SERMONS. I. GOD IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS. PREACHED AT THE OPENING OF ST. PHILIP'S CHAPEL, BRISTOL; AND ON SEVERAL SIMILAR OCCASIONS. GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS, AND TO BE HAD IN REVERENCE OF ALL THEM THAT ARE ABOUT HIM.-Psalm lxxxix, 7. AMONG the innumerable misconceptions which prevail in every age on the subject of religion, there is not one more completely without foundation in fact than that which leads men to consider it as inconsistent with cheerfulness, and as only productive of melancholy and gloom. Such views of the character and ways of God are in direct opposition to truth. For the kingdom of God is not only righteousness and peace, but joy in the Holy Ghost. Holy joy is a constituent part of genuine piety; a never-failing fruit of that Spirit of faith and adoption which dwells in the hearts of saints; a passion of our sanctified nature, which it is our duty, not to repress, but to cherish and indulge. This joy, with which it is the privilege of such as walk with God to rejoice evermore, is, however, excited and enlivened in a more than common degree by those ordinances of social and public devotion which he has established in his Church. Released, by the weekly return of the Christian Sabbath, from the turmoil of business, and from the toils of secular life, the faithful gladly repair to the sanctuary of God, and there hold 1 communion with him and with each other. There they find a refuge from the cares of the world, an asylum in which their spirits are refreshed and tranquilized after the perplexities and conflicts by which they have been exercised. From this commerce with the skies" their emotions catch somewhat of a celestial ardor and blessedness; their joy approaches in its nature to that which seraphs feel before the throne; and, while every devout and every benevolent affection is called into delightful activity, they exclaim, "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." If such be the pleasure which you, my brethren, have often derived from your ordinary attendance on the public worship of God, how greatly must that pleasure be heightened by the peculiar circumstances of the present occasion! With desire have many of you desired to see this day; and you now see it, and are glad. Your gladness is both proper and seasonable. So far am I from condemning it, that I largely participate in it, and would readily be a helper of your joy. I congratulate you on the completion of a place of worship so spacious and convenient. I congratulate you on those kind and gracious dispensations of Divine Providence, by which this house of God has been prepared for the solemnities of this day; and that without material accident or injury to any of the workmen that have been employed. I rejoice with you, not only in the grateful review of what is past, but in the pleasing hope of future blessings. It is impossible not to anticipate, with lively satisfaction, the great and manifold benefits which you may reasonably expect to realize, within these walls, from the promised presence of God in his ordinances. Here you will often experience the blessedness of such as know the joyful sound, and will prove that it is good for you to draw near to God. Here you will be taught the way of holy living; prepared for a peaceful and happy death; and trained up for glory, and honor, and immortality. And these high spiritual advantages shall not, I trust, be confined to yourselves. They shall be shared by others, who in future years may be induced to worship God, and hear his word, under this roof. And when your names are written in the dust-when the place that now knows you shall know you no more—from among your children, and your children's children, shall arise those who shall here learn to call the Saviour blessed, and follow you as you have followed Christ. "And of Zion it shall be said "-in every successive year, so long as this house shall continue to be the favored abode of evangelical truth, and the scene of that divine influence with which the truth will ever be accompanied "This and that man was born in her; and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there." How amply will the fullfilment of such anticipations recompense all your toils, anxieties, and expenditures! But, while I heartily rejoice with you on this occasion, and exhort you, in the language of the Hundredth Psalm, to make a joyful noise unto the Lord; to serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with singing; to enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; to be thankful unto him, and to bless his name; it is also my duty to remind you, that your emotions of joy should be mingled with a sentiment of humility; and that, not only now, but whenever you visit this sacred place, a deep and reverential sense of the majesty of HIM whose name is recorded here should rest upon your spirits. Will God in very deed dwell with men? Will he, whom heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain, condescend to take up his especial residence in this house which we have built? Yes! blessed be his name, he will. "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation." "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." Yet, while we adore his condescension, we ought to feel our great unworthiness of it. His august presence should excite not only our joy, but our reverence and godly fear. For "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him." These words suggest to us, I. The nature and design of those religious assemblies to which this house is now solemnly devoted. |