it. happy if he might have liberty to come to the af- fembly, although he went through thick and thin: and that no way or weather fhould hinder hin-t. And again, v. i o. he faith , that one day T ent in tl e haute of the Lord is better then a thaufandelf where,and that he had rather 6e a doore-keeper in the houfe of God then to dwell in the tents of iniquity. Thus we fee Da- vids affeetion to the affembly of the Saints , when he might not enjoy them. And as he placed happi- neffe therein when he wanted them, fo when he in- joyed them his chief joy was therein : Pfal. 122. I. I ref oyced when they f id to me, We will go to the houfi of the Lord. Reade 2.Sam. 6.14,16. When the ark of the Lord was to be brought to the city of David, David for exceeding great joy danced and leaped before the ark with all his might, as if he had not been his own man, infomuch as his wife defpiCed him, &v.2o.derided him,o how glorious ma theking cf If ael this day,which was uncovered to day in the fight of the maids of his fervants as a fool uncavereth him - felf ! If we were men according to Gods own heart, as David was, we would have the like eflimation of the affemblies of the Saints; both when we could not frequent them, molt earnefily to delire them, and when we have liberty, with wonderful) chear- fulneffe and alacrity to frequent the Churches, as for other exercifes of religion fo for prayer. In re- fpeet whereof it is called the houfe of prayer, Ifai. 56. 7. Neither muff our private prayer exempt us from the publick : For although it be an excellent exer- cife and in no cafe to be omitted, yet if it come in comparifon it muft give place to the publick. But the