Now we know the same, in relation to our spiritual sacri- fices : we know that God requires the heart : and that whatever we present to him without the heart, is only to mock and insult him. It is an acknowledged truth, that to " draw nigh to God with our lips, whilst our hearts are far from him," is to offer him a sacrifice, which he can never accept k.
Let us, then, examine our offerings by this test : and, if the services which we present to him be ignorant, formal, hypo- critical, what do we, in fact, but commit, as far as we are able, the very same evil which obtained amongst the Jews, when they offered in sacrifice to God " the blind, the lame, and the sick ? " That our services are ignorant, is but too clear : for we know not the true character of that God whom we profess to worship ; nor how he is to be approached ; nor what are the services we should render him. If we were duly enlightened on these subjects, it would be impossible for us to approach him as we do, or to conceive that he could ever be pleased with such services as we render him.
h Deut. xv. 21 > ver. 14. k Matt. xv. 7, 8.
In all our services, we are formal. We are punctual, perhaps, in certain observances of man's invention ; and should be greatly offended if any one omitted to comply with certain prescriptions relating to the posture of the body. But, as to the prostration of the soul, we are unconcerned about it ; and judge that we have done our duty, if we have gone through the appointed round of bodily motions, though our mind have not accorded with the body in any part of the service.
In truth, our services have been hypocritical throughout. Had any one come into the house of God, and overheard our confessions, petitions, and thanksgivings, he would have sup- posed that we were the most humble, spiritual, and devout persons in the universe: but had he been privy to the real state of our souls, how little would he have seen of humiliation in our confessions, or of fervour in our petitions, or of grati- tude in our thanksgivings ! He would, for the most part, have seen, that the whole was only a solemn mockery; and that, instead of being Israelites indeed, in whom there was no guile, we were base hypocrites, in whom was no sincerity. Times without number we implore mercy as miserable sinners; but if any man were to express his thoughts of us in accord- ance with our confessions, we should be full of wrath and in- dignation against him. And, if God were to offer to hear and answer many of our prayers, especially those which we have presented for the conversion and renovation of our souls, we should be ready to pray them back with ten times more fervour than ever they were uttered. As for our thanks- givings, the whole state of our souls has shewn that we felt nothing, and meant nothing, at the very time that we professed to mean so much and feel so much.
Now, let me ask, in the name of God himself, what rea- son you can have to think that such services should ever be accepted by him? If, indeed, he were like ourselves, and could see only the outward appearance, we might hope, that, being imposed upon and deceived, he would be pleased with us: but, when we bear in mind, that " he searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins," and that " all things are naked and open before him," we must be sure that our very " sacrifices are an abomination in his sight."]
2. On the standard which exists between man and man —
[We are fond of reducing God and his services to this standard ; and to infer, that, because we would not act in such or such a way towards each other, God can never deal so or so with us. This, however, is no proper standard at all ; because we bear a very different relation to God from what any man can bear to us. But yet God condescends, on this occasion,