BERM. XI.1 THE FELICITY OF. CREATURES. 203 holiness, we unholy creatures are presented before God, and caused to approach with glorious acceptance. Stand still here, O ye saints of the Most High, and survey your privileges and your honours; and remem- ber, that whensoever you draw near to God in the 'courts of his house, it was Jesus who drew near first, it is Jesus who still dwells near to make you acceptable: it is he who maintains the nearness ofyour state, and your peace with God, by ever presenting your natures in his person: He appears in the presence of God for us, Heb. ix. 24. It is Jesus, who, by his Spirit, lifts you up near to the rather; and it is by his best beloved and nearest Son, that God the Father -draws near 'to all his chil- dren. 3. Be not found amongst the mockers of approach to God, and holy converse with him in worship. They de- spise felicity itself. Such there have been of old, and such there are in our days; and because they are afar off fromGod themselves, they deny all nearness tohim, they ridicule our approaches to God, as the vain effects of a wild imagination, and the mere sensible commotions ofa warm fancy. But is it not a very rational and intelligible thing, for a soul in public worship, so to -draw near to God, as to learn more of him, and to know more of his perfections and graces than he knew before? May not such a wor- shipper have his love to God raised and warmed by such advancing knowledge ! And may he not arise, by holy inferences, to a livelier and surer hope that he is belov ed of God too, and solace himself in this assurance? What is there in all this which is not perfectly agreeable to reason, or that should provoke an- impious jest? But let such have a care, lest they blaspheme God and his Spirit ; let them take heed, lest they be thrust .down to hell, and set at a dreadful distance from God, without remedy, who deride the joy of heaven 4. Take heed of those deceits of being above ordi- nances, lest you lose true happiness throu,h pride and vain conceit. Abandon the vain fancy of living nearer to God in the neglect of them. God is glorious in him- self, but he has appointed ordinances, as means where- by we may approach and see him. Some stars, though large in themselves, yet are not visible without glasses;
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