27 Public Worship

Public Worship "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." Hebrews 10:25 The public worship of God is of divine appointment, and is intended to benefit the Lord’s people, to be the means of the conversion of sinners, and to glorify God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Believers should meet to pray and praise together; to preach and hear together; to attend to the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to administer discipline, and to receive others into fellowship. The saints should meet often, unless unavoidably prevented. The ordinances are means of grace, and we receive grace in attending upon them: they are to revive, strengthen, encourage, and reprove us, and we find they often do so. We cannot neglect the ordinances — without being serious losers; or attend them in a proper spirit — without being sensibly benefitted. The Lord is always present in the assembly of the saints, and present on purpose to bless them. Our attendance should be regular, never omitting if we can possibly be present; it should always be early, never coming in late if it can by any means be avoided. Every believer should be in the place of meeting a few minutes before the service commences, that there may be time to compose the mind, and offer up a short prayer for the Lord’s presence and blessing. Those who habituate themselves to coming late, do not consider that they disturb the devotion of others, pain the preacher’s mind, distract the attention of the congregation, and dishonor the Lord, who has been there from the commencement.

Let us not neglect the means — or attend to them in a cold, formal, lifeless manner; but let us bear in mind that we go to meet the Lord, to perform a solemn duty, to enjoy a delightful privilege, and to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Many practically despise the means of grace: their attendance is occasional, instead of regular; late, instead of early; formal, instead of lively and zealous. This arises from the coldness of the affections, the worldliness of the mind, and the influence of temptation on the spirit. Nothing is easier than to frame excuses for neglecting public worship, nor are many things more difficult than to give satisfactory reasons for so doing.

Reader, if tempted to neglect the public worship of God, remember that the honor of Jesus is involved in it; the command of God and the example of the saint, make it incumbent upon you. If you are at all concerned for the credit of He Savior’s cause, for the comfort of the minister and members of the church, for your own spiritual welfare, or for the consistency of your conduct — have a place in the Lord’s house which you can call your own, and be sure you fill it regularly, early, and with befitting seriousness. The promises of God, the practice of primitive times, and the happy experience of the saints — combine to urge you to a diligent attention to this duty. Our Apostle adds the coming of, "the day," the near approach of the Lord Jesus; it will be soon, sudden, and solemn: and we ought to be quite prepared for it, come when it may. But if the lamp of our profession is not burning brightly, if the vessel of our hearts is not well furnished with the oil of grace, if our loins are not girded with truth, if we are not found watching in the Lord’s ways — then how can we be said to be ready? And are we likely to be in such a holy, happy state — if we live in the neglect of the ordinances of our God? Surely not! Let us, therefore, exhort one another to this duty; and let us do so the more earnestly affectionately, and frequently, as we see the day approaching. In this respect let us not allow sin upon a brother, without kindly warning, and affectionately exhorting him to a more consistent course. Let us attend to all the ordinances of God, and use all the means of grace, that we may all be found of Jesus in peace, without spot and blameless, at His appearing; for if we are negligent, worldly-minded, and forsaking the right ways of the Lord — this cannot be the case.