but they shut their eyes. Love calls them to the great supper, but they decline the invitation. They mind earthly things. How awful their infatuation! How vast their guilt! How melancholy their prospects! They wrong their own souls. Let us consider the attractions, claims, and neglect of the house of God. I. The attractions of the house of God. There are other spots which have their attractions. There are the attractions of heaven; there are the attractions of Calvary; there are the attractions of the mercy-seat. Let me show you the attractions of the house of God. 66 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth." The house of God is a scene of instruction. The human soul is formed for the attainment of knowledge, and what knowledge so excellent as the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus? The welfare of the soul requires a knowledge of what God has revealed. The truth as it is in Jesus is the food of the soul-the light of the soul-the purifier of the soul-the joy of the soul -the shield of the soul. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Error keeps the soul in the bondage of ignorance, corruption, and misery. The mercy of God has provided revealed truth for the salvation of the soul. This teaches us the things which belong to our peace. This light discovers to us the depravity of our hearts, the glory of God, the work of Christ, the way to heaven, the means of holiness, the necessity of religion, the ruin of sinners. The Gospel is the voice of the Son of God. This is to be heard in the house of God. This proclaims the perfec tions, character, and purposes of God— the fall, danger, and wants of man— the person, work, and kingdom of Christ-the character, duties, and privileges of believers-the work of the Holy Spirit, the scenes of eternity, and the way in which men may attain eternal life. This instruction is suitable, true, pure, important, sufficient for salvation. Attendance on the public means of grace will secure to you a growing acquaintance with the precious contents of the Holy Scriptures. During the week ministers dig in this mine of unsearchable riches, and in the house of God they present you with the results. They study this map, and point out to you the way to the better country. They consult this chart, and warn you of the dangers on the sea of life. They expound the doctrines of scripture, open up the promises, and set forth the encouraging invitations. They preach Christ and him crucified. They exhibit the Cross. They point to the city of refuge. They instruct the ignorant, warn the careless, comfort the feeble-minded, quicken the loiterer, enrich the poor, heal the broken in heart, and say to them that are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not." The Son of God once taught men by his personal ministry, he now teaches them through his word, his ministers, and his people, and by his Spirit. The house of God is the place where the Holy Spirit often applies the truth in the conversion of men. This is a scene of conversion. "Out of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her." The conversion of the soul to God is necessary. Sin has turned the thoughts, desires, and affections from God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to 1: the law of God, neither indeed can be." This enmity must be subdued, or the soul will be lost. Love must take the 54 place of aversion. The heart must submit to its rightful owner-God claims the heart. The Gospel is the instrument by which this change is effected: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hear ing by the word of God." That the Gospel may produce a moral, radical, saving change in the heart, it must be brought into contact with it. Now this is the case in the house of God. The truths uttered appeal to the understanding, conscience, will, affections, and judgment; and when these are clothed with the vital influences of the Holy Spirit, the understanding is enlightened, the affections are cleansed, the conscience is made tender, the desires are centred in God, and the sinner seeks pardon, holiness, and eternal life. All who neglect the Scriptures, the sabbath, the house of God, the throne of grace, the great salvation, clearly show their need of conversion. There is no heaven without conversion. This is the strait gate through which all must enter. The house of God is a scene of consolation. Here the penitent hears of mercy, the afflicted hear of the promises, the tempted hear of a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. The Christian religion is adapted and intended to impart consolation to the sorrowful. The sources of sorrow are manifold, but the Gospel can meet every case. The instructions of Christ through his ministers comfort the soul. The orphan, the widow, the oppressed, the poor, tified trials. Here the promises of God are made known, the doctrines of the Cross are expounded, the invitations of mercy are given. Here darkness is dispersed, faith is strengthened, and hope is encouraged. Here the Christian soldier gets a sight of the crown, the mariner sees the port, the weary pilgrim the heavenly paradise into which he is soon to enter. After six days' toil, care, and sorrow, how welcome to the hungry soul is the return of the sabbath, the hymn of praise, the soothing sermon, the friendly greeting, the earnest prayer; the emblem of eternal rest. This is the scene of communion with heaven. Here God opens his mind to us, and we open our mind to God. This is a scene of Divine manifestation, spiritual progress, cheerful praise. Here we see Christ's face, hear his voice, and enjoy his presence. Let me show you, II. The claims of the house of God. Many think of the claims of their family, their business, their bodies, but forget the claims of the sanctuary. The house of God has a claim to your ́ regular attendance. Are you able to attend if you are willing? Then the ability involves the obligation. The public means of grace are of Divine appointment, therefore to neglect them is an act of disobedience to the supreme Ruler. The Son of God has commanded his ministers to preach, hence it must be the duty of men to hear. Public, as well as private and social worship, is conducive to the welfare of the soul. This is an exercise adapted to awaken the conscience, instruct the mind, sanctify the soul, comfort the heart, and adorn the character with the beauties of holiness. Have you no sins to confess? Have you no petitions to present? Have you no mercies to acknowledge? Have you no wants to be supplied? The sabbath is the market-day for your soul. The provisions of Divine love are placed before you in the house of God, and you are invited to buy without money and without price. The market will soon be closed, and what if you should die with a starved, neglected, and ruined soul? Will you prepare for time, and not for eternity? Will you care for your body, and not for your soul? Will you eagerly pursue a shadow, and lose sight of the substance? Have you no time for God? Be wise. Cherish attachment to the house of God. Attend regularly. Be in good time. Come with a spirit of prayer, praise, and gladness. Regular attendance will preserve you from many evils, and secure many advantages. The profit will be great. There will be an approving conscience, a good example, spiritual advancement. And what an encouragement to the minister! This is the way to receive the full benefit of his ministry. When persons are absent, they often lose the very sermon peculiarly adapted to their case. They want all the instruction, warning, and encouragement which God has provided for them. The house of God claims your liberal support. The men of the world can find means to support places of public amusement, dissipation, and folly, and surely those who are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ will not be unwilling to contribute according to their ability to support his cause. What liberality was exercised when the tabernacle and temple were built! (Exod. xxxv. 4—9). The people gave liberally and willingly. No coercion 66 was required. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses," (Exod. xxxvi. 5, 6). When the tabernacle was made, the people were so very liberal that Moses restrained them from bringing any more. How few, if any, require to be restrained in our day! Much that is given is the result of excitement, persuasion, and strong appeals. This is an indication of feeble piety. The liberality of David and his people in preparing for Solomon's Temple is recorded. (1 Chr. xxix. 1, 9.) The dispensation under which we live is one of greater light, privilege, and glory, and, therefore, our obligations to honour God with our substance, and the first fruits of all our increase, is still greater. The preaching of the Cross is well worthy of our support. This proclaims liberty to the captive, cure for the sick, salvation for the lost. Love to Christ is the motive which should constrain us to give liberally to the support of the cause of truth, righteousness, and peace in the world. The house of God demands our zealous exertions to promote its interests. This exertion may be made in various ways. Are you masters? Use your influence to induce your servants to attend the house of God. Are you parents? Bring your children with you to the house of God. Are you members of a Christian church? “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind." What have you done to increase the congregation? How fluence on his wife; the parent is disinclined to attend, and he has an influence on his children; the mistress is disinclined to attend, and she has an influence on her servants. God intends the Sabbath to be a day of rest, and yet many work on this holy day. The neglect of the house of God may be traced to inconsideration, love of the world, the cares of life, the absence of religion, aversion to the restraints of God's will. Where there is no love to God, there will be no delight in his service. III. The neglect of the house of God. There is danger of forsaking it. This may arise from a dislike to the faithful preaching of God's truth. The Bible is a very searching book; this lays bare the human heart; this is an arrow which is very piercing; this condemns all sin-reveals the infinite holiness of God-enforces God's claims-warns all sinners-points to eternity. The unrenewed mind is opposed to this pure, searching, penetrating truth: "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Here see the mercy of God, and the wickedness of men. The mercy of God has given men Gospel light to guide them in the path to an eternal paradise, and they avoid it, turn from it, walk in darkness to hell. The neglect of the house of God in many cases arises from a disbelief of the truth of the Bible. The evidences of the truth of the Bible are strong, numerous, and unanswerable; but men dislike the book. The heart misleads the judgment. The sun shines, but men shut their eyes. This neglect also arises from the influence of bad example the performance of unneces- Let me remind you of the influence sary work on the Sabbath-day, and in which a consideration of the advansome cases, from a very low state of tages of a frequent attendance on God's personal religion. The husband is dis-house should produce. This should inclined to attend, and he has an in-induce firm resistance to temptation. "We will not forsake the house of our God." Noble avowal! Let us make it our own. No, instead of forsaking it, we will attend it, we will support it, we will invite others to go with us. Let me give you some reasons why the godly will not forsake the house of God. They are as follows: Because this would be an act of disobedience to their Father in heaven-because the ordinances of the sanctuary are precious means of grace, and they feel their want of them-because it is important that their practice should agree with their profession-because they feel their need of every help in their way to heaven-and because they wish to keep a clear conscience, glorify God, and be ready for their Lord's coming. Here God spreads a feast, and they desire to be present, and to partake of its blessings. Here is a test of our state before God. Have we this attachment to God's house? Nehemiah was zealous for his God. Are we like him? Satan is always active. God permits us to be placed in circumstances of temptation to test our faith, earnestness, sincerity, and zeal. Satan is a great enemy to the means of grace. When he tempts you to neglect them, resist him. The advantages to be derived from a frequent attendance on the public means of grace should induce humiliation of soul, if we have lost them through past carelessness, and a determination to be more faithful for the future. The house of God is like an inn on the road, into which you may turn, and find spiritual refreshment to help you on your journey to eternity. Here you may listen to the voice of Christ. This is the voice of truth, wisdom, mercy, consolation, and authority. Here you may enjoy his presence, and receive his blessing. "How did my heart rejoice to hear My friends devoutly say, In Zion let us all appear, And keep the solemn day." ter, he did not confine his efforts at usefulness to his labours as a preacher, but like his beloved tutor, felt it to be the duty of a Christian minister to go about doing good in the performance of positive acts of charity and benevo lence towards the poor and afflicted, especially of the household of faith. On one of those occasions he called to see a poor but pious widow, who kept a small shop in the haberdashery line, and on which alone she depended for a maintenance. While they were in conversation in the shop, a person entered, whose presence so alarmed the widow, that she abruptly left and ran up-stairs to her chamber. Unacquainted with the cause of the sudden disappearance of the widow, and wondering in himself what it could mean, he anxiously inquired of the stranger his business, who promptly replied that he had a bill against Mrs. for goods, which he was desirous she should discharge; and he supposed his unexpected appearance had created the alarm he had witnessed. A glow of benevolence fired the generous breast of the young minister, and he requested to know the amount of the bill. It was instantly produced, and amounted to between £6 and £7, just about the sum he had in his possession. Now the question arose in his mind, for the moment, as to the path of duty; but the kind and sympathizing feelings of his heart overpowered every other consideration he paid the bill, and re : "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." THE above declarations and promises of God's Word were strikingly exem-ceived a receipt for the same. After plified in the history of the late excel- the creditor had taken his departure, lent John Griffin, pastor of the Inde- he called to the widow to come down: pendent church, Portsea, as the fol- she came with a heart big with anxiety lowing remarkable anecdote will show. and grief. He stated to her what he During the period of his residence as a had done, saying, that whenever it was student at Painswick, under Dr. Win- in her power, she could repay him, and |