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, this is the condition of the promise, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”  When, therefore, we are living in sin, or in the neglect of duty, (which is the same thing,) God will not hear our prayers.  “If I regard iniquity in my heart,” says the psalmist, “the Lord will not hear me.”  Again; it is the regular ministration of his word in the sanctuary, that God most eminently blesses for the growth of Christians and the conversion of sinners.  And when the appointed means of grace are slighted, can any one expect the blessing of God?  Will he bless the means which you have devised, and preferred to those of his own appointment?  Do not, then, neglect the habitual and regular attendance upon the public worship of God, whenever there is a properly conducted assembly of orthodox Christians within your reach.  I would not dare neglect this, even if the reading of a sermon were substituted for preaching.