SER3II..XITO tTERE AND ßEREAFTER. 23/ the place where_ God bath promised to communicate his blessings, and where I have so often tasted that the Lord is gracious." REMARKS on the second head. LRemark. Howvery different are they from the temper ofDavid, who enjoy public ordinances continually, and are wearyof them ? Who appear before God frequently on the Lord's day, and yet cry, what a weariness is it? When will the Sabbath be gone, Mal. i. 13. and iii. 14. Autos viii. 5: When shall we return to the world again ? What is the reason of this great aversion to divine worship among those who ; call themselves cl istians ? Truly the greatest part have nothing of christianity be- sides the mere name: Some are stupid sinners, and have no sense of divine things; and they think it is all lost time : They have no need to come before God, but that it is the custom of their country, or of the family where they live, and they must do it ; they do not know how to spend the hour elsewhere without reproof and censure: Or theycame merely to see, and to be seen, as is the fashion .of'the land. Some perhaps have a sense of religion, and yet they cannot look upon God any otherwise than as their ene- my, and so they come before him without any love or delight in his company; and then no wonder if theyare weary of it. They do not come as friends to take plea- sure in his presence; they would be well enough pleased, if they could live for ever in this world, and never have anything to do with God : Their chief motive is the fear of hell, and therefore they drudge on in toilsome and un, delightful religion. And indeed this is one great reason why so many true' Christians feel no more longing after God, either in pub., licor in private worship ; because, though they have some faith and some cold hope, yet they are contented to abide in this state of uncertainty, without joy and assur- ance, and do not make it their business to advance in christianity They cannot rejoice in God as their father, or their friend, witha lively sóul; and they find but lit- tie pleasure in his house. But it is a divine pleasure, anda-kin to heaven, when a child of God, with a lively faith and joyful spirit, comes before God as : his God, ;rid entertains hiwself,with all the blessed discoveries
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