Having, as I think, proved the obligation to attend public worship, I will now notice a few particulars respecting the performance of the duty.

1. Attend on the stated ministrations of your pastor. If there is more than one church professing your own sentiments, in the place where you reside, select the pastor who is most spiritual, and will give you the best instruction.  But, when you have made this selection, consider yourself bound to wait on his ministry.  Do not indulge yourself in going from place to place, to hear this and that minister.  This will give you “itching ears” and cultivate a love of novelty, and a critical mode of hearing, very unfavorable to the practical application of the truth to your own soul.  If you wish to obtain complete views of truth, if you wish your soul to thrive, attend, as far as possible, upon every appointment of your pastor.  Every minister has some plan.  He adapts his preaching to the peculiar state of his own people, and frequently pursues a chain of subjects in succession, so as to present a complete view of the great doctrines of the Bible.  Whenever you absent yourself, you break this chain, and lose much of your interest and profit in his preaching.  I do not say but on special occasions, when some subject of more than visual importance is to be presented at another place, it may be proper for you to leave your own church.  But, in general, the frequent assistance which most pastors receive from strangers will furnish as great variety as you will find profitable.

2. Be punctual in attending at the stated hour of public worship. This, though of great importance, is sadly neglected by most congregations.  Punctuality is so necessary in matters of business, that a man is hardly considered honest, when he fails to meet his friend at the hour of engagement.  And why should it be thought of less consequence to be exact and punctual in our engagements with God than with man?  The person, who enters the house of God after the service has commenced, greatly embarrasses the preacher, and disturbs the devotions of others.  Besides, he shows great want of reverence for the sacredness of the place, time, and employment.  “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.”  Always calculate to be seated in the sanctuary a few minutes before the time appointed for the commencement of worship.  As precious as time is, it would be much better to lose a few moments, than to do so much injury.  But this time need not be lost.  You require a little time, after entering the house of God, to settle your mind, and to lift your soul, in silent prayer, to God for his blessing.