---
title: 'John H. Agnew: The Lord Loves the Gates of Zion'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2022-12-18
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2022-john-h-agnew-the-lord-loves-the-gates-of-zion
---

# John H. Agnew: The Lord Loves the Gates of Zion

“The Lord loves the gates of Zion. He delights to have all the people praise him, and lift up their hands in the sanctuary to bless the Lord. And it is comely to appear before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms — to worship and bow down; to kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture. Thus did his people of old open the gates of righteousness, bring an offering, and come into the courts of the Lord’s house. Thus they found it sweet to unite in singing the high praises of God, in adoration of his glorious perfection, and contemplations on his word and works. The apostles and primitive Christians also, esteemed a day in the courts of the Lord better than a thousand. On the Sabbath they were wont to be together, with one accord in one place, for the purpose of public worship.

And it becomes those of the present day, who would remember the Sabbath, to imitate their example, and assemble in the different churches with the design of humbling themselves with thankful acknowledgment of his mercies, supplicating his favor, hearing his word, and magnifying his great name, make known in the works of creation and redemption.” — [John H. Agnew](/authors/john-holmes-agnew), *A Manual on the Christian Sabbath* (1842), pp. 162-163