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…

Though this be so, yet there may be some Cause that may justly excuse ¹us. As

1. 1What are the causes that may justly excuse us from joining our selves to public meetings.What are the causes that may justly excuse us from joyning our selves to publick meetings.

First, Public and violent persecutions, as have been many times in Gods Church, then they have not been suffered to have either public or private meetings. Heb. 12. The Apostle mentioneth such times, when he speaks of some, Of whom the world was not worthy of, yet were not allowed a place in the world, but were as so many beasts chased up and down, living in dens and holes of Rocks. Thus it was also once with David, when banished out of Judea, though this was a sad affliction, and he doth in several Psalms ⟨p. 92⟩bewail his exile from the Ordinances, more than any temporal mercy whatsoever; neither his country or outward accommodations do sit so upon his heart, as that I cannot enjoy God in his Ordinances, as I have done. So then, though they were not actually in any Church-communion, yet because of their desire and wish, they were to be as accounted of it.

First, Publick and violent persecutions, as have been many times in Gods Church, then they have not been suffered to have either publick or private meetings. Heb. 12. The Apostle mentioneth such times, when he speaks of some, Of whom the world was not worthy of, yet were not allowed a place in the world, but were as so many beasts chased up and down, living in dens and holes of Rocks. Thus it was also once with David, when banished out of Judea, though this was a sad affliction, and he doth in several Psalms