abundantly manifested his regard for the ordinances of his own institution.]
But the acceptableness of such services depends on the manner in which they are performed —
[God looks rather to the disposition of the worshipper than the matter of his offering ; and, if a contrite spirit be wanting, he values nothing that such a worshipper can present. This is repeatedly and strongly declared e ; and is as true under the Gospel as under the Lawf.
To this all the Scriptures bear witness. Balaam's answer to Balakg, and Samuel's to Saulh, and the discreet scribe's to Christ1, all concur in establishing this point beyond a doubt.]
These considerations may well prepare us to acknowledge,
II. The superior excellence of vital godliness —
The view here given of vital godliness deserves attention —
[True religion, as it is experienced in the heart, consists in faith and love, or in such a " knowledge of God" as produces " mercy" both to the bodies and the souls of men. Our blessed Lord twice quotes the words of our text, and explains them in this very manner. He was vindicating on one occasion the conduct of his disciples, for plucking some ears of corn on the Sabbath-day. What they had done was certainly allowable on any other day, but probably not on the Sabbath without some urgent necessity. Such a necessity existed in the present case: and as that plea was sufficient to vindicate David in a far more exceptionable violation of the law, and as it was acknowledged to be a full justification of the priests whose labours on the Sabbath were very great, so it was a sufficient excuse for the disciples, as their accusers would have known, if they had understood the meaning of the declaration in the textV]
Such religion as is here described is far more ex- cellent than any outward observances whatever —
1. This is valuable in itself; whereas they are valuable only in relation to the ends for which they were instituted —
e Isai. i. 11 — 14. and lxvi. 3. f Ps. li. 16, 17. Matt. xv. 8, 9.
s Mic. vi. 6 — 8. h 1 Sam. xv. 22.
» Mark xii. 33.
k Matt. xii. 1 — 7. See also Matt. ix. 10 — 13. where our Lord adduced the same passage, in vindication of his own conduct in asso- ciating with sinners.