Contempt of God’s Sabbaths and disregard of ministerial instruction are melancholy characteristics of the age in which we live.
I. The tendency of preaching and meaning the word to promote our best interest. This tendency is sufficient to enforce the duty recommended in my text. The sacred oracles are profitable. The doctrines revealed in them are not doubtful speculations, or light and trivial matters, but truths of infallible certainty, of the most sublime and excellent nature, and, to us men, of infinite importance. The learned as well as illiterate need to go to church on their own account. None, in this imperfect state, arrive at such extent and exactness of Christian knowledge as to need no further assistance for knowing more. For wise reasons the Bible was not written in a systematic form. In searching the Scriptures we need to use the fittest and most effectual means in ourpower. What can be better suited to assist us in the attainment of religious knowledge than the discourses of those who have not only made it their chief business to study the sacred oracles, but who, by cultivating their rational powers, have acquired a facility of forming distinct conceptions of things, and of expressing those conceptions with plainness and propriety? And knowledge, however extensive, if it hath no suitable influence on men’s hearts and lives, will profit them nothing. Therefore men need a faithful monitor, to awaken in us a practical sense of danger and of duty. So sensible was Julian the apostate how wise an institution preaching was for promoting the knowledge and practice of religion, that he appointed men to preach moral philosophy, and to harangue, publicly, in defence of heathenism.
II. Hearing the Word of God is enjoined by express Divine authority. In the Old Testament dispensation (Deu_24:8; Ecc_12:9-11; Neh_8:7-11; Hag_2:11; Mal_2:7) synagogue worship had to be regularly attended. New Testament injunctions are Eph_4:11-13; 1Ti_4:16; 2Ti_2:15; 2Ti_4:2; Tit_1:9; Tit_2:1; Tit_2:7-8.
III. The dreadful threatenings denounced and executed against those who refuse to hear God’s Word. Such as Pro_1:24-31; Pro_21:16; Pro_28:9; Mat_10:14; Heb_2:2-3; Heb_10:28-29; Heb_12:25. On the other hand, God hath promised His special presence and blessing to the faithful preaching, and conscientious hearing of His Word. To support and strengthen our hopes let us review former accomplishments of these exceeding great and precious promises. In how miraculous a manner hath the Word of God often triumphed over the greatest opposition.(J. Erskine, D. D.)
