An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Thirdly, There is in the Description, the Formal Cause; to which also may be ¹reduced the Final Cause. The Formal Cause is in the public, and solemn observation of that Church-communion which God hath required. I shall only mention that formal and external Communion, wherein it consists: And that is,

Thirdly, There is in the Description, the Formal Cause; to which also may be ¹reduced the Final Cause. The Formal Cause is in the publick, and solemn observation of that Church-communion which God hath required. I shall only mention that formal and external Communion, wherein it consists: And that is,

1. 1The formal cause, the solemn observation of Church communion. Wherein consisteth the nature of Church communion.

1. In the solemn assembling and meeting of themselves together, Heb. 10. 25. The Apostle doth there reprove the neglect of this duty, which is the seminary and fountain of all holiness; while the coals lie together they keep their heat, and inflame one another. Thus it's our communion in the Assemblies that is the means to keep up grace and holiness. How much did David bewail his banishment from the Ordinances, as you heard? And is it not the highest censure, and most dreadful punishment that can be, for a Christian upon just grounds to be cast out of the Church? Is not this to fall into the Kingdom of Satan? Is it not to be delivered up to him? Now then, if it be next to hell it self, thus to be cast out of Church-communion and the public Ordinances, Why doest thou wilfully bring this upon thy self? Thy own slothful, and profane careless heart makes thee neglect the public Assemblies. This is a sin of an higher nature than thou art aware of, for God is present in Church Assemblies, you have the benefit of the prayers then poured forth; the Ordinances are of enlightening and quickening efficacy. Now for thee voluntarily to deprive thy self of this spiritual advantage, is a sin of an high degree. Indeed when want of health, or other just impediments keep us from the Assemblies, God can then make up the public benefits in private. But I speak of a voluntary, wilful omission of such public Communion. Oh little do such men consider, that they have but a day! Their life is but a day, and the season of grace is but a day; and doest thou neglect that day, when it may be, thou shalt never have such a day again, never have a Sabbath any more? That carnal plea also of getting as much good at home, and they can edify themselves as well with reading books in private, unless in case of necessity (as I said) is ungodly and unjustifiable excuse; for this is to make Church-communion, and holy Assemblies to be of no necessity, and so wholly to overthrow them.