the due performance of them, as the gospel commands. Men are ashamed of the worship of the gospel, — (1.) Upon the account of the worshippers; and, (2.) Upon the account of the worship itself: —
(1.) Upon the account of the worshippers, who are for the most part poor and contemptible in the world; for "not many great, not many noble, not many wise and learned are called." Whatsoever work God hath to do by his, they are looked upon as the offscouv- ing of all things, — such a company as those who are of gallant minds and spirits do despise. I wonder what thoughts they woidd have had of Christ himself, when followed by a company of fishermen, women, and children, crying " Hosanna;" and others, who said, "This people Avho knoweth not the law are cursed," John vii. 49. Now, is not a man apt to be ashamed of such abjects as follow Christ? Shall a man leave the society of great, and wise, and learned men, to join with them? Let those think of it who are upon any account lifted up in the world above their brethren. Do not be ashamed of them ; they are such as you must accompany, if ever you intend to come to glory. We must keep company with them here, if we intend it hereafter. And, therefore, be not ashamed of the worship of Christ because of the worshippers, though they can do nothing but love Christ and worship him; notwithstanding the suffrage that lies against them by great and learned men, such as were at Rome when Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
(2.) Upon the account of the worship itself. The world is, and ever was, in love with a gaudy worship, which some of them have called, being well painted, " The beauty of holiness." The Jews and Samari- tans, take them in all, — the one was for the temple, the other for the mountain. The gospel comes and calls them from them both, to wor- ship God in spirit and in truth ; — to a worship that hath no beauty but what is given by the Spirit of Christ ; nor order, but what is given by the word. This is greatly despised in the world; and not only despised, but persecuted ; — I mean, sometimes it was so, I am sure, formerly. Therefore the apostle gives that caution, Heb. x. 25, " If you would not be ashamed, ' forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is/ " There is a synecdoche in the word "assembling," and it is put for the whole worship of Christ, because worship was performed in their assemblies ; and he that forsakes the assemblies, forsakes the worship of Christ : as some of them did when exposed to danger ; and it is the manner of some still to do so. When a fair day comes, then they will go to the assemblies ; but in a storm they will absent themselves, as did the Samaritans. But what should move them to forsake their assembling? He tells you, verses 33, 34, " Ye were made a gazing-stock, by reproaches and afflictions, and the spoiling of your goods. But ye know in yourselves that ye have in
THE DIVINE POWEB OF THE GOSPEL. 229
heaven a better and an enduring substance." This made some weary of assembling ; but be not you ashamed of assembling, or of the wor- ship of God. This is the second thing that is exposed to shame and reproach in the world ; and Avhich, in particular, we are bound by our profession not to be ashamed of.
SERMON XVIII.1
3. We are not to be ashamed of the professors of the gospel. Om Lord Christ hath laid it down as an everlasting rule, that in them he is honoured or dishonoured in the world. And it is the great rule whereby false professors will be tried at the last day, — men who pretend a profession of the name of Christ; as you may see, Matt. xxv. 40, 45, " What you have done unto them, you have done unto me," saith he; "and what you have omitted that ought to have been done to them, you have omitted the doing of it unto me." It is those alone in whom Christ may be honoured or despised in this world; for he is in himself, in his own person, in that condition that our goodness, our honour, extends not immediately unto him : and for the con- tempt and despising of men, he is not concerned in it. Hence this is reckoned as the great commendation of the faith of Moses, Heb. xi. 23-26, that he refused all the honours of the world, and all the repu- tation he might have had, to own and esteem the poor, reproached, despised, persecuted interest of Christ in the world; as he there calls it. He joined himself unto the professors of the faith, in opposition to all the world, and the greatness of it ; which was his greatest com- mendation. Aud see the pathetical prayer of the apostle Paul for Onesiphorus upon the discharge of this duty, 2 Tim. i. 16-18, " The Lord," saith he, " give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus ; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain : but, when he was in Home, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day." Onesiphorus was a man of some credit and repute in the world ; poor Paul was a prisoner bound with a chain, that he might have been ashamed to own him: but, instead of that, he sought him out; he was not ashamed of his chain. To be ashamed of the poor profes- sors of the gospel, — so in themselves, or made so by the power of op- pressors,— is to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, his truths, his wor- ship, and his people.