O4 NEARNESS TO GOD SEAM. Xt. and others that are visible to the naked eye, yet appear much fairer and larger by this help. Even so those glo- ries of God, which are unknown to reason, and to the light of nature, are discovered in the ministrations of his word ; such are his subsistence in three persons, and his forgiving grace ; and those glories of his nature, which are traced out by human reason, stand in a diviner light, with all their splendors about them, in the gospel, and the sanctuary. 5. Never rest satisfied without approaching to God in spirit and in truth, whenyou attend on his ordinances. This is the goodness of his house that must satisfy the holy soul of the Psalmist, as he expresses if in the fol- lowing words of my text : We shall be satisfiedwith the goodness of Mine house. What a folly it is to be pleased with empty ordinances without God ! I Tim. iv. 8. Bodily exercise profiteth, 'little. To make a serious matter of mere external things, and to make nothing of spiritual ones ! These formal and silly creatures come to the palace of the king, and turn their backs on his person, to play with his shadow upon the wall : ridiculous and childish folly ! And yet how often is this the trifling practice of the men of wis- dom ? And sometimes persons of true piety are tempted to indulge it. Let me ask my conscience, " Did I never let my curiosity dwell upon the just reasoning, the correct style, the pretty similies, the flowing oratory, or flowery beauties of a sermon, while I neglected to seek my God there, and to raise my soul near him? Or per- haps I was charmed with the decency and voice of the preacher; or, it may be, was better entertained with some zealous party flights which flattered my own bitter zeal, and seemed to sanctify my uncharitable censures : and when I returned from the place of worship, I had a pleasant remembrance of all - these." But it had been better, if conscience had reproached my folly, and made me remember, that I had forgot My God there. It is alsoa dreadful abuse of gospel- ordinances, and a high mockeryof God, to come to his courts, and not draw near him ; .Ier. xii. 2. When .God is near in our mouth, but far from our heart. Ordinances are an appointed medium for man to come to God by them. If we use them not as such, we either make idols of them, by
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