he tells them how to regulate their conduct when they
"_come together in the church_." Again; he exhorts the Hebrews _"not to
forsake the assembling of themselves together_." From all these
passages, I think the inference is plain, that, under the direction of
the apostles, the public worship of God, upon the Sabbath, was observed
in the primitive churches. And this is confirmed by the fact, that the
same practice has since been uniformly observed by the church in all
ages.

From the foregoing arguments I draw the following conclusions: 1. It is
the imperative duty of every person to attend regularly upon the public
worship of God, unless prevented by circumstances beyond his control.
God has appointed public worship, consisting of devotional exercises and
the preaching of his Word, as the principal means of grace, for edifying
his people, and bringing lost sinners to himself. We cannot, therefore,
excuse ourselves for not waiting upon these means; nor can we expect the
blessing or God upon any others which we may substitute in their place.

2. This duty remains the same, even under the ministry of a cold and
formal pastor, provided he preaches the essential doctrines of the
gospel. If he denies any of these, his church becomes the synagogue of
Satan, and therefore no place for the child of God. This conclusion is
drawn from the practice of Christ himself. He attended habitually upon
the regularly constituted public worship of the Jews, although there
appears to have been scarce any signs of spiritual worship among them.
The Scriptures were read--the truth was declared; yet all was cold
formality--a mere shell of outside worship.

3. No person, who neglects public worship upon the Sabbath, when it is
in his power to attend, can expect a blessing upon his soul. When
preaching is of an ordinary character, and not very full of instruction,
or when the manner of the preacher is disagreeable, people are
frequently tempted to think they can improve their time better at home,
in reading, meditation, and prayer. But this is a very great mistake,
unless they can spend the Sabbath profitably without the presence of
God. If, as I think I have already shown, it is the _duty_ of every one
to attend upon the regularly instituted public worship of the Sabbath,
when we neglect it we are out of the way of duty. And God will never
bless us in the neglect of any positive duty, even if our whole time be
spent upon our knees. Remember, th