Jó INVITATIONS. TO CHURCH- FELLOWSHIP. Louse of God, and of waiting upon himwith great constancy in the holy ordinances of his worship." These are the persons whommy text pronounces happy : There was but one tabernacle, and one ark in the days of David, and butone temple in succeed- ing ages appointed for all the inhabitantsof the Iand of Canaan ; but one place where God had recordedhis name, and appointed the public sacrifices, and peculiar solemnities ofworship, on which all the men of 'Israel, who lived at the farthest distance, were obliged to attend three times a year: But those whose habitation was near theplace 'where theark resided, and these solemnities were performed, had morefrequent opportunities of such attend- ance. The doctrine, which wemay derive from this senseof the words, may be thus expressed. " Happy are those persons whose circumstances and stations of life, are appointedby provi- deuce in so favourable a manner, as to give them liberty to como up constantly to the house of God, and wait upon him in all his institutions : And the instances of their happiness are evident enough. For Instance I. " These are nearer to the visits of God, and may see him oftener than others." These may have such a fre- quent sight of his power and glory, as they are to be seen in the sanctuary; Psal. lxiii. 2. It is a pleasure to be near our best friend, to be near our dearest Father, to be near our own God. When wehave a relation dwells near us, how often we are pre- sent with them ! And they that dwell near the court, have op- portunity of seeing the king upon every occasion. II. " These havemore external helps towards heaven, than others have." It is true, we have a glorious mercy in this re- spect, that the scriptures are every where in our hands, and many labours of holy men in writing, who being dead, yet speak ; but the ministry of the word in the house of God, is the great ordi- nance for conversion and edification. It is the chief standing institution of Christ for this purpose, even to the end of the world. III. " These persons have supplies of their wants nearer at hand ; and whatsoever their burdens be, they are nearer to relief;" whether their complaints are of a spiritual or temporal kind. How Often has thesoul that was in the darkand perplexed, received hints of direction in the ministry of the word ! How often has the tempted Christian been strengthened and supported there ! And the mourning saint has been often comforted. And even when we labour under temporal necessities and sorrows, though the sanctuary is not furnished to supply every thing ofthis kind, yet'the words of grace and consolation that have been heard in the church, have often borne up the spirit of the poor and the afflicted ; they have been led to the mercy-seat, the springof all supplies, and they have gone away patient under their burdens', and rejoicing in liege áf daliverasee here, or full salvation here-
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