Now, as this tends exceedingly to the consolation of believers, so it stains the glory of all the outward pompous worship that some are so delighted in. For believers, what can more tend to their comfort and encouragement, than that the Lord Christ takes their poor weak prayers, which themselves are oftentimes ashamed of and humbled for, and are ready to cry out against themselves by reason of them ; and what by taking away the evil of them, what by adding the in- cense of his own righteousness, makes them acceptable at the throne
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of grace ! They little know what beauty and glory those very duties which they perform and are troubled at are clothed withal : and for the beauty and glory of gospel worship, in comparison of all the self- invented rites of men, how will one thought of faith about this admi- nistration of Christ in heaven with the prayers of the saints, cast con- tempt and shame upon them ! What is all their gaudy preparation, in comparison of the high priest of the saints offering up their prayers on the golden altar before the throne of God ! This is order, comeli- ness, and beauty.
Thirdly. Christ, as the high priest of the saints, presents both their, persons and their duties in the presence of and before the Lord. This is that which was signified of old in the high priest's precious stones set in gold on his breast and shoulders, with the names of the chil- dren of Israel in them, Exod. xxviii. 21. Christ, our high priest, is entered into the holy place for us, and there presents all his saints and their worship before the Lord, being " not ashamed to call them brethren," and saying of them, " Behold I and the children which the Lord hath given me."
And this is the fourth thing in the words, manifesting the excel- lency and glory of gospel worship, taken from the principal procuring cause : — It is an access to God, through Christ.
SERMON IV
5. This also adds greatly to the glory and excellency of evangeli- cal worship, that we have in it an access unto God, " in one Spirit," or " by one Spirit."
I shall show in brief, — (1.) How we have it " by the Spirit;" (2.) How "in one," or "by one Spirit."
(1.) That by the Spirit the Holy Ghost is here intended, is not questioned by any. He is that " one Spirit" who works in these things, and " divideth to every one as he pleaseth," 1 Cor. xii. 11. I shall not here handle the whole work of the Holy Ghost in and upon the souls of the saints, in and for the performance of all the duties of worship wherein they draw nigh unto God by Christ and obtain communion with him, as absolutely considered ; but only so far as his work renders the worship we speak of beautiful and comely ; which is the matter we have in hand. And that I shall do in some few considerations : —
[1.] The Lord Jesus Christ hath promised to send his Spirit to
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believers, to enable them, both for matter and manner, in the perform- ance of every duty required in the word, Isa. lix. 21. He will give his word and Spirit. The promise of the one and the other is of equal extent and latitude. Whatever God proposeth in his word to be believed, or requireth to be done, — that he gives his Spirit to enable to believe and do accordingly. There is neither promise nor precept, but the Spirit is given to enable believers to answer the mind of God in them; nor is the Spirit given to enable unto any duty, but what is in the word required. The Spirit and the word, in their several places, have an equal latitude ; the one as a moral ride, the other as a real •principle of efficiency. Hence they who require duties which the word enjoins not, have need of other assistances than what the Spirit of grace will afford them ; and those who pretend to be led by the Spirit beyond the bounds of the word, had need provide themselves of another gospel. Now, with promises hereof doth the gospel abound. He shall " lead us into all truth;" — he shall " teach us all things;" — he shall " abide with us for ever." Having given his disciples precepts for their whole duty to God and himself, he promiseth them his Spirit to abide with them, to enable them for the accomplishment of them.
[2.] There are three things that are needful for the right perform- ance of gospel worship: — 1st. Light and knowledge, that we may be acquainted with the mind and will of God in it, — what it is that he accepteth and approveth, and is appointed by him ; that we may know " how to choose the good and refuse the evil," — like the sheep of Christ, hearing his voice and following him, not hearkening to the voice of a stranger. Idly. Grace in the heart, so that there may be, in this access unto God, a true, real, spiritual, saving communion, obtained with him in those acts of faith, love, delight, and obedience, which he requireth ; without which it is in any thing " impossible to please God." 3dly. Ability for the performance of the duties that God requireth in his worship, in such a manner as he may be glori- fied, and those who are called to his worship edified in their most holy faith. Where these three concur, there the worship of God is performed in a due manner, according to his own mind and will ; and so, consequently, is excellent, beautiful, and glorious, —God himself being judge. Now, all these do believers receive by and from the Spirit of Christ ; and, consequently, have by him their access to the Father; that is, are enabled unto, and carried on in, the worship which God requireth at their hands.