5590 THE HOLINESS OP PLACES OF WORSHIP. three times a year, where be recorded his name, at Shiloh, or at Jerusalem ; we may meet him nearer at hand, and receive his public blessings, in so many of the streets of this great city, and in so many of the towns and villages of the British isles. And you, my friends of this congregation, have ahrndant occasion and reason for thankfulness, that God by his providence has fixed your assembly inso convenient aplace, wherein you be- gin this day to pay him your worship. May you long enjoy it in undisturbed peace ! O blessed be his name, that many of you have found God with you in former places of assembling, and that you are daily training up under his divine instructions and blessings, for the worship and happiness of the heavenly state, and for his more joyful and immediate presence. 2. There is a lesson of self- enquiry to be derived from this discourse. Do we, on good ground, believe, that the name of God is recorded on the worship we offer to him.? Otherwise we cannot possibly claim, or reasonably expect the accomplishment of this divine promise. Let us examine our consciences on this head, according to the evidences before given of such worship whereon God has stamped his authority and his name. Do we heartily and sincerely seek, to learn the mind and will of God in his own word, concerning the religion that we should chose, and the worship which we perform? Do we engage in such ser.. vices, as we find directed and appointed by hint ? Are the ser- mons on which we attend, the prayers and the songs which we offer up to God, and all the ministrations of the holy ordinances amongst us such as are formed and guided bythe rules ofholy scripture, so far as scripture has given us any prescriptions about them ? Do we take care to perform all that God has enjoined as far as possible, anddo we takeas much care to let nothing creep into our worship, but what the word of God or the necessary reason of things dictates to us ? Do we make no additions, of our own, to the religious practices which God has enjoined, or the ceremonies which he has instituted ? And can we appeal to God, so far as we know our own hearts, and can understand his word, that we practise nothing herein but according to his mind and will ? Again, Do we offer up all our religious services to the Father, in the name and by the mediation of his Son ? Do we seek to draw near to the Father only in that new and living way, which he has ordained ? Do we -seek for acceptance at the throne, through the atoning sacrifice of our great High-Priest,, and through his intercession as our advocate at the right hand of God ? Can we appeal concerning our own conduct herein even to our Lord Je- sus Christ himself, Lord, thou, who knowest all things, knowest that we love thee, and that, we would never draw near to the mercy seat without thee.
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