20 Behold [I] Stand at the door, &c
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SERMON II.
REV. iii. 20. Behold [I] stand at the door, &c.
HAVIN TAVING, in theformerfermon,pondered Christ'sfolemn preface to his earnest suit ; the nextthingthatcomes under our consideration, is theperfonfolliciting, and pleading for admission into the hearts of sinners,which is Christ himself.
Behold [I] stand. The only difficulty here is rightly to apprehend the manner of Christ's presence in gospel administrations : for it is manifest the person of Christ was at this time in, heaven; his bodily presence was removed from this lower world above sixty years before this epistle was written to the Laodiceans.
John's banishment into Patmos is by Eufebius, out ofIrenæus andClemens Alexandrinus, placed in the ; fourteenth year of the emperor Domitian, and under his second persecution, which was about the ninety-seventh year from the birth of Christ.
Yet here he faith, Behold I stand; not my messengers and ministers only, but I by my spiritual presence among you, I your sovereign Lord and owner, who have all right and authority by creation and redemption to possess and difposeofyour fouls ; it is I that stand at the door and knock,
I by my Spirit, folliciting and moving by the ministry of men.
You fee none but men; but believe it, I am really and truly, though spiritually and invisibly, present in all those administrations ; all those knocks, motions, and follicitations, are truly mine, they are my acts, and I own them, and so I would have you conceive and apprehend them. Hence the second note is this, Doct. 2. That Jesus Christ is truly present with men in his ordinances, and hath to do with them, and they with him ; though he be not visible to their carnal eyes.
Thus runs the promise: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,"Mat. xviii. 20. Themiddleplace was the feat of the president in the Jewish assemblies, where he might equally hear and be heard of all.
So will I be in the midst of the assemblies of the faithful, met together in my name and authority, to bless, guide, and protect them. Hence the church is calledtheplace of his feet, Ifaiah xvi. 13. a manifest allusion to the ark, called God's footstool, Psalm xcix. 5. And agreeablyhereunto, Christ is said to walk among the fevengolden candle-
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sticks, Rev. ii. 1.
There are the spiritual walks of Christ, there his converses and communion with men and this presence of Christ was not the peculiar privilege of the first churches, but is common to all the churches of the saints to the end of the world, as appears by that glorious promise so comfortably extended to the church from first to last ; " Lo, I am i " with you always to theendofthe world," Mat. xxii. ult. This promise is the ground and reason of all our faith, and expect a-
tions of benefit from ordinances ; and the subjects of it are not here considered personally but officially, to you, and all that succeed you in the fame work and office; not to you only as extraordinary, but to all the succeeding ordinary standing officers in my church.
As for the apostles, neither their persons nor extraordinary office was to continue long, but this promise was to continue to the end of the world.
Nor is this promise made absolutely, but conditionally; the connection of the promise with the command, enforces this qualified sense; as 2 Chron. xv. 2. " The Lord is with you,
" whilst you are with him."
Ignorant, idle, unqualified persons cannot claim the benefit of this gracious grant.
Once more, this promise is made to every hour and minute of time.
I am with you, all the days, as it is in the Greek text; in dark and dangerous, as well as peaceable and encouraging days: and it is closed up with afolemnAmen, So be it, or, So it shall be.
To open this point distinctly, we are to confider that there is a three-fold presence of Christ.
1. Corporeal.
2. Represented.
3. Spiritual.
1. There is a corporeal presence of Christ, which the church once enjoyed on earth, when he went in and out amongst his people, Acts i. 21. when their eyes saw him, and their hands handled him, 1 John i. 1.
This presence was a singular consolation to the disciples, and therefore they were greatly dejected when it was to be removed from them.
But after redemption-work was finisned on earth, this bodily prefencewas no longer necessary to be continued in this world, but more expedient to be removed to heaven, John xvi. 7. as indeed it was, and must there abide until the time of the restitution of all things, Acts iii. 21. And in this respect he tells the disciples,
John xvi . 28. " I leave the world, and go to my Father."
2. There is a represented presence of Christ in ordinances.
As the person of a king is represented in another country by his Ambassadors, so is Christ in this world by his ministers :
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We then are ambassadors for God; as tho'Goddidbefeech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to
"God," 2 Cor. v. 20.
Christ is about other work for us in heaven, but we fland in his stead on earth. And this speaks the great dignity of the ministerial office; whatever abuses or con tempts are cast on them, they reflect upon Christ :
" that despiseth you, despiseth me," Luke x. 16.
It also teacheth us whence the validity of gospel-administration is; Christ ratifies and confirms them with his own authority. It
"He also instructs us how wise, spiritual, and holy ministers should be, who represent Christ to the world. A drunkard, a perfe cut or, a sensual worldling, is but an ill representative of the blessed and holy Jesus.
3. Besides, and above the two former, there is a spiritual presence of Christ in the churches, and ordinances; and this presence of Christ by his spirit, who is his Vicegerent, is to be confideredas that from which all gospel-ordinancesderive,
1. Their beauty and glory.
2. Their power and efficacy.
3. Their awful solemnity.
4. Their continuance and stability.
1. From the presence of Christ by his Spirit, the ordinances and churches derive their beauty and glory: " To see thy pow.
" er and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary,"
Psal . xxvii. 4.
Look as the beauty of the body is a result from the soul that animates it; and when the soul is gone, the beauty of the body is gone also; fothe beauty and glory of all ordinances comes and goes with the Spirit of Christ, which is the very foul of them. The churches are indeed golden candlesticks, but the candleflickhath no light but what the candle gives it; hence that magnificent description of the new temple is closed up in this expression , "The name of that city shall be, The " Lord is there," Ezek.xlviii. ult.
2. From this spiritual presence of Christ, all gospel-ordinancesderive all that power and efficacy which is by them exerted upon the souls of men, either in their conversion or edification.
This power is not inherent in them, nor do they act as natural, necessary agents, but as instituted means, which are successful, or unsuccessful according as Christ by his spirit co-operates with them : " He that plants is nothing, neither he that
"watereth,but God thatgiveththe increase," 1 Cor. iii. 7.That is, they are nothing to the purpose, nothing to the accomplishment of mens salvation, without the concurrence of the Spirit of Christ,
Forwhentheapostlemakes himself andApollos,
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with all other ministers, nothing, we must understand him speaking not absolutely,but comparatively, and relatively; they are necessary in their places, and sufficient in their kind, for what they are appointed to, else it would be a reflection upon the wisdom of God that instituted them: But singly in themselves, and disjunctively considered, they are nothing ; as a trumpet or,wind-instrument is nothing, as to its endanduse, exceptbreathbe inspired into it, and that breath modulatedby
El the art and skill of the inspirer ; like Ezekiel's wheels that move not but as the Spirit that was in them moved, and dir ctedtheir motions.
If ordinances wrought upon fouls naturally, and necessarily, as the fire burneth, then they could not fail of success upon all that come under them : But it is with them as with the waters of the pool at Bethesda, whose healing virtue was only found at that season when the angel descended and troubled them. i 3. This spiritual presence of Christ gives the ordinances of the gospel that awful folemnitywhich is due, upon that account, to them. The presence of Christ in them commands reverence from all that are about him. "God is greatly to be feared in " the assemblies of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all
" that are round about him : " hence is that solemn caution or threatening, Lev. xxvi . 23, 24.
" If you walk contrary unto 66 me, then will I also walk contrary unto you." The Hebrew word in that text signifies to walk rashly, or at an adventure with God, fine persone discrimine, without considering with whom we have to do, and what an awful majesty we stand before. And the punishment is suitable to the fin; I also will walk at an adventure with you, making nodifcrimination in my judgments betwixt your persons and the persons of the worst of men. O that this wereduely considered by all that have to do with God in gospel-institutions !
4. It is the spiritual presence of Christ in his churches and ordinances that gives them their continuance and stability : whenever the Spirit of Christ departs from them, it will not be long before they depart from us; or if they should not, their continuance will be little to our advantage. When the glory of the LORD dismounted from betwixt the cherubims, when that sad voice was heard in the temple, migremus hinc,
Let us go hence, how soon was both city and temple made a desolation! and truly Christ's presence is not so fixed to any place, or any ordinances,but the sins of the people may banish it away, Rev. ii . 5. Who will tarry in any place longer than he is welcome, if he have any where else to go?
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But more particularly, letushere discuss these two points.
I. How it appears Christ is thus spiritually present with his churches and ordinances.
II. Why it is necessary he should be fo.
First, By what evidences doth it manifestlyappear that there isfuchaprefence of Christ with his churches and ordinances.
And this willappearbytwoundeniable evidences thereof.
1. By their wonderful preservations.
2. From their supernatural effects.
1. From their wonderful preservations: For it is wholly unaccountable, and unconceivable,how the churches, ministers and ordinances, should be supported and preserved without it, amidst such hosts of potent andenragedenemies.
IfChrift were not among them, they had certainlybeenswallowed up long ago.
It is he that holds the stars in his right-hand, Rev. ii. 1. His walks among the sevengoldencandlesticks is their best security.
The burning bush, Exod. iii. 3. is a rare emblem to open this mystery; the bush burned with fire,but was notconfumed.
The bush was a resemblance of the church of God in Egypt, theflamesupon it was their terrible persecution; the wonder, that no ashes appeared as the effects of those terrible flames; the reason whereof was, God was in the bush, Jesus
Christ was in the midst of his people.
By virtue of this prefencewe are here this day, in the enjoyment of gospel liberties ; no society of men in the world hayefuch security as the church hath upon this account. The mightiest monarchies have been overturned,no policies nor human power could preserve them; but the church andordinances are still preserved, and shall ever be, by virtue of that gracious promise, Jer. xxx. 11. " For I am with thee, faith the Lord,
" to save thee : Though I make a full end of all nations whi- " ther I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of " thee."
The Babylonians, Persians, Grecian monarchies, have deAroyed and ruined one another :
-- Sic Medus ademit Affyrio, Syroque tulitmoderamina Perfes,&c. but ftillthe church of Christ lifts up its head,and be holds their ruins..
2. This presence of Christ in and with his ordinances is undeniably evinced from their supernatural effects upon the souls of men, 2 Cor. x. 4. "The weapons of our warfare are not " carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of " strongholds."
It is the SpiritofChrist that gives them their
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success and efficacy; the sword of the gospel hath its point and edge, but it is impossible the heart of a stupid hardened sinner shouldever be pricked or wounded by it, if the Spirit of Christ did not manage it. When sinners fall down convinced under the authority of the word, they feel, and readily acknowledge, that God is in it of a truth, 1 Cor. xiv. 25.
Ruffinus reports, that at the council of Nice, agodly man, of no great learning, was the instrument of converting a learned philosopher, whom the bishops with all their arguments could not persuade: of which the philosopher himself gave this remarkable account, Whilst you reatonedwithme, said he, against words,
• I opposed words, and what was spoken I overthrew by the art of speaking; but when instead of words power came out
⚫of the mouth of the speaker, words could no longer with-
stand truth, nor man resist the power of God.'
L And this, indeed, is the true and just account of all those marvellous and gracious changes made upon the souls of men by the preaching of the gospel: can the vanishing breath of a dying man, think you, inspire spiritual and eternal life into the souls of other men ?
Can he search the conscience, break the heart, and bow the will at this rate ? No, no, this is the power and operation of Christ; and of that presence we
! must say, faith a * reverend author, as Martha did to her Saviourconcerningthe death of her brother Lazarus, John xi. 21 .
" Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
So say I, if that presence and power of Christ were felt by all, which hath been certainly experienced and felt by many, they had not remained in the state of spiritual death as they do.
But though there be thousands under ordinances that never felt this power of Christ upon them, yet blessed be God there are also multitudes of witnesses and evidences of this truth, that there is a real, spiritual energetical presence of Christ in his own appointments ; which was the first thing to be evinced.
Secondly, The second thing requiring explication, is the uses and ends which make such a presence of Christ necessary. And they are, 1. To preserve and support his ministers and churches, amidst suchhosts ofpotentandenraged enemies : this presence of Christ, is as a wall of fire round about them.
It was the divineprefencewith Jeremiah that was as a life-guard to him against the rage of the princes and nobles ofIfrael: Jer. xv. 20,
21. " I will make thee to this people a fenced brazen wall, *Mr. Burgess on 1 Cor. iii.
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*" and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail " against thee; for I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver
" thee, faith the Lord: and I will deliver thee out of the hand " of the wicked, andIwillredeemtheeoutofthehand of the
" terrible.".
It was easier for the Romanarmy toscalethewalls, and batter down the towers ofJerufalem, than for all the enemies in Jerusalem todestroythisprophetofGod, thus immured by the divine presence.
Athanafius and Luther had the power of the empire ingagedagainst them,yetthepresenceofChrist was their security.
The witnesses could not be slaintill theyhadfinished their testimony, Rev. xi. 7. To this presencealonethe faithful witnessesofChrist owe their marvellous preservation at this day; had not Christ said, Lo, I am with you, you had not faidat this day, behold our ministers are still with us.
2. The presence of Christ is necessary to assist and enable his ministers in their work, for it is a work quite above their own strength ; it is well we are workers together with God, else we should soon faint under our labours. When Moses objected, I am not eloquent, the Lord told him, I will be with thy mouth, Exod. iv. 1o. WhenGodguides the tongue,how powerful and persuasive must the language be! when the apostles, illiterate men, were sent out to convert the world,
Christ promisedtogivethem a mouth and wisdom, Luke xxi. 15. a mouth to speak, and wisdom to guide that mouth; and then their words were demonstrations, all their adversaries could not resist that Spirit and power by which theyspake.
Empires, and kingdoms full of enemies, received the gospel ; but the reason of this wonderful success is given us in Markxvi. 20.
They " went out and preached every where, the Lord working with "
" them."
'Tis sweet and prosperous working in fellowship with Christ : the spirit of Christ gives a manifold assistance to his ministers in their work; 'tis he that guides and directs their mind in the choice of those subjects wherein they labour with such success totheirhearers. He dictates the matter, influences their affections, guides their lips, follows home their doctrine with success. And this is a special use and end of Christ's presence with his ministers and ordinances.
3. The spiritual presence of Christ is necessary for the preparationandopening of the peoples heart to receiveandembrace the gospel to salvation; not a heart will open to receive Christ till the Spirit of Christ unlock them.
Paul and Timothy were extraordinarily called to preach the gospel at Macedonia, there
Lydiawasconverted; but how? Not by their skill or eloquence,
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but by the Spirit's influence ; " The Lord opened the heart of Lydia," Acts xvi. 14. The church could not be propagated withoutconverfion; converfioncould never be wrought without Christ's influence and spiritual presence. So that this prefenceis of absolute necessity ; the church cannot subsist, nor the great ends ofordinances be attained without it.
Infer. 1.
Is Christ really present in all gospel administrations, how awfullyfolemnthen is every part of gospel worship? we having to do with Christ himself, and not with men only, in gospel ordinances.' Happy were it, if, under thisconfideration, all our people did receive the word we preach, as the Thessalonians did, I Thess. ii. 13. not as the word of man, but as the word of God; then it would work effectually in us as it did in them.
But alas ! we have loose and low appre. henfionsoftheword; wecometojudge the giftsofthespeaker, not to have our minds informed, our consciences searched, our lusts mortified, and our lives regulated. ButO thatmen would realize the presence of Christ inordinances,and seriously confider that word of his, Rev. ii. 23. "All the churches shall know
66 that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will " givetoevery one of you according to your works."
How would it compose vainandwanderinghearts unto holy seriousness ? O if men would but consider that they are before the Lord Jesus Christ, as Cornelius and his family did, Acts x.
33- "We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."
If they would confider the word, as the executioner of God's eternal decrees, which returns not in vain, but accomplishes that whereuntoGodsends it,
Ifa. lv. 11. and eventually proves the favour of life or death eternal to them that fit under it, 2. Cor. ii. 16.
In a word, were it but considered as the rule by which its hearers shall be judged in the great day, John xii. 48. then how would men tremble at the word ? What mighty effects would it have upon their hearts ? How would it run and be glorified ? But, alas, as Job speaks, Job ix. 11. "He goeth by me, and I see him not;
" he passeth on also; but I perceive him not."
Few realize the spiritual presence of Christ in ordinances.
Infer. 2. If Christ be really present with his churches andordinances, ' How vain are all attempts of enemies to subvert and • destroy them ?" That promise, Matth. xxviii. ult. supposes the continuance ofa gospel church ministry to the end of the world, else there would be a promise without a subject: as de
Jure, there ought to be a church, so de Facto, there shall be a church with ministers,and ordinances, let Satan and antichrist
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I do not say this promise secures this or that particular churchornation,for the presenceofChrist is move able from one place to another, but still the church is safe.
And there are three things that secure it against all hazards.
1. The invaluable treasures God hath lodged in the church, viz. his Truths, his Worship, and his Elect; such a precious cargosecuresthe vessel that carries it, whatever storms or tempests may befal it.
2.The covenant and promise of God with the church, is its abundant security, Matth.xvi. 18. "Upon this rock will I build
66 my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The faithfulness of God is pawned for his peoples security.
If the church fail,God's faithfulness must fail with it.
3.But above all, the presence of Christ, in the midst of it, puts it out of all danger ofmiscarrying.
In that promise, Lo, I am with you alway, are found all munitions and fortifications whatsoever : here we have his eye of providence, his hand of power, and whatsoever else is needful to support and secure it.
God accounts his presence our safety, Isaiah xli. 10. The enemies of God and his people account it to too, Exod. xiv. 25. and shall it not be so in our account ? Provoke not the Lord
Jesus to withdraw his presence, and fear not the consultations andoppositions of hell or earth.
Infer. 3. From this spiritual presence of Christ all his faithfulminiftersshoulddraw encouragement, amidst the manifolddifficultiesanddiscouragements they daily encounter in this work and service. Christ is with them, they work in fellowship with him, let them not be dismayed.
The difficulties anddiscouragements the ministers of Christ meet with are great and many ; and the more faithful and successful any ofthemarein their master's work,the fiercer opposition they must expect: besides, all the discouragements rising out of their own hearts, which are not a few, they must encounter.
First, The opposition of enemies from abroad.
Secondly, The obstinacy and stubbornness of the hearts they work upon.
Satan is a jealous prince, and will raise all manner ofoutcries and opposition against those heavenly Heralds, that come to proclaim a new prince in his dominions, and withdraw his miserable subjects from their cursed allegiance to him. What is it to preach the gospel (said Luther) but to drive the fury of the world upon the head of that preacher ? But this would be eafilysupportable, did our work but prosper, upon the hearts of our hearers. But this, alas ! is the killing consideration of
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all; we know the worth of fouls, and howgreata service it is to save them from death, James v. 20. We also know the
terrors of the Lord, which excite our utmost endeavours to persuade men, 2 Cor. v. 11. We feel the compassions of Christ a 다 tirring in our own bowels, which makes us long after their salvation, Phil. i. 8. We preach, we pray, yea, we travail again as it were in birth until Christ be formed in them, Gal. iv.
19. And when we have done all, we find their hearts as iron, and brass, Jer. vi. 28. We mourn in secretwhenwe cannot prevail, andoft times our hands hang down with difcouragement, and we are ready to say with the prophet, Jer. xx. 9. We will speak no more in his name. But here is our relief,under alldiscouragements from abroad and at home ; the work is Christ's, the power is his, he is with us, and we are workers together with him.
There was a time when three thousand fouls were born to Christ at one sermon, it maybe now three thousand sermons may be preached and not a soul converted: yet let us not be discouraged, a time of eminent conversion is promised, and to be expected in these
latter days, Ezek. xlvii. 9. when the living waters of the gospel shall make every thing to live whither they come, and when the fishers, i. e. the ministers Christ, shall not fish with angels, as now they do, taking now one, then another single convert, but shall spread forth their nets, and inclose multitudes at a
draught : " when they shall fly as a cloud, and as thedoves to " their windows." God now opens a door of opportunity beyond expectation; O that the hearts of ministers and people were suitably enlarged, and the people made willing in the day of his power.
Infer. 4. Hence we also infer the great dignity of the minifte rial office, and the suitable respect andhonour due to all Christ's fuithful ministers.
The Lord Jesus himself is represented by them, they stand in his stead, 2 Cor. v. 20. his authority is clothed upon them ; the honours and dish on our given them, redound to the person of Christ. TheGalatians received Paul as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus, Gal. iv. 14.
Yet how have their persons and office been vilified and despised in this degenerate age ! how many learned, pious, laborious, peaceful ministers of Christ have, in this age, been hunted up and down in the world as wild beasts, been made the filth and off-scouring of all things unto this day ? 1 Cor. iv. 13.
The word signifies that dirt and filth which Scavengers rake together in the streets, to be carried to the dunghill,
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No doubt but Satan drives a great design in this to invalidate their ministry, discourage theirlabours, andbreaktheirhearts : bat Jesus Christwillfupportus under all these abules, wipe off the dirt thrown at us for his name fake, and reserve some of us for better days.
Infer. 5. IsChrift present in his ordinances, what astrongengagement then lies upon you all to attendandwait affiduously upon the ministry of the word, and to bring all yours, that are capable, there to wait upon Christ with you? Wereadinthedays of Christ's flesh, whenheperformed hismiraculouscures upon the sick, what thronging there was after him; how parents brought their children, masters their servants, pressing in multitudes, untiling the house to let down their sick to him, Luke xii. 1.
Ah, shall men be so earnest for a cure for their bodies, and so indifferent for their souls ? 'Tis true, the spiritofChrift is not tied by any necessity to act always with the word; he acts as an arbitrary agent, John iii. 8. The windbloweth where it lifteth : but it is engagement enough towaitcontinuallyuponhis ordinances, that he sometimes graciously, and effectuallyconcurreth with them. Tis good to lie in the way of the Spirit; and there is ableffing pronounceduponthem thatwaitcontinually at his gates, Prov. viii.34. Othereforeneglectno season within your reach ; for who knows but it maybe the season of life to thy soul?
Infer. 6. What an unspeakable lofsis the loss of the gospel,sec. ing the presence of Christ comes and goes with it ? When the gospel departs, the spirit of Christ departs with it from among men; no more converfions, in God's ordinary way, are then to be expected : well therefore might the Lord say, Hofea ix.
12. Woe tothemwhen I depart from them. The spirit may, in some sense, depart, whilst the ordinances are left standing, for a time, among the people; but then expect no such bles sings or benefits from them.
But when God takes away ordinances and spirit too, woe indeed to that people ; and are there not finsamongstus presaging such a judgment ? O England! reflect upon thy barrenness under it; where be the fruits answerable to such precious means ? The gospel is a golden lamp, the graces of the spiritcommunicatedby it are golden oil ; as in that stately vision, Zech. iv. WillGodmaintain such a lamp, fed with such precious oil, for men to trifle and play by ?
And no less ominous and portentous is that bitter enmity to the gospel, and the serious professors of it, which (I cannot speak without horror) is every where foundamongus; this
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great hatred brings on the days of visitation, and the days of recompence, with a fwiftanddreadfulmotionupon any people,
Hofea ix. 7.
Infer. 7. If Christ be present, by way of spirit and energy in bis ordinances, then there is no reason to despair of the conversion and salvation of the greatest sinners that yet lie dead under the gospel. What though their hearts be hard, their understanding dark, and their wills never so perverse and obstinate ? all must give way, and open in the dayofChrist's power, when his spirit joins himself with the word.
This makes it an irresistible word ; 'tis glorious to observe the hearts ofpublicans and harlots opening and yielding to the voice of Christ, Matth. xxi.
31. What were those three thousand persons pricked at the heart by Peter's sermon, Acts ii. 36. but the very men that, with wicked hands, had crucified the Lord Jesus ? And what were the converted Corinthians, but idolators, turned from dumb idols, whoremongers, adulterers, effeminate ? &c. 1 Cor. xii . 2. and vi. 11. God hath his elect among the vilest of men: the gospel will find them out, and draw them home to Christ, when the spirit animates andblesseth it.
Well might the apoftletherefore say, that the gospel preached with theholyGhost, sent down from heaven, is an object worthy for angels to behold with admiration, & Pet. i. 12. What though Satan has strongly fortified their souls against Christ, with ignorance, pre. judiceand enmity; yet the weapons of our watfare are mighty, through God, to pull down these strongholds.
Despair not thereforeofyourcarnal and dead-hearted relations,bring them to the gospel upon the encouragement of these words of Christ,
Johnv. 25. "The hour cometh,yea, and now is,that the dead " shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and theythathear it
" small live."
Infer. 8. Is Christ spiritually present in his ordinances ? O then what an endeared affection should every graciousfoulbear to the ordinances of God ! They are the walks of Christ, and his spirit, the appointed times and places for your meeting and communion with him; there your souls first met with Christ; there you began your acquaintance with him; there you have had many sweetconverses with him since that day; they were the feed of your regeneration, 1 Pet. i. 23. the bread of life, by which your foulshavebeen sustained ever since, and therefore tobemoreelteemed by you than your necessary food, Job xxiii.
12.
Here you have found the richest cordials to revive and recoveryourdrooping spirits, when ready to fink away in a faint
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