Watts - BX5200 .W3 1813 v.3

584: THE HOLINESS of PLACES OF WORSHIP. himself is, and will be in the midst of them. The Father and the Son will come and dwell with his people in such assemblies, and diffuse divine blessings amongst them. Let us take heed that we have the name and the authority of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, stampedupon all the parts of our worship, andwe need not doubt his presence and blessing. But upon the mention of such a promise, our desire and zeal should awake, and earnestly enquire, how glorious and how various those bles- sings are, which God has promised to his people, where he has recorded his name. Let us take a delightful survey of them, and bys the exercise of faith and hope, appropriate them to our- selves, in every place, and in every season, where we attend on the pure worship of God. 1. Concerning Sion and all her assemblies for worship, it is promised, that her priests shall be clothed with salvation ; Ps. cxxxii. 16. If they are such, as our exalted Saviour calls to be, the ministers of his gospel, they shall he filled with his saving graces, they shall be furnished with the gifts of knowledge and utterance, answerable to their call and duty, they shall shine in these divine ornaments, theyshall be like the high-priest of old, whose clothing was made for glory and beauty, while the sacred perfume was poured upon his head, which trickled down to the skirts of his garments; Exod. xxviii. 40., Ps. cxxxiii. 2, 3. The ministers of Zion shall spread the savour of the knowledge of Christ, and his ail - sufficient power to redeem and save. His name from the lips of his ministers, shall be as ointment poured forth: They shall diffuse the sweet odours ofthe gospel of Christ, to refresh and revive the humble and weary souls, that attend on his holy ordinances, wherein they minister. They shall have their various gifts of elocution, exhortation and consolation, awakened into a pleasurable exercise, and shall Obtain blessed success, amongst the souls and consciences of the worshippers. It shall he like the dew on the mountains of Zion, where God has commanded the blessing of everlasting life. Now can we, whq are ministers of the word, rest satisfied without feeling some of this divine benediction ; when we exer- cise our constant ministry in holy things ? Can we go on, from week to week, still labouring in a formal round of services, and still contented without this Heavenly favour ? Are we not as it were clothedwith salvation, by the messages of peace and love, which weare commissioned to convey to sinfulmen, in the name of Christ ? And shall we be contented for many years together, without seeing any divine success attending them ? O may the ministrations and messages of grace, which shall be delivered from week to week in this place, in this new building, be attend- ed with the divine influences of the Spirit of God, that your worthy and beloved pastor may triumph in diffusing the know-

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