2. This hath caused many to turn aside, to fall off from and for- sake the solemn ordinances of divine worship, and to betake them- selves unto vain imaginations for relief, in trembling, enthusiastical
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singing and feigned raptures; from hence have so many forsaken their own mercies to follow after lying vanities. They kept for a Avhile unto the observance of the divine institutions of worship; but not having faith to exercise in them, by which alone they are life and power, they became useless and burdensome unto them: they could find neither sweetness, satisfaction, nor benefit in them. It is not possible that so many in our days, if ever they had tasted of the old wine, should so go after new; — if ever they had experience of that savour, power, and life, which is in the ordinances of divine worship, when acted and enlivened by the exercise of faith, should forsake them for that which is nothing: " They went out from us, but they were not of us ; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us." " Had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." This, therefore, is the true reason why so many in our days, after they have for a season abode under, and in the obser- vation of, the gospel ordinances of worship, have fallen off from them, — namely, not having faith to exercise in them, nor endeavouring after it, they did really find no life in them, nor benefit by them.
3. Some, on the same ground, fall into profaneness, pretending to take up Avith a natural religion, without any instituted worship at all. Of this sort of persons we have multitudes in the days wherein we five ; having nothing of the light of faith, they can see no form or comeliness in Christ, nor in any thing that belongs unto him. By these means are souls every day precipitated into ruin.
Herein, therefore, I say, true faith will evidence itself in all dark- nesses and distress whatsoever: it will always endeavour to keep it- self, and all other graces, in a due and constant exercise in all duties of worship, private and public. It may sometimes be weakened in its actings and operations, it may be under decays, it may be as a sleep, and that not only as mito particular duties and seasons, but as unto the inward habitual frame of the mind ; but where it is true and genuine, it will shake itself out of this dust, cast off the sin that doth so easily beset us, and stir up itself, with all might and contention, unto its duty. And there is no more dangerous state for a soul than when it is sinking down into formality, and neglect of the exercise of faith, in a multitude of duties ; then is it assuredly ready to die, if it be not dead already.
If we are wise, therefore, we will watch, and take care that we lose not this evidence of faith ; it will stand us in stead when, it may be, all other things seem to be against us. Some have been relieved by the remembrance of this exercise of faith, when they have been at the door of desperation: — such or such a season they had ex- perience of the work of faith in prayer, hath been their relief. An experience hereof is a jewel, which may be of no great use whilst
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it lies by you locked up in a cabinet, but which you will know the worth of if ever you come to need bread for your lives.
It is, therefore, worth while to inquire what we ought to do, or what means we ought to use, that we may keep up faith unto its due exercise in all the parts of divine worship, so as that it may give us a comforting evidence of itself in times of temptation and darkness? And unto this end the ensuing directions may be of use : —
1. Labour to have your hearts always affected with a due sense of the infinite perfections of the divine nature in all our approaches unto him, especially of his sovereign power, holiness, immensity, and omnipresence; and this will produce in us also a sense of infinite dis- tance from him. As this is necessary, from the nature of the things themselves, so the Scripture gives us such descriptions of God as are suited to ingenerate this frame in us. This is that which Joshua aimed to bring the people unto, when he designed to engage them in the service of God in a due manner. Josh. xxiv. 19-22 ; and that which the apostle requireth in us, Heb. xii. 28, 29. And unto the same end glorious descriptions and appearances of God are multiplied in Scrip- ture. If we fail herein, if we do not on all occasions fill our minds with reverential thoughts of God, his greatness and his holiness, faith hath no foundation to stand upon in its exercise in the duties of worship. This is the only inlet into the due exercise of grace: where it is wanting, all holy thoughts and affections are shut out of our minds; and where it is present, it is impossible but that there will be some gracious working of heart in all our duties. If we are empty hereof in our entrance of duties, we shall be sure to be filled with other things, which will be clogs and hinderances unto us ; but reve- rential thoughts of God, in our approaches unto him, will cast out all supei-fluity of naughtiness, and dissipate all carnal, formal frames, which will vitiate all our duties. Keep j'our hearts, therefore, under this charge in all your accesses unto God, and it will constantly open a door unto that exercise of faith which we inquire after.