#11 - Gospel Worship

Gospel Worship by Puritan pastor Jeremiah Burroughs was my latest read. Burroughs has become one of my favorite puritans.In this series of 14 sermons, Burroughs explains how true Gospel worship must make God's name appear holy through hearing the Word, receiving communion and praying. Here are some gems:

• In worshiping God, there is a drawing night unto Him. When we draw nigh to God, we should take heed to ourselves that we sanctify God's name (make God's name appear holy). If we do not sanctify God's name in our drawing nigh to Him, then certainly God will sanctify His own name upon us.
• God stands much upon little things, though men would think it a little matter whether they use this fire or that fire [referring to Nadab and Abihu]. Men will say, 'Will not his burn as well as that?' But God stands on it. And so it was for the ark. Uzzah but did touch the ark when it was ready to fall. Now we would think it to be no great matter; but one touch of the ark cost him his life. There is not any one small thing in the worship of God but God stands mightily upon it.
• You do not understand the nature of divine worship if you are not particular about it. God is particular, and stand upon little things in the matter of worship.
• We think much to have the lives of men taken away, but if we knew what the glory of God meant, and what infinite reason there is that God should be glorified, we would not think it so much that the lives of so many men should go for the glory of God. It is mercy that our lives have not gone many times for God's glory.
• Further it is a special sign of our adoption to love to be near God. What should a child love most but to be in the presence of his father? Would you know whether you have received the Spirit of adoption or not? I can hardly give you any one sign so clear as to love to go into God's presence.
• I am never better than when I am with God. I think when I get into God's presence, either in prayer or any duty of God's worship, I find my heart warmed and quickened. They are ready to say with Peter, 'Master, it is good being here.'
• We must labor to suit our worship to what there is in God so that our worship may be proportionable in some measure to the nature of God Himself.
• You must come without any righteousness of your own. You must never come into God's presence but as a poor worm; and if there is any difference between you and others in outward respects, it is nothing to you. When you are in the presence of God, you are as a base, vile worm, though you are a prince or an emperor.

If you haven't read Burrough's book, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, you must! That one is worth its weight in gold. Gospel Worship definitely deepened my understanding of worship. It was somewhat difficult to read at times unlike The Rare Jewel. But it was worth the read nonetheless, especially the first few chapters about making God's name holy.