170 NEARNESS TO GOD. What a folly it is to be pleased with empty ordinances with- out God ! 1 Tim. iv. S. Bodily exercise projiteth little. To make a serious matter of mere external things, and to make nothing of spiritual ones ! These formal andsilly creatures come to the palace of theking, and turn their backs on his person, to playwith his shadow Upon the wall : ridiculous and childishfolly And yethow often is this the trifling practice of the men of wis- dom ? And sometimes persons of trite piety are tempted to in- dulge in it. Let me ask my conscience, " Did I never let my curiosity dwell upon the just reasoning, the correct style, the pretty sunilies, the flowingoratory, or flowery beauties of a ser- mon, while I neglected to seek my God there, and to raise my soul near him ? Or perhaps I was charmedwith the decencyand voice ofthe preacher ; or, it may be, was better entertainedwith some zealous party flightswhich flattered my ownbitter zeal, and seemed to sanctify my uncharitable censures ; and when I return- ed from the place of worship, I had a pleasant remembrance of all these." But it had been better, if conscience had re- proached myfolly, and made me remember that I had forgot my God there. It is also a dreadful abuse of gospel-ordinances, and a -high; mockeryof God, to come to his ceurts, and not draw near him der. xii. 2. " When God is near in our mouth, but far fromour 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 placing of them in God's stead, or we make nothing of them, no means of converse with God : both ways we nullify them, for an idol is nothing, and mere vanity, as the pro- phets and the apostles speak,: So ordinances are vain and unpro- fitable, and utterly insufficient to make us happy without God. They are mere images, and shadows without the substance. To seek after God, and endeavour to approach him in all hisown institutions, is the way to be recovered from the miseries of thefall. To live in a holy nearness to God, is a restoration to the pleasures of innocency. It is the'full happiness.of reason- able natures to be always with God : It is our noblest honour, and our sweetest consolation, in this state of darknes and trial, to get asnear him as earth and gracewill admit ; and it is also the beat preparative for heaven and the state of ,glory, where we shalt dwell for ever near him, and be for ever blessed. Anaen,
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