The Gofpel of the Holy Places. 333 three are gathered together in my Name, there an I in the midfi ofthem, Matth. 18. 22. The Apostle therefore faith, i Tim. 2. 8. 1 will that Men pray every where, iv Tam 161r4, in every Place; as was prophefied longbefore by the Prophet Malachi, cap. i. i i. For from the rilingof the Sun even to thegoing down thereof, my Name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every Place ( therefore all Places are alike ) Incenf OA be offered unto my Name, and Apure Offering, which before were limited to the Temple. Therefore the Church at ferufalem met in an upper Chamber, AlJs i 13. fo did the Church at rroas, Ads 20.8. there they did Preach and break Bread ; therefore all Places are alike, EveryPlace is now a yudea, every Houfe a Terufalem, everyCongre- gation a Sion. But what a strange thing is this ! that Men can fee no Holinefs in the. Lard's Day, but flight and oppofe that ; and yet assert an Holinefs in Places. Oh the Wrathof God upon fuchMens Spirits ! Object, But fhould there notbe publickWorship? Anfw. Yes ; but that may be in Places that are not Confecrated. Dr. Vfher in his Body of Divinity, pag. 404. fpeaking againft the 'pri- vate Adminiftration of the Sacraments, he thus explains it in theft Words : In times ofPerfecution the Godly (faithhe) did often meetin Barns and fach ob,ure Places, which were indeed Publick, becaufe of the Church of God there The Boufe or Place availing nothing to make it either publick or private, even as wherefoever the Prince vs, there tis the Court, although it were a poor Cottage. Objelt. But there is a' Spiritual Presence of God in thePlaces there- fore they are Holy. Anfw. It follows not. For, 1. God doth not vouchfafe his Prefence out of refpe& to the Place, but to the Perfons. He hath not fet his Name upon the Place, but on: ly upon the Persons and is not prefent with them for the Places fakes but only prefent in the Place for their fakes who are there Affembled. z, The Spiritual Presence of God is not enough to make a Place Holy ; for then all Places should be Holy, wherefoever God's People do enjoy Communion with him; and fo not only Dwelling-Houfes where there are Family Duties, but every private Chamber where there is fecret Prayer ; yea, the Fields, the Streets, and fometimes Prifotis and Dungeons, and Gibbets, and all Places whatfoever, where the Saints come and enjoy Communion with God in their Spirits, would be Holy Places. And fo this Obje&ion lays all Places level, the Lord having many precious Saints that walk clofely with him, who are difperfed and fcattered up and down almoib in very corner of the Land. Our
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=