34 A Proposal

A Proposal "I was glad when they said to me: Let us go into the house of the Lord."Psalms 122:1 The Church is the house of God. Believers are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Strictly speaking, God acknowledges no other house under the gospel. But as the words were employed in reference to the place where his worship was conducted, we may still use them in the same sense. There is no sanctity in a building — but there is in the saints which meet in it, and in the presence of God which fills it. Let us go where saints go — where the Lord’s family meet. Let us go where God goes. Let us go frequently. Let us go regularly. Let us go expecting to meet with God, and to enjoy his blessing. Let us go praying — and then most likely we shall return praising. Let its go, whatever others may do. Let us go, for God says, "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the habit of some is."

Let us go, for there the Lord meets with his people. They realize his presence. They feel his power. They enjoy his love. They perceive his beauty. He manifests himself unto them — as he does not unto the world. "They have seen your goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary." He . . .
shines upon their minds,
unfolds his glorious perfections,
proclaims his gracious name, and
fills them with all joy and peace in believing.

He . . .
accepts their persons,
hears their prayers,
receives their praises,
removes their burdens,
dissipates their fears,
dispels the gloom from their minds,
and they are enabled to "rejoice in God."

He bestows his blessings upon them. They receive pardon, enjoy justification, hold communion, obtain strength, discover the mind of God, and consecrate themselves entirely to his service.

Heaven at times begins below, and they have nothing left to wish for — but the continuance of present enjoyment. Nothing is more like Heaven — than the house of God at such seasons. Let us go, then, that we may . . .
receive grace,
obtain mercy,
enjoy fellowship with God,
hear him speak to us in his Word,
unite with his people in worshiping him,
and magnify the riches of his grace.

Let us endeavor to induce others to go, for there miracles of mercy are wrought — the dead are raised, the blind receive their sight, the deaf hear, the lame man is made to leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb to sing. There . . .
enemies are reconciled,
the ignorant are instructed,
the sorrowful are comforted,
the dark are enlightened,
the distant are brought near, and
the glory of the Lord is revealed.

There . . .
the Holy Spirit works by the Word,
Christ is formed in the heart, and
the Father draws sinners to his Son.

There . . .
the trumpet of the Jubilee is blown,
the prison-doors are opened,
the fetters of the captive are broken off,
salvation is freely conferred, and
the fruits of the celestial Canaan are tasted and enjoyed.

"Let us go into the house of the Lord!" Reader, make this proposal to all whom you know. Some need inviting. They are shy, or they are not accustomed to attend — or they are slothful, or worldly, or lukewarm. But try what you can do. Try to induce one to attend. Tell him what you have enjoyed, what a gracious God bestows, what good he may get, and how the day may come when he will wish that he had attended.

Some love to be invited. David did. He says, "I was glad when they said unto me: Let us go into the house of the Lord." Such love company, they enjoy fellowship along the road; many would come regularly, who now come but seldom, if lively Christians would call upon them and kindly say, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."

Believers should invite others. Here is an example for such. It was done under the Old Dispensation — much more should it be done under the New. God approves of our doing so, therefore this instance was recorded, and he will manifest his approbation by blessing our efforts. Besides which, it displays a spirit glowing with love to God, zeal for the good of souls, and concern for the prosperity of the Church. The results, also, would be found to be most encouraging.

Beloved, have you been slighting the means of grace? Have you allowed trifling matters to keep you at home? Allow me to call you to repentance, and to invite you to return to the days of your youth.

"Let us go into the house of the Lord," for he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. There we shall . . .
obtain help in grief,
get instruction in difficulty,
find strength for our journey,
enjoy the communion of saints, and
feel at home in the presence of God. The house of God below is the porch to the house of God above. The enjoyments we are indulged with there, are foretastes of the everlasting feast.

Reader, can you say, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of your house, and the place where your honor dwells?" Are you glad when one says to you, "Let us go into the house of the Lord!" Are you determined, in the Lord’s strength, that you will not forsake the house of the Lord your God? Can you be comfortable when the house is but thinly attended? Are you doing all you can to fill it? You can do something towards it. Perhaps you can do much. You cannot tell how much you can do — until you try.

If all our members would set their hearts upon filling the house of prayer — few ministers who are fired with love to souls, would have to preach to thin congregations. It is the Church’s duty to fill the place, and the preacher’s duty to endeavor to keep it full. If Church members felt as they ought to do upon the subject, they would think, feel, pray, and act with this object in view; and if their motives were pure, and their object scriptural — God would bless their efforts, our places would be crowded, and a revival of religion would soon take place among us. But when members are satisfied with attending themselves once on the Lord’s day, and then often coming late — their conduct acts like a blight, or a piercing east wind, which injures all by whom they are surrounded.

Reader, are you a member of a Church of Christ? Is the place where you worship thinly attended? Go upon your knees before God, spread the case before him, seek for wisdom, courage, and zeal — and then determine that you will leave no means untried to fill it with hearers. Communicate your purpose to others, press them into the service, meet for special prayer on the subject, and go to work under God’s blessing, expecting success. Nor rest satisfied with a full place — but seek the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, that hearers may become believers, that believers may be full of faith, joy, and the Holy Spirit, and the pastor be eminently holy, successful, and happy. Let your daily prayer be, "And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!"