Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Reason 4. There is in worship, an approach of God to Man. It was instituted to this purpose, that God might give out his blessings to Man: And ought not our Spirits to be prepared and ready to receive his communications? We are in such acts, more peculiarly in his presence. In the Israelites hearing the Law, it is said God was to come among them^*: Then, men are said to stand before the Lord^*: God before whom I stand, that is, whom I worship: And therefore when Cain forsook the worship of God settled in his Fathers Family,^* he is said to go out from the presence of the Lord, Gen. 4.16. God is essentially present in the world; graciously present in his Church. The name of the Evangelical City is, Jehovah Shammah^*, the Lord is there. God is more graciously present in the Evangelical institutions, than in the Legal: He loves the Gates of Zion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob^*: His Evangelical Law and Worship which was to go forth from Zion, as the other did from Sinai, Mic. 4.2. God delights to approach to Men, and converse with them in the worship instituted in the Gospel, more than in all the dwellings of Jacob. If God be graciously present, ought not we to be spiritually present? A lifeless Carcass service, becomes not so high and delectable a presence as this: 'Tis to thrust him from us, not invite him to us: 'Tis to practise in the Ordinances, what the Prophet predicts concerning mens usage of our Saviour, Isa. 53.2. There is no form, no comeliness, nor beauty that we should desire him. A slightness in worship, reflects upon the excellency of the object of worship. God and his worship are so linked together, that whosoever thinks the one not worth his inward care, esteems the other not worth his inward affection. How unworthy a slight is it of God, who proffers the opening his Treasure; the reimpressing his Image; conferring his blessings; admits us into his presence, when he hath no need for us, who hath millions of Angels to attend him in his Court, and celebrate his Praise? He that worships not God with his Spirit, regards not Gods presence in his Ordinances, and slights the great end of God in them, and that perfection he may attain by them. We can only expect, what God hath promised to give, when we tender to him what he hath commanded us to present. If we put off God with a Shell, he will put us off with a Husk.