Here things, as in a glass, are darkly shown,
There I shall know as clearly as I'm known.
Frail are the fairest flowers which bloom below,
There freshest palms on roots immortal grow.
Here wants or cares perplex my anxious mind,
But spirits there a calm fruition find.

There those that sow'd in tears shall reap in joy.
Here vanity is stamp'd on all below,

Ferfection there on every good shall grow.
Here my fond heart is fasten'd on some friend,
Whose kindness may, whose life must have an end;
But there no failure can ever prove,

God cannot disappoint, for God is love.

Here Christ for sinners suffer'd, groan'd, and bled,
But there he reigns the great triumphant head;

Here mock'd and scourg'd, he wore a crown of thorns,
A crown of glory there his brow adorns.

Here error clouds the will and dims the sight,
There all is knowledge, purity, and light.
Here so imperfect is this mortal state,
If bless'd myself 1 mourn some other's fate;
At every human woe I here repine,
The joy of every saint shall there be mine.
Here if I lean, the world shall pierce my heart,
But there that broken reed and I shall part.
Here on no promis'd good can I depend,
But there the Rock of Ages is my friend.
Here if some sudden joy delight inspire,
The dread to lose it damps the rising fire;
But there whatever good the soul employ,
The thought that 'tis eternal crowns the joy.

ANDOVER:

PRINTED FOR THE NEW ENGLAND TRACT SOCIETY

BY FLAGG AND GOULD.

1820.

[4th edit. 6000.

A PERSUASIVE

TO

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

THAT the public worship of Almighty God is habitually neglected by a great number of those who "profess and call themselves Christians," is a fact too obvious to need proof. The churches, in some places, are nearly deserted; while the fields, the roads, and the public houses, are crowded. It is a reasonable calculation, that in some considerable towns in New England, at least half of the inhabitants absent themselves from the house of God. awful is the idea, that, supposing a town to contain 20,000 people, no less than 10,000 of them live in the neglect of their duty? But, surely, "these things ought not to be!"

How

Is it not reasonable that we should worship God? In him, we "live, and move, and have our being." And is it not right and becoming that we acknowledge our dependance ? Is God the only King and Governor to whom no homage should be paid? As man is a social being, and disposed to unite with his fellow men for civil purposes, it seems agreeable to reason and the nature of man, that human creatures should associate together in the service of God, to confess their sins, to implore his mercy, to obtain his grace, and to praise him for the blessings already received.

This has been the general practice of all nations of the world, and in every age of it. We read of Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, appearing before God, and, probably, at the head of their families, with their different offerings. In early days, every father of a family acted as its priest. The history of the Bible, which is the oldest in the world, fully shows that Noah, Abraham, Joshua, and all the ancient worthies, thus worshipped the God of their fathers. And when a great part of the world had corrupted themselves. by idolatry, God was pleased to restore the true worship by a revelation of his will to Moses A variety of regulations were ordained by God himself, and, for many ages, observed by the Jews. The divine presence and glory were frequently manifested as tokens of his approbation; and

when, at any time, they neglected his service, terrible calamities befel them, as marks of his displeasure.

66

Our Saviour himself frequented public worship in the temple and other places. He gave directions for the right performance of it, " iu spirit and in truth." He plainly intimates in the Lord's prayer, that we should pray with and for others, by teaching us to say, " Our Father”— "Give us our daily bread " forgive us our trespasses," &c. Jesus Christ having finished the work he came to perform, ascended up into heaven, but promised shortly to send down his Holy Spirit. While the disciples waited for this gift, they continued daily "with one accord in prayer and supplication." It was when they were thus employed, that the Holy Ghost descended, and by his heavenly influence enabled them to preach "Christ crucified " to the multitude, with amazing success. The first christian converts abounded in the acts of public worship—" they continued daily with one accord in the temple." In early times, they certainly met together by day break on the Lord's day, "to sing praise to Christ as their God and Saviour." The Lord's Supper was administered very frequently and the history of the church shows that, from that time to this, the public worship of God has always been attended by the great body of professing Christians of all denominations. It is therefore a new thing, that those who bear that sacred name should desert the house of God.

Public worship is strongly recommended by the many great advantages derived from it. Hereby a friendly intercourse is maintained between the different ranks of society. These are too apt to dislike each other; and their different situations keep them at a distance; but in the house of God," the rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all." By uniting in the same expressions of humility, prayer, praise, and attention, a union of spirit and interest is promoted; they learn to care for each other;" to bear one another's burdens, and to fulfil the law of Christ."

Nor is it an advantage of small importance to the lower ranks of mankind, that the habit of attending public worship, and a laudable desire to appear with decency before others, excite diligence, produce cleanliness, and are consequently conducive to health: while it is too obvious that the slothfal man who disregards the Sabbath and the worship of

God, often neglects the care of his person, and is covered with filth and rags.

Morality is also promoted by public worship. The services of God's house have a direct tendency to produce and increase that "fear of God, which is the beginning of wis dom." Persons do not usually proceed to extreme lengths in open iniquity, who meet every week to confess their past sins, to pray for merey, and to hear from the pulpit the commandments, threatenings, and promises of God. Look around you, and you will observe that atrocious and desperate sinners usually abandon the worship of God altogether; for, according to an old saying-"Praying will make a man leave off sinning, or sinuing will make him leave off praying."

Divine worship is well calculated to prevent an excessive love of the world. People, who are busily employed all the week in worldly affairs, find their hearts too prone to "eleave to the dust." It is therefore of great use to be directed on the Lord's day to the great objects of faith; to be reminded of the vanity of the world, the uncertainty of life, the approach of death; and to have our views extended towards the eternal world, and the different states in which saints and sinners will ere long be forever fixed.

But the greatest advantage of public worship is, that thereby we obtain a knowledge of the glorious gospel of the blessed God." Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church, has commanded that his gospel should be preached to every creature; and a command to preach it, certainly includes a command to hear it. The gospel signifies good news, "glad tidings of great joy, to all people," namely" that God so loved the world, that he has sent his Son to be our Saviour; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The gospel is a proclamation of God's mercy, through Christ, to sinners ready to perish. "Therein the righteousness of God by faith, is revealed to faith;" even that righteousness which Christ wrought out by his obedience and death; a righteousness such as the law demands; such as we are destitute of; but such a one as we must have, or perish. This righteousness is held forth to sinners; and becomes the righteousness of every one who sees his need of it, and is enabled to trust in it for his own acceptance with God.

The same Jesus, who commanded this gospel to be

preached, has promised to be with those who preach it, to the end of the world. He has also declared, that, "wherever two or three meet in his name,'he will be in the midst of them." These promises should induce us all to be diligent hearers of the word. Our Saviour has said, "Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it." Paul says, "it is the power of God unto salvation ;" it is the grand instrument which God has appointed, and which he blesses for the purpose of regeneration, or making us new creatures. Hereby the ignorant become" wise unto salvation." Hereby sinners are brought to repentance. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God;" and it is by faith that the heart is purified, the conscience cleansed, affliction softened, and holiness promoted.

These are some of the great advantages which attend the worship of God. What an enemy then to himself, is that person, who wilfully and habitually neglects the service of God, and thereby renounces them all-and for what? What equal advantages can be proposed ? Is a walk, or a ride into the country, or a visit to a friend, or any amusement whatever of equal value? Certainly not. These are short lived pleasures at best; but the blessings derived from the service of God are solid, spiritual, and everlasting. It is thus that the soul is formed for the worship of God above, and prepar ed to join the general assembly of the church triumphant.

These arguments seem of sufficient weight to convince any man who believes the Scripture, that the public wership of God is a "reasonable service." How is it then that thousands, in this christian country, dare to live in the neglect of it? Those who reflect upon it, must certainly form some excuses, which appear plausible to themselves, and serve to still their consciences. But it is highly pro bable, that the greater part of those, who neglect this duty, never reflect upon the subject; but give themselves up to a careless, thoughtless temper. Such, however, would do well to consider their ways. Man is a rational being; and it is his duty to consider his relation to his Creator, the duty he owes him, and his own personal safety, in refer ence to the eternal world, whither he is hastening.

If indeed any have drunk the deadly poison of infidelity, we need not wonder at their defection, nor that "they set their mouth against the heavens, and defy the Holy One of Israel" but it may be charitably hoped, that their num