Wherefore to leave extraordinary persons to their extraordinary warrant, we that live in well settled Churches, where through the divine providence we have public places for divine services set apart, whereunto we have much liberty on all occasions to resort, ought to be of his mind, who aWas glad when they said, let us go into the house of the Lord: and was bexceedingly perplexed when by force he was kept from thence. It was of old fore-told that this should be the disposition of Saints under the Gospel in the kingdom of Christ: to say, cCome ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, &c. Christ and his Apostles, though they had just cause and good warrant to perform many public duties in private places, yet did they much frequent those public places, where public duties were in their time performed. Of Christ it is expressly recorded that, das his custom was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day. Of the Apostles also, and of them that continued in their doctrine and fellowship, it is said, eThey continued daily with one accord in the Temple praising God. Herein lieth a main difference betwixt such, as like Christ, do all to edifying (fHe ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple, whither the Jews always resort) and such as do all for their own ends, seeking to beguile others. (g They creep into houses, and lead captive silly women.) Wherefore to manifest a mind that aimeth at Gods glory, the edification of the Church, the quickening of our own spirits, let us take the ⟨p. 259⟩occasions that are offered, to go into the courts of the Lords house, and perform duties of piety according to their kind, public duties publicly, solemn duties solemnly. This is a good Christian decorum, agreeable to that Apostolical hrule, Let all things be done decently and in order, (1 Cor. 14. 40.) Let us therefore be every one of his mind who said, in the midst of the faithful people I will praise thee, I will publish thee, O Lord.
Wherefore to leave extraordinary persons to their extraordinary warrant, we that live in well setled Churches, where thorow the diviue providence we have publike places for divine services set apart, whereunto we have much liberty on all occasions to resort, ought to bee of his mind, who aWas glad when they said, let us goe into the house of the Lord: and was bexceedingly perplexed when by force hee was kept from thence. It was of old fore-told that this should be the disposition of Saints under the Gospell in the kingdome of Christ: to say, cCome ye, let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord, &c. Christ and his Apostles, though they had just cause and good warrant to performe many publike duties in private places, yet did they much frequent those publike places, where publike duties were in their time performed. Of Christ it is expresly recorded that, das his custome was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day. Of the Apostles also, and of them that continued in their doctrine and fellowship, it is said, eThey continued daily with one accord in the Temple praising God. Herein lieth a maine difference betwixt such, as like Christ, do all to edifying (fHe ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple, whither the Iewes alwaies resort) and such as doe all for their owne ends, seeking to beguile others. (g They creepe into houses, and lead captive silly women.) Wherefore to manifest a mind that aimeth at Gods glory, the edification of the Church, the quickening of our owne spirits, let us take the ⟨p. 259⟩occasions that are offered, to go into the courts of the Lords house, and performe duties of piety according to their kind, publike duties publikely, solemne duties solemnely. This is a good Christian decorum, agreeable to that Apostolicall hrule, Let all things bee done decently and in order, (
- aPsal. 12•. 1.
- b—84. 1, &c.
- cIsa. 2. 3.
- dLuk 4. 16.
- eAct. 2. 46.
- fJoh. 18. 20.Ioh. 18. 20.
- g2 Tim. 3. 6▪
- hIn medio credentium populorum laudabo t•, pr• dicab• te. Hier. Comment. in Psal. 21.
