and Meanes appointed unto the End proposed which by their Encomiums of Joyfulness in and Thankfulness for while they have had the liberty of enjoying the same together with vehement Pantings and insatiable Longings-after when bereaved of them they have plentifully discovered Insomuch that true Love and hearty unfeigned Devotion towards the House of God has been look'd at as a Mark of Sincerity where it hath been found Thus David when making his appeal to God about his Integrity Psal 26. 8. brings this for one Argument viz. his Love to the habitation of His House and place where his Honour dwells And on the other hand the decay of love to God's House appearing either in a total neglect thereof or Slightiness and Indifferency thereabout among the Professors of Religion hath been accounted a sad Symptome of the decay of the power of Godliness a sign of great Degeneracy and an Introduction of Apostacy as also an awful Prognostick of great Judgements if not ruinatinâ—â—amity hastning on such a People This of the most bitter provocations of the Lord's Sons and Daughters when they have lost their Affection to their Fathers house and either care not to come there or if they do it is with such coldness formality and Slightiness and with so little heart and hungring after Fellowship with Himself there that he accounts himself rather Mock'd than honour'd by such Spiritless and Truthless Performances this kindles such a fire in his Anger that nothing but the bloud of Christ in a way of unfeigned Repentance and Reformation can put out If I mistake not in mine Observation there seems to be a great falling short in that Love and Zeal for the Worship of God and that Labour and Frequency of waiting upon Him in his House both on Sabbath dayes and Lecture dayes that hath been formerly observed in those that have professed Christianlty in Truth-Men do not make so great or Momentous and Necessary a business thereof as heretofore A dangerous condition â— both as it intimates a Decay in the very Vitals of Religion and as it makes way for God's Anger to come upon such a degenerate Generation Our Fathers have told us how precious the Word of God was in their dayes and proved their high Esteem thereof by the paines they were wont to take in travelling many a mile to a Sermon in there own Land as also by their Leaving All to follow the Lord some Thousands of Miles into a Wilderness that they might freely Enjoy the liberties of his House and obtain Communion with Him there With what an ill face then it does look that we should flagg in our Affections to and grow Cold in our Attendance on those high and valuable enjoyments that our Fathers purchased at so dear a Rate I leave to the sad and serious Consideration of all thinking Christians Sundry proffitable Lectures round about us quite â—aid down And some who keep up Lectures especially in Country-Towns where the Arguments of a Market and other secular Business do not induce People to afford their Attendance are ready to think whether they were not better lay them down also than preach to bare walls or at least to such thinn Congregations My Aym in choosing this Text at this Time and in this Place of general Resort is to bear my Testimony against this growing and dangerous Evil and to endeavour the reviveing oâ— the first Love and ancient Affection to the House and Word of God as not knowing where in I may do better service for our God and foâ— the People of our God than by raising the Reputation â—f the House of God among us And the words read furnish me with a suitable Medium unto such an end taken from the Topick of Gain and Profit that will redound unto the behoof of them that are serious therein An Argument which if it be Demonstratively urged and God shall please to set in therewith we shall not need doubt of some good Success Gain smells sweet in most mens Nostrils He that baits his hook with Profit may expect not to toyl in vain provided it be understood and realized So sweet and allureing a sound does Gain make that he who can harp well upon that string may hope for an attentive Auditory Therefore doth the Lord bait the net of his Gospel which he lets down in his House with a promise of a greâ—t Reward unto all that shall be drawn thereinto g Would men be convinced that there is no way of spending Time so much to advantage as in the House of God it is to be hoped that the end would be answered When matter of Gain was discoursed by Demetrius and the Craftsmen on the one hand and Danger of Losing their Religion tho' indeed it was no Religion on the other hand Act. 19. 34. it drew the whole City together and made them continue for two houres space in one constant Cry to proclaim their Devotion toward Diana of the Ephesians Mee-thinks the greater Gain to be gotten by waiting on God in his House with the danger of losing our Religion which by the neglect of that duty is eminently endangered should have a greater Influence and oblige us to attendance and that with all Seriousness and Joyfulness Why should not the whole City come together and spend the two hours allotted for this Exercise in the Worship of the true God with as great readiness and as little weariness as they did in the service of an Idol There needs not much to be said to the Context in order to the clearing of the Text. Briesly the Psalm seems plainly to have a Reference to some Time wherein the Psalmist was deprived of the Liberties of Gods House which he looks at as a sore Affliction and does very Pathetically and feelingly bewail the same adding vehement Soul-longings even unto fainting with reiterated and sundry wayes enforced Supplications that he might be repossess'd of those at present lost Priviledges Take the Text as related to the Context and it Contains one Reason of the above-mentioned Longings and Cryings after the House of God viz. because he saw it to be a place far more for his advantage to dwell in it was by many degrees better being there than elswhere And there to be where it is best to be should be every mans desire Take the words seperatly considered in themselvs and they are a comparison between a Day spent in the Courts of God's House and elswhere and the preference is given to a day there and that by the difference of a Thousand to One. A Day in thy Courts is better than a Thousand Or it may be read A Day is â—ood in thy Courts above a Thousand The Comparative degree better being so rendered good before Or I know not why it may not be as well read A good day in thy Courts is before a Thousand The House of God is a good place and all our dayes there are good daies in themselves and it s our own fault if
us there be many awful Symptomâ— Symptoms of his Departure and woe unto us if he depart from us Hos 9 12. Our Father's Love to the House of God above their own houses and all outward Concerns Occasioned the bringing of his Tabernacle into this Wilderness see that the coldness of our Affection thereto does not prevail with him to remove it again There is a beginning made among us already Judgment is begun at the House of God let us take warning and receive Instruction the master of the House is risen from his place and hath begun to shut the door and if men either care not to come in or venture to come carelesly in he will shutt it quite New-England's Name and Glory has been Jehovah-Shammah the Lord is there His House and Ordinance in a place give that name to a place But what if he should take away the Vineyard from us for our want of rendering him the fruit of it Why then call them Ichabod for the Glory is departed from Israel The Glory of the Lord seems to be standing at the Threshold of the door To look upon God and see him going upon Ordinances and see them going is a most awful sight for when they go the true glory of a place goes nor will our other good things stay behind as woful experience does abundantly testifie If we come to lose God's House and the glorious priviledges of the same we shall be the 〈◊〉 miserable people under Heaven As none havâ— been so priviledged so none will be so miserable as our selves It sorely aggravated Jerusalem's misery iâ— the day of her Affliction Lam. 1. 7. thaâ— the Enemy mockt at her Sabbaths and for ouâ— making a mock of Sabbaths which we do while we make a light matter of them under-value get no good by them God may justly leave the Adversary to mock at our Sabbaths Surely the Lord hath been long threatening but now he is in the way of Execution it 's high time for us to awake and awaken one another And if it will be so bitter to remember the goâ—â— things of God's house wheâ— they be lost is it not better to consider them love prize and improve them while they are presem which they that do rightly shall never have that Occasion to remember them when they are gone God doth not easily give up or depart from a people that he hath once visibly and signally owned no altho he may observe a great deal of sin and backsliding among them Hos 11. 8 9. Where he has once built his House God delights to dwell and is not for removing till there be no other remedy 2. Chron. 36. 15 16 17. But if they either Idolize the House of God as Israel did the Ark 1. Sam. 4. and grow secure and wanton by reason of it as they did Jer. 7. 8 12. or do not prize it as they ought nor make such Returns as may be expected but contrariwise profane and pollute it Then Goe to my place at Shilo and see what I did to them and so will I doe to you To be deeply humbled for and hasten to the bloud of sprinkling for pardon and cleansing of these provoking Evils that have been and aâ—e among us and to get an up-raised Esteem of Affection to the House of God is the only way in which we may hopefully and comfortably meet the Lord while he is yet in the way To conlude If one day in God's House here upon Earth â—e so much worth what is a day yea the DATES of ETERNITY worth in that upâ—er House that Presence-Chamber that Father's House where the Lord will exhibit all his Glory before and solace himself with his Children for ever Think what a sweet time that will be If now and then a Glimpse of his Glory be so takeing and ravishing what will near intimate familiar uninterrupted endless Fellowship with Father and Son be If they be blest that may dwell in this House and should still praise him for the same how will they be blest that shall for ever dwell in 〈◊〉 House and what soul-delighâ—ing 〈◊〉 will be everâ—â—stingly sâ—ng bâ— thâ—â—â— to whom the Lines shall â—all in that pleasant â—lace when they shall be possess'd of that goodly Heritage 〈…〉 where we now are is but the Gate of 〈◊〉 the Porch the Courts belonging to that 〈◊〉 of Glory what then is the inmost Room 〈◊〉 Holy of Holies If a day in these Courts 〈◊〉 worth a Thousand how many Thousand 〈◊〉 Millions of dayes and years is a day an 〈◊〉 there worth If this place be so beautifull 〈◊〉 Admirable oh how Amiable is that Dwellinâ— place Surely it is good dwelling there 〈◊〉 obscurer Glimpses of God's Glory in his 〈◊〉 be so precious and pleasant what will theâ— holding of him face to face be and that â—â—â—â—ver and forever too Oh then prize this House as the Gateâ— that and as the way that leads us thither 〈◊〉 attend upon God therein accordingly until 〈◊〉 can experience the Truth of what David heâ—â— expresses And be we well assured that Goâ— will sooner or later give every sincere At-Attender on him here just cause to set his hand and Seal to this great Truth One day in thy House is better than a THOVSAND FINIâ— Books printed for and Sold by Joseph Bruâ—â—â—â—â— at his Shop at the Corner of the Prison-Lane next the Exhange ADiscourse concerning Comets wherein the Nature of Blazing Stars is enquired into by Mr. Increase Mather An Essay for the Recording Illustrious Providences The Doctrine of Divine Providences opened and Applied To which is Annexed A Sermon wherein is shewed That it is the Duty and should be the Câ—re of Bâ—lievers on Christ to live in the constant Exercise of Grace by Mr. Nathanaâ— Mather Minister of the Gospel at Dublin in Ireland Self-Employment in Sâ—cret containing Evidences upon Self-examination Thoughts upon Painful Afflictions Memorials for Practice by Mr. John Corbet ADVERTISEMENT THere is intended for the Press a Discourse Concerning the Person Offices and Glory of Jesus Christ being Sacramental Meditations on Christ by the Revâ—â—â—â—d 〈◊〉 Increase Mather
they do come it is not in such a manner as they would if they believed there were such profit there Non-Attendance rare-Attendance superficial and slighty Attendance are all of them very unsuitable and unbecoming such a place and such Ordinances There are some whom you shall seldom see at a Sermon at least upon a Lecture day are strangers to the House of God I cannot say do not know but may say are very rarely found in the way thither A most unworthy thing that God should set up an House among us and promise to afford us his Presence and give us a meeting there and men cann't find in their Hearts to wait on him at the Time and Place appointed That God should make such preparation for us in his House and send to invite us and tell us he will make us very welcome there to the best he has and that he is there waiting to entertain us and be gracious to us and any should send him that Answer that they have no mind to come or if they do come it is in such a manner which the heart-searching and all-seeing God observes as does declare that their whole heart is not in the work To see the High-way to the House of God mourn in a day of Contradiction and treading down in the valley of Vision because men are through Persecution by an Hand of Violence hindred from walking therein is a great Affliction matter of sore Lamentation but to see the High-way thither mourn in a time of Liberty and Encouragement either because when they may they will not walk therein or if they do it is with much Formality 〈◊〉 Indifferency this is much more a Lamentation as being the great sin and provocation of the Lords Sons and Daughters When the way is blockt up by Persecution it is but the Suffering of Professors tho' the sin of Persecutors but their own declining when the way is open is the great sin of Professors If when God sets and holds open the doors of his House which are the Gate of Heaven they put away Eternal life from themselves that is far worse than to have others keep them off from it and the meanes of attaining it For themselvs to bid God depart from them is a sorer evil than for others to bid them depart from God And indeed such do as it were say concerning God he may be gone from them if he will they care not for the Knowledge of his wayes nor do they desire to see or be acquainted with him Some do this out of Opinion pretending to have found a better Rule and greater light within and thereupon despise external Ordinances lay them aside as things beneath themselves calling them Forms which persons of their Attainments have no need of tho' it is much to be doubted that while they cast off Instituted Forms there is a Form of wholesome Words and a Form of wholsome Worship also they leave themselves without Form and its to 〈◊〉 feared will be found as the ancient Chaos was also void and darkness over the faces of them too notwithstanding all their pretences to a more-than-ordinary Degree of Light Of these I shall say little at present because I presume there are few or none here this day to hear me Only this word or two viz. That is a false and unfreindly Light within that bereaves men of the Light of the Word and help of Ordinances from without from whence sincere souls have alwayes found through the Concurrence of the Spirit the greatest Qnicknings and safest Conduct If the Light within â—e darkness or lead men into darkness and keep them out of those wayes wherein they might meet with enlightening how great is that darkness It little availes to dispute with men that are wise in their own eyes and wedded to their own wayes our best way of Argueing with such is practical viz. by so Prizeing Valuing Using the Ordinances of God's House as that our Proficiency 〈◊〉 them and Benefit by them may be even in their Consciences a Testimony for them which will be wanting if we that use them live no better than they that use them not This only I shall say that David a man full of Light and Love desired that he might take a lease of the House of God to dwell in for his Life-time Psal 27. 4. And Christ pomised that in the way of Preaching Baptism and by like reason all other Ordinances of his House he would be with them to the end of the world therefore the Command to wait on him in such Institutions and the promise of his presence and Blessing upon so waiting concerns us in these daies and will those that shall succeed us so long as the world lasts Know also that no Christian is or shall be really and according to Rule I mean what ever he may through any mistake cenceive above Ordinances whilst beneath Heaven Others see no Glory in God's House find no Good Get no profit thereby and therefore neglect it an Objection long agone made by them and Answered by the Prophet Malachi Chapt. 3. something has been already spoken thereunto I shall add a few words more Possibly their own experience may tel them so they using Ordinances when they did use them with their wonted slightiness and Formality found no profit in them and thereupon gave over laying the blame upon the Ordinances which was only justly chargeable upon their Formality and Hypocrisie in the use of the Ordinances And here note that Christ himself gives that as the true Reason of their worshiping God in vain Mat. 15. 8 9. not because it was a vain thing to worship God but because they did not worship him in a right manner they were Hypocrites ver 7. and they did draw nigh him with their mouth and honour him with their lips but their heart was far from him and therefore did they worship him in vâ—in It is no sign that the Things in God's House are not Good Things best Things yea a Thousand times better than other things because they are not so to thee No no it remains an everlasting Truth that there are fat and marrowed Things in the House of God tho' they may seem to be dry sapless and unsavory Things unto thee There is Divine Glory and Beauty there tho' thou see it not and if it be hidden from thee thou mayst with trembling Heart and Hands turn to the 2. Cor. 4. 3. and there read thy present Condition at least however God may in mercy enlighten thee afterwards If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost Thou goest up and down the world with the black mark of a lost man upon thee If that be true that God's word doeth Good to them that walk uprightly Mic. 2. 7. what mayst thou judge of thy self to whom it does no good Do not therefore forbear to come because thou hast hitherto found no profit rather prepare thy self so to come as that