Diligently attend the Ordinances of God unto that end: the Ordinances of God have a tendency to stir up Faith, as well as other graces, and it is in that way that God has promised his presence and Spirit: God delights to be found in ways appointed by himself: God has not said that we should seek him in vain; Isa. 45.19. Christ will be present with us in those ways, Mat. 28.20. Gods very prescribing of means is an encouragement unto us to attend upon them, especially when he has annexed his promise to the same: if men be remiss and slighty in attending upon Gods Ordinances, they are not likely to thrive in faith, or any other grace, it would be no wonder if they should wither away, and live in a dark discouraged condition: but if christians be careful to attend Ordinances, and improve them for the strengthening of their faith: they are in a hopeful way to thrive: no wonder if there be a blast upon the inventions of men: but experience teaches the people of God to say: it is good for us to draw nigh unto God, Psal. 73 28. God can make faith to flourish without Ordinances, and so he can maintain mens bodily strength without food, he can reveal himself to those that seldom wait upon him, but his manner is to dole out his spiritual gifts at his own gates, he can make them flourish else where if he please; but he chooses to do it in his own courts, Psal 92.13, 14. the Psalmist might have understood the ⟨p. 336⟩end of the wicked in another place if God had pleased, but he chose to give him the understanding of it in the Sanctuary, Psal. 73:17. God has appointed the place where we shall meet with him, and there we must wait for him: if men desire to flourish in faith, they must be diligently improving Ordinances that way: God loves to honour his own Ordinances, and help his people in a way of Obedience, and give forth his presence in such a way that they may see his faithfulness as well as his mercy: beware that you do not under any pretences grow negligent in waiting upon God: some men are carried away with a sluggish spirit, they cannot endure to take the pains to wait upon God constantly and solemnly, they love their ease, and indulge themselves in a lazy way of carrying an end their religion;
Diligently attend the Ordinances of God unto that end: the Ordinances of God have a tendency to stir up Faith, as well as other graces, and it is in that way that God has promised his presence and Spirit: God delights to be found in ways appinted by himself: God has not said that we should seek him in vain; Isa. 45.19. Christ will be present with us in those ways, Mat. 28.20. Gods very prescribing of means is an encouragement unto us to attend upon them, especially when he has annexed his promise to the same: if men be remiss and slighty in attending upon Gods Ordinances, they are not likely to thrive in faith, or any other grace, it would be no wonder if they should wither away, and live in a dark discouraged condition: but if christians be careful to attend Ordinances, and improve them for the strengthning of their faith: they are in a hopeful way to thrive: no wonder if there be a blast upon the inventions of men: but experience teaches the people of God to say: it is good for us to draw nigh unto God, Psal. 73 28. God can make faith to flourish without Ordinances, and so he can maintain mens bodily strength without food, he can reveal himself to those that seldom wait upon him, but his manner is to dole out his spiritual gifts at his own gates, he can make them flourish else where if he please; but he chooses to do it in his own courts, Psal 92.13, 14. the Psaimist might have understood the ⟨p. 336⟩end of the wicked in another place if God had pleased, but he chose to give him the understanding of it in the Sanctuary, Psal. 73:17. God has appointed the place where we shall meet with him, and there we must wait for him: if men desire to flourish in faith, they must be diligently improving Ordinances that way: God loves to honour his own Ordinances, and help his people in a way of Obedience, and give forth his presence in such a way that they may see his faithfulness as well as his mercy: beware that you do not under any pretences grow negligent in waiting upon God: some men are carried away with a sluggish spirit, they cannot endure to take the pains to wait upon God constantly and solemnly, they love their ease, and indulge themselves in a lazy way of carrying an end their religion;
