Hints and helps in pastoral theology by William S Plumer (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 13 (Public worship - who shall attend?).
This week Plumer continues to discuss public worship.
Firstly Plumer explains who should attend public worship:
(i) Christians and non-Christians;
(ii) rich and poor;
(iii) learned and unlearned;
(iv) deaf and mutes;
(v) children.
Secondly Plumer suggests when and how often public assemblies should be held: twice on the Sabbath.
Thirdly Plumer gives some suggestions on the spirit and temper with which men should assemble together to worship God and to hear his Word.
Fourthly we are given some considerations intended to persuade men not to neglect the assembling of themselves together:
(i) public worship and public preaching of the Gospel are God's ordinances;
(ii) the business for which Christian congregations assemble is the most weighty and solemn;
(iii) these precious privileges will not last always.
I think Plumer made some excellent points regarding the need for the learned to sit under preaching: 'The learned and the unlearned should alike visit the house of God. In most Protestant churches, the services are so arranged as well to suit the ignorant. A discourse, the object of which is to expound and enforce the will of God on some great truth, is commonly delivered, and so the unlearned may gain light and instruction. Any mode of worship or teaching which excludes the unlearned from its benefits can not be according to the mind of God. They should be there. So ought the learned, even if they know more than their teacher. For, first, they owe much in the way of example to the rest of the community. Secondly, though the preacher may say nothing which they had not heard before, yet it is eminently useful to be reminded of truths quite familiar to us. Indeed, this is, in Christian countries one of the greatest advantages of public worship and instruction. Thirdly, a man must have a very remarkable amount of knowledge, or a very stupid preacher, who does not often find suggested to his mind trains of profitable thought, which he never would have had except in the house of God. Lastly, however vast any one's learning, he is in comparison with God a poor creature, and in the sight of God a poor sinner, and it is right that he should humble himself in the dust both publicly and privately before his Maker. '
Anyone who considers church beneath them, is simply kidding themselves.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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