is still fearfully prevalent. May we watch against it, and be on our guard ! May we remember that no tra- dition or man-made institution in religion can ever excuse the neglect of relative duties, or justify disobedience to any plain commandment of Grod's word.
We learn, in the last place, from these verses, that the religious ivorsliip which God desires, is the worship of the heart. We find our Lord establishing this by a quo- tation from Isaiah, " This people draweth near to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
The heart is the j)rincipal thing in the relation of husband and wife, of friend and friend, of parent and child. The heart must be the principal point to which we attend in all the relations between God and our souls. What is the first thing we need, in order to be Chris- tians ? A new heart. — What is the sacrifice God asks us to bring to him ? A broken and a contrite heart. — What is the true circumcision ? The circumcision of the heart. — What is genuine obedience ? To obey from the heart. — What is saving faith ? To believe with the heart. — Where ought Christ to dwell ? To dwell in our hearts by faith. — What is the chief request that Wisdom makes to every one ? " My son, give me thine heart."
Let us leave the passage with honest self-inquiry as to the state of our own hearts. Let us settle it in our* minds, that all formal worship of God, whether in public or private, is utterly in vain, so long as our "hearts are far from Him." The bended knee, the bowed head, the loud amen, the daily chapter, the regular attendance at the Lord's table, are all useless and unprofitable, so long as our afiections are nailed to sin, or pleasure, or money, or