The Gofpel of the Holy Places. 33 i our belt Duties and Services as they come from us are abominable, but through his Mediation acceptable. 3. There can be no gracious Influence or Affiance from God, but only in this way, by Jefus Chrift. The Lord hear thee in the Day of Trouble,, the Name of the God of Jacob defend tboe ; fend thee help from the San- t.9uary, and ftrengtben thee out ofSion, Pfal. zo. r, z. For in Salem is his Tabernacle, and his Dwelling-place in Sion ; there brake he the Arrows of the Bom, the Shield, the Sword and the Battle, Pfal. 76. z, 3. It is fpoken of temporal Deliverance, and may be applied to the Church ; there is a proteaing Prefence of God there. But it is true in an higher Senfe concerning Chrift ; Chrift is the true Sanauary from whence all our Strength and Help cometh Thou therefore, my Son, beftrong in the Grace that is in Chrift fefus, z Tim. z. r. Nay in all theft things we are. more then Conquerors, through him that loved w, Rom. 8. 37. This is the reafon you conquer not : But Sin and Luft prevails, and you are wonted by Corruption and Temptation from time to time. There is a fecret Diftance by Unbelief from Jefus Chrift; did you come to the Door of the Tabernacle, the Lord would fend you help from the San&uary, and ftrenghtben thee out of Sion ; but Men are loth to leave their own home, or loth to break through Difficulties ; they faint and tire by the way before they get thither, and fo never come- to receive thofe blefled Influences, thofe reviving, Soulftrengthening,.,. Soul-refreshing Influences. See Pfal. 84. 5, 6, 7. It is a Defcription to the People in their Journeys to the Temple.--They went through' thick and thin, as we ufe to fay, through drought and heat till they came before God in Sion ; and there they found what theywent for. They met with God there, serf. to. i i.better a Day there, than a Thoufand elfemhere ; for there the Lord will give Grace and Glory.; Inftr. 3. Remember that there is a ChurchWor(hip. As there was a Moral Worfhip which they were to perform every where; for it was Perfonal, and not meerly Publick, fo they had their pyblick Chrlrch-: Wor(hip, viz. their Sacrifices and other Inftitutions which were limit- ed to the Tabernacle, as it was a Type of the Church. As no Service is to be offered out of Chrift, fo force Services are not to be offered out of the Church; for the Tabernacle, as you have heard was a Type of the Church. And therefore, as God's end in this- Inftitution was to lead out their Thoughts and Delires and Expeaations to Jefus Chrift, and fo to prevent Idolatry and Unbelief in that Refpect; fo likewife to prevent Schifm, and to keep them in the Unity of that Church which he had then inftituted and appointed. So now inGof- pel-times look that you partakeof the Ordinances in Gofpel-Churches; for
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