These things are manifest and unquestionable. But our present inquiry is only, what it is which believers do so delight in in the ordi- nances and institutions of divine gospel worship, and what it is that engageth their hearts and minds into a diligent observance of them, as also how and wherein they do exercise their love and delight. And I say, in general, that their delight in all ordinances of divine worship, —as is evident in the testimonies before produced,—is in Christ him- self, or God in Christ. This alone is that which they seek after, cleave unto, and are satisfied withal. They make use of the streams, but only as means of communication with the spring. .When men are really renewed in the spirit of their minds it isso. Their regard unto ordinances and duties of divine worship is, as they are appointed of God a blessed means of communion and intercourse between himn- self in Christ and their souls. By them doth Christ communicate
432 ! OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART II.
of his love and grace unto us; in and by them do we act faith and love on him. It is the treasure hid in the field, which when a man hath found he purchaseth the whole field; but it is that he may enjoy the treasure which is hid therein, Matt. xii. 44, This field is the gospel and all the ordinances of it. This men do purchase sometimes at a dear rate, even with the loss of all they enjoy; but yet if they obtain nothing but the field, they will have little cause to rejoice in their bargain. It is Christ the treasure alone, that pearl of great price, that will eternally enrich the soul.~ The field is to be used only [so] as to find and dig up the treasure that is im it. It is, I say, Christ alone that, in the preaching of the gospel, renewed affec- tions do cleave unto as the treasure, and unto all other things ac- cording as their relation is unto him or as they have a participation of him. Wherefore, in all duties of religion, in all ordinances of wor- ship, their inquiry is after him whom their souls do love, Cant. i. 7.:
But yet we must treat more particularly and distinctly of these things. Those whose affections are spiritually renewed do love, ad- here unto, and delight in, ordinances of divine service and duties of worship, on the grounds oat reasons ensuing :—
1. In general they do so as they find Sarth, and love, and delight in God through Christ, excited and acted in and by them. This is the first and immediate end in their institution. It is a pernicious mistake to suppose that any external duties of worship, as hearing the word, prayer, or the sacraments, are appointed for themselves or accepted i themselves.
Such thoughts the Jews of old had concerning their sacrifices,— namely, that they were appointed for their own sake, and were ac- ceptable service unto God merely on their own account. Where- fore God, to deliver them from this pernicious mistake, affirms oft- times that he never appointed them at all; that is, for any such end, Jer. vil. 22, 23, Isa. i, 12-14, ete. And now, under the gospel, sun- dry things destructive to the souls of men have proceeded from such a supposition: Some hereon have always satisfied and contented themselves with the external observance of them, without desiring or endeavouring any holy communion with God in them or by them. This constitutes the state and condition mentioned, Rev. iii. 1. And by following this track the generality of Christians do wander out of the way; they cannot leave them, nor do they know how to use them unto their advantage, until they come wholly unto that woful state, Isa. xxix. 13. And some, to establish this deceit, have taught that there is much more in the outward work of these duties than ever God put into them, and that they are sanctified merely by virtue of the work wrought.
But all the asia of the second commandment, as are all insti-
CHAP. XV.] DELIGHT IN THE DUTIES OF DIVINE WORSHIP. 433
tuted ordinances of worship, are but means to express and exercise those of the first, as faith, love, fear, trust, and delight in God. The end of them all is, that through them and by them we may act those graces on God in Christ. Where this is not attended unto, when the souls of men do not apply themselves unto this exercise of grace in them, let them be never so solemn as to their outward per- formance, be attended unto with diligence, be performed with ear- nestness and delight, they are neither acceptable unto God nor bene- ficial unto themselves, Isa. i. 11. This, therefore, is the first general spring of the love of believers, of them whose affections are spiritu- ally renewed, unto the ordinances of divine worship, and their delight in them: They have experience that in and by them their faith and love are excited unto a gracious exercise of themselves on God in Christ; and when they find it otherwise with them, they can have no rest in their souls. For this end are they ordained, sanctified, and blessed of God; and therefore are effectual means of it, when their efficacy is not defeated by unbelief.