things that we have or hope for in this world, or in the world to come, He expects that we should beg these blessings in the places dedicated to His honour, as appears plainly from the several promises He has made to Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple.

And our Saviour on His part hath promised, that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He will grant their requests,-much more will he answer the prayers which are made in the great congregation (as the Psalmist speaks).

They, therefore, who imagine and say, that they can serve God as well at home as at Church, have not considered what we mean by the public worship; that it is an open and public acknowledgment of God's glorious perfections, and of our dependence upon Him, of His power to help us, of His justice to punish us when we do evil, of His mercy and goodness to pity us.

It is owning to all the world, that we believe what He has revealed in His holy Word there read to us; that we expect to be judged by that Word at the great day; that therefore we fear God, and consequently we may expect that all men, with whom we have to do, may trust us as men fearing God's judgments if we do wrong.

And in good truth, they that seldom or never attend the public worship, can give no sure testimony to the world, that they either believe a God or fear His judgments; nor do they give any proof to men, that they can be honest upon any true principles of reason or religion.

II. But this is not all. The sin and evil of neglecting the public worship is very great, with respect to ourselves.

Christians do not consider, how very apt the very best of us are to forget the duty which we owe to God, to our neighbour, and to ourselves; and that the cares of the world will soon blot out all thoughts of duty.

It pleased God, therefore, from the creation; (for He knew what helps man would want to preserve in his mind the remembrance of his Maker;) it pleased Him to appoint one day in seven to be kept holy; and the neglect of this, in all probability, was the occasion of that great wickedness which brought on the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

SERM.
XCI.

The same law continued after the flood; and yet, by the neglect of it, how many nations now are there, who though they sprang from one man, who taught his children the knowledge of the true God, yet have, at this day, no remembrance of the Creator of heaven and earth!

The same law, as to the intent of it, is still in force, and the sad effects of neglecting it are, and will always be, the same. Such as observe it with any degree of seriousness live in the fear of God; while they that despise the Lord's day, and His ordinances, are too plainly under the power and government of Satan, who leads them captive at his will.

And it is very observable, that such as come to untimely ends, if they die in their senses, do generally confess, that the beginning of their ruin was the neglect of the public worship, and profaning the Lord's day.

And indeed it cannot be well otherways, if people will not come to Church to be reproved, awakened, and made sensible of what must come hereafter, if they continue to live in sin.

How harsh would it sound to hear a man say, I have nothing to ask of God, I have nothing to thank Him for, I do not owe Him any service, I can live without His blessing, I desire not the knowledge of His ways. The most careless sinner would tremble to repeat these words; and yet this, in effect, is the language of those that wilfully neglect and despise the public worship of God;-this is the language of their actions, though not of their tongue.

Remember, good Christians, that, as such, you all pretend to be of the household of faith. Now, can any of you, with any pretence, say, that you are of the household of faith, when you are seldom or never seen at God's house, and with His family ?

Think seriously of this, and you will esteem it the greatest blessing to have Churches to go to, and you will close with every opportunity of going to your Father's house, lest you lose the inheritance of His obedient and dutiful children.

We must not, indeed, charge all people with this sin. A great unhappy distance from the Church, bad weather, short days, old age, long and difficult ways, ill health, and the like, very often have hindered even some well-disposed people from going to Church as often as they could wish.

[Several of these hindrances, God be praised for it, are now removed, by this house which we have now dedicated to His service. For it pleased God to put it into the hearts of several well-disposed people, whose zeal ought not to be forgotten, and whose names shall be recorded to posterity, to begin and carry on this good work, obliging themselves, through God's help, to finish it.

May our gracious God remember them all for good; bless their persons, their labours, and their families, and all those who have any way contributed to this good work, and tothe glory of God, in building an house to the honour of His Majesty ! And may this laudable and uncommon zeal provoke many others to follow their example, where the houses of God are falling into decay, or are too small for their congregations to worship God with decency and devotion.]

III. The next thing we come to consider is, THE GREAT BLESSING OF A REGULAR, SETTLED MINISTRY.

Now, that you may know how to value so great a blessing, and that you may not be tempted by Satan and his agents to despise their persons and their ministry; pray take notice of these following truths of the scripture of God: that God has expressly promised to bless those whom His ministers shall bless in His name. "I will bless them (saith our God), Numb. 6. "according to the blessing pronounced over them."

27.

6.]

And that you may not imagine, that this promise belonged to the people of Israel only; I must put you in mind of the words of Jesus Christ our Saviour, when He sent His apostles: "If, in any place you go to, there be a son of [Luke 10. peace," that is, any one disposed to receive your doctrine. and blessing, "your peace," the blessing of peace, "shall * rest upon him; if not, your blessing of peace shall return to you again." Which plainly shews that there is something more than an empty ceremony in the blessing of Christ's ministers.

But that which will most effectually convince all that are disposed to be convinced, of the great blessing of a regular ministry, will be, to set before you in one short view the work of a minister of Christ. You will then see how much they contribute to your salvation.

St. Paul declares expressly, "That God is in Christ recon- 2 Cor. 5. 19.

SERM. ciling the world unto Himself; and that He has committed this word of reconciliation unto His ministers."

XCI.

Let us see in what their ministry consists. And first, as stewards over the house of God, (for so they are called in the Word of God,) their duty as such is, to receive into His household and family all who are desirous and capable of being members thereof: and this they do by the sacrament of baptism; which is a blessing that few people of sense and piety are willing to be deprived of, for themselves or their children.

In the next place, the work of the ministry consists in preaching the Gospel; that is, in convincing men, that they are sinners, that they stand in need of God's mercy, and of a Redeemer, for that God will call all men to an account, and will judge them according as their works and lives agree with the Gospel, or are contrary to it.

In order to this, they are to exhort Christians to mind their duty, (which they are but too apt to forget,) and to rebuke and to reprove them when they see them careless of their souls; to set before them the terrors of the world to come, on one hand; and, on the other, to set before them the mercies of God, whenever they are truly afflicted with the burden of their sins. Who does not see the great

blessing of such a ministration ?

But this is not all: Christians are apt to fall into sin after baptism. What must they do to be restored to the favour of God again? Why, Jesus Christ has ordained another sacrament, and has appointed His ministers the dispensers thereof; namely, a sacrament of reconciliation, for all such as with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto God. What a mighty blessing is this for repenting sinners!

Besides this, the ministers of Christ have a daily charge upon them. They stand obliged (as the priests under the law) to offer unto God the concerns and prayers of their several flocks; to confess their own sins and the sins of their people; to give God thanks for the mercies He bestows upon them; and to beg God's protection and blessing upon their persons and their labours. Who does not think this a very great blessing indeed?

In one word; these are they, by whose ministry you are

made Christians; to whom the care of your souls is committed. These are they (as the apostle saith) who watch for your souls, as they that must give an account. They are the stewards or dispensers of the mysteries of God to His elect; by whom He instructs them in the truth, feeds them with the bread of life, comforts afflicted souls, absolves the penitent, arms them against the fear of death, and fits them for a blessed eternity.

It is certain, these blessings would be more visible, if every minister of Christ would do what he promises at his ordination; and woe be to them that do not endeavour to do so!

If they would not take upon them to convert others till they themselves were converted; if they would undertake the holy calling out of a true love of God, and for the souls of men; if their sermons were plain and practical, with an eye to the understanding and capacities of those that are to hear them; if they would always read the service, and administer the sacraments, with great seriousness, doing holy things after an holy manner; and take care that the ministry be not blamed, through any liberties they take this would convince the world effectually of the great blessing of a standing ministry.

I shall conclude this head with the prophetical declaration and curse of such as despised the priesthood under the law of Moses and sure the ministers of Jesus Christ are not less the care of God.

In the thirty-third chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses, prophesying of Levi, and the priesthood, hath these remarkable words: "They shall teach Jacob Thy judgments, and Israel Thy law they shall put incense before Thee, and burntsacrifice upon Thine altar. Smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again;" that is, as one may suppose, that they leave no posterity behind them, as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, did not leave any to survive them.

Do not imagine, Christians, that it is for our own sakes, but for yours, that we magnify our office, as the apostle speaks it is that you may be sensible of the blessing you enjoy, and of the danger of despising the means of salvation.